'Rising tide.' Pickleball indoor court proposed in Mashpee billed as economic benefit

MASHPEE — A local business owner hopes to establish an indoor pickleball facility that will draw more people and stimulate business throughout the region.

William Russell went before the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation on Jan. 30 at the town hall to walk the group through his plans for the 3.59-acre parcel at 51 Evergreen Circle off Route 130.

Hanover has the closest facility of scale, he said, and if his proposed Island Pickle were to open, it would bring new customers who may also stop by Mashpee Commons or Cape Cod Coffee.

"A rising tide lifts all boats and I think I'm here to rise a tide," said Russell, who also co-owns the Pineapple Caper Cafe in Osterville with his wife and is a commercial real estate specialist with Commercial Realty Advisors.

Plans call for an approximately 35,000-square-foot indoor recreation complex featuring 10 pickleball courts, eight Trackman golf simulators, a pro shop, restaurant, and sports-themed bar.

Courts would be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with weekend hours possibly stretching until midnight and food service approximately from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Expert pickleball and professional golf staff will be on hand for private and group lessons.

Pickleball is typically played on a 44-foot-long and 20-foot-wide court and features players using a paddle to whack a small plastic ball back and forth over a net.

In the neighboring town of Falmouth

While the sport has exploded in popularity in recent years, its loudness has proven to be controversial. Last summer, a Barnstable Superior Court judge allowed for a preliminary injunction in Falmouth barring the game at a certain set of pickleball courts due to neighbor complaints.

"It is a noisy sport and an indoor venue mitigates a lot of that," said Russell.

Under contract in Mashpee, according to businessman

The property is currently owned by Evergreen Energy LLC, which bought it from Cape Cod Cooperative Bank in March 2016 for $1.6 million, according to the assessor's office.

Russell said he's under contract for the land and it's contingent upon passing permitting and approvals. He's also commissioned a traffic study.

"Because of the size of the facility is approximately 35,000 square feet, it's going to go through the Cape Cod Commission process before it goes through the town process," said Russell.

The project requires a zoning bylaw amendment. The lot is in an industrial zone, which does not allow for indoor recreational facilities.

On Wednesday, the Mashpee Planning Board voted to submit a draft zoning article intended to authorize indoor recreation facilities in the relevant zoning district to the Select Board for consideration for the next town meeting warrant.

Russell had originally been eyeing Capetown Plaza on Iyannough Road in Hyannis as a location, but said that eventually fell through. In April he was listed as an applicant for a business plan to transform about half of the former Kmart there into a pickleball complex as part of the WS Development project.

Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on X @zanerazz.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: William Russell wants to open indoor pickleball business in Mashpee