LEBANON — At the site of a former FedEx facility on North Labombard Road, a hub for all things pickleball is set to fully open its doors later this month.
Paddleworks Pickleball Club, which is set to hold clinics, tournaments, and other programming, is partially opened, allowing play on its six climate-controlled courts. Its pro shop and a fitness area for workouts geared toward the sport are slated to open on May 15, when the business is slated to have a grand opening.
The club is the brainchild of Greg Kutvirt, 40, of Wilder, who first played the game in the ’90s as an 8-year-old at his uncle’s house in Washington, the state where the sport originated.
After a hiatus, Kutvirt returned to pickleball as he got older and was in search of some competitive fun.
Last June, Kutvirt and his wife, Lucie, moved to the Upper Valley for her residency at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. At that point, Kutvirt was already considering opening Paddleworks and was searching for a location.
“I just decided that it would be a good business to get into,” he said. “I just love the community of pickleball so much — they’re the types of people I’d like to be around each and every day.”
Not only that, but Kutvirt knew that opening a pickleball facility would allow him to take care of his then-unborn daughter, Florence, while he worked.
The initial vision for the facility was to have pickleball courts with quality netting, but then the building at 41 N. Labombard Road became available. The 24,000-square-foot structure enabled the addition of several amenities, including the pro shop and the fitness area.
Kutvirt is confident there is demand for a facility like Paddleworks. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association notes that pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the country, with participation increasing by 171.8% in the United States from 2022 to 2025.
Lynne Parshall, an avid pickleball player from Lyme, said that Paddleworks “changes the whole game for pickleball in the Upper Valley.”
Parshall, a 72-year-old self-described “pickleball nomad,” acknowledged that there are places to play in the Upper Valley, but they are often shared with another sport, such as tennis, and do not offer the programming that Paddleworks provides.
“It is a whole other world of pickleball, where groups who are really interested in advancing their skills can get together and play (and) where beginners can come have lessons on a regular basis,” she said.
Scott Carter, 76, of Thetford Center, who has been playing the sport for several years, said he was excited about the new facility, echoing Parshall, noting that a problem with the sport in the area up until this point had been the lack of a place dedicated to pickleball.
“That (dedication) brings a focus to the sport that’s kind of unique… this focus kind of helps with bringing in tournaments, (and) consistent instruction,” he said.
In addition to serving as an outlet for local players to get on the courts, Paddleworks also aims to be a hub for those from outside the Upper Valley, said Loriston Fennell, the business’s general manager.
Fennell, 29, of Windsor, plays pickleball himself and travels for tournaments. He noted that players are often willing to make a trip to find good games, coaches and other programming.
“Our aim here is to make Paddleworks a destination in New England where if you’re looking to get into pickleball or you’re already serious about it and you want to take it to the next level, that everyone will be thinking that this is the place to go,” he said.
The club offers a range of membership options, with monthly costs from $0 to $175, tailored to how much an individual plays per week.
Memberships come with different perks, such as discounts at the pro shop and on lessons, as well as varying prices for court reservations and open play, among other items.
“We’re entirely open to everyone and anyone,” Kutvirt said. “Anybody is welcome to come in and reserve a court or play open play by the hour; there are no requirements for that… we look forward to meeting a lot of new faces.”
For more information about Paddleworks, visit paddleworkspickleball.com.
