OCOEE, Fla. – Central Florida has caught the pickleball bug in a big way.
Ocoee is the latest city to announce plans for a pickleball facility — and this one is going to be massive.
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The developer, Vasant Sports LLC, presented its proposal for a 44-court complex to the city of Ocoee Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday. According to the presentation, there will be 19 indoor courts, 24 covered outdoor courts and one championship court for pickleball tournaments and special events. There will also be a 14,000-square-foot pro shop and café.
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The roughly 150,000-square-foot facility will sit on just over six acres of land on the west side of Jacob Nathan Boulevard near Matthew Paris Boulevard.
The one outstanding issue is the parking ratio for the facility. Last week, the Ocoee Development Review Committee (DRC) recommended approval of the site on the condition that the parking ratio and demand be further evaluated. Based on a staff review of other pickleball complexes, the average parking ratio is four spaces per court. The current site plan for the Ocoee facility calls for 3.3 parking spaces per court, or 146 spaces. On Tuesday, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted to accept their recommendation with the parking condition.
If this massive complex gets final approval, Ocoee would be the latest Central Florida city on a long list looking provide a home for the rapidly growing sport of pickleball. According to the annual pickleball report by teachme.to, Florida has 2,854 Pickleball courts statewide.
That number will soon include the 14 pickleball courts set to open at Central Winds Park in Winter Springs. The complex will be the largest in Seminole County when it opens on Saturday, April 13.
The Pickleball Club has also started construction on a 40,000-square-foot facility in The Villages. The company also has a 33,800-square-foot facility under development at 1427 N. Semoran Blvd. in Orlando.
For a look at the top places to play in Central Florida, click here.
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