Chicago's largest indoor pickleball facility opened Friday in Lincoln Park.
SPF, Social Pickleball Fun, is a 42,000-square-foot pickleball club that includes eight indoor courts, an indoor turf field and locker rooms equipped with showers and saunas.
"We're really a place where family and friends can connect and come together to compete," said Rich Green, co-founder of SPF.
Green says his wife came up with the name SPF which stands for the three pillars of what he aims to bring to the community: being social, playing pickleball and having fun. The name also stems from a conversation centered around Chicago's beachtown persona.
"Chicago's a beachtown, it just doesn't get to be year-round, so we set out to bring the summer vibes year round," he said.
The facility, located at 2121 N. Clybourn Ave., is the first of its kind in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. The airy space allows visitors to enter for free and gather inside along the courts. The cost of a game starts at $16, and for those who don't play pickleball, a full bar and food options are available.
"Whether you're a seasoned pickleball player, you're picking up a paddle for the first time or
you're just in to cheer on your friends and family, everyone is welcome," said Green.
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. For the past three years, Highland Park has hosted a pickleball tournament that drew about 850 players in 2023. More information can be found at www.playspf.com.
