‘Courts Are Full and We’re Having Fun’: Skokie pickleball facility looking to expand

Pickleball is here to stay — and in Skokie, it will likely have more room to do so soon.

The Skokie Village Board voted unanimously Monday to support revisions to the site plan for Pickledilly, an indoor pickleball facility located at 4919 Main St. The changes, once they gain final board approval, would allow the facility to expand by approximately 40%, or 15,000 square feet, and gain four new pickleball courts.

The existing 24,500-square-foot space, which opened in 2025, may also gain a turf game area, more restrooms, storage rooms and seating by expanding into adjacent tenant space at 4913 Main St, village documents show.

Lauren Busey, Pickledilly’s co-owner and managing partner, said in an email to The Record that the expansion the business is “exploring” would include a “flexible event and community space designed around experiences, not just square footage.”

“We are lucky enough to have been in the community now for over a year and consider ourselves to be thriving. Our courts are full and we are having fun,” Busey told Skokie trustees on Monday. 

“One of the main things that we like to do is build community. That’s one of our pillars, and we believe this additional space would allow us to grow that idea.” 

Pickleball was invented in 1965 but surged in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to USA Pickleball, a nonprofit governing body for the sport.

The organization says more than 82,000 pickleball courts existed across the country in 2024, a more than 14,000% increase from the year before.

Besides Pickledilly’s 11 existing pickleball courts, the Skokie facility has a half-size court for training, learn-to-play classes, leagues, competitions and corporate events, its website shows. 

The site plan modifications would also adjust Pickledilly’s parking lot circulation and the location of its ADA-accessible parking spaces, but village staff expect the existing off-street parking supply to accommodate the expanded facility, according to village documents. 

“The vision is to create an environment where recreation, connection, wellness, and community events can all come together under one roof,” Busey added in her email to The Record. 

“While we are still evaluating feasibility, we’re excited about the potential to continue growing Pickledilly as a true community destination for Skokie.”

The Skokie Village Board is set to provide final approval to Pickledilly’s revised site plan when the trustees meet next on June 1.

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