Pickleball center coming to Skokie early next year

Add Skokie to the list of Chicago suburbs jumping on the pickleball train.

Pickledilly Skokie, an indoor pickleball club owned by local residents Lauren Busey, Amy Lillibridge, Nathan Cachila and Armi Cachila, is scheduled to open in early 2025. A vacant industrial building, located at 4919 Main St., will be renovated into a facility with 11 full-size pickleball courts and one half-size court for training.

“Local support and enthusiasm have been amazing,” Busey said in a statement. “Our ownership team is 100% committed to providing an inclusive environment for all levels of players — and to attracting and engaging people who would like to learn more about the sport.” 

Skokie is joining other nearby communities in meeting rising demand for the recreational sport by building new facilities. A new pickleball center in Irving Park is set to offer seven courts year-round. Another is planned for the North Shore, with six pickleball courts, three golf simulator lounges and a self-pour draft wall with a variety of local alcoholic beverages.

Pickleball became a national mainstay in 2022 and is now the fastest-growing sport in the country. In 2023, approximately 4.4% of Americans played pickleball at least once, compared with about 3% in 2022, according to a survey by the nonprofit trade organization Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

As participation in pickleball grew, the demand for places to play also increased. By the end of 2023, the U.S. had 11,885 known pickleball facilities, with just over 50,000 courts, according to USA Pickleball, the sport's governing body.