Exciting things are coming to Detroit, Michigan, as Northville Pickleball Club has announced its plan to open in 2025. Set to be the largest pickleball facility in Michigan, and one of the largest in the country, Northville is changing the landscape of pickleball before they’ve even broken ground. Not only is Northville pushing the boundary on size and vision, but they have followed a unique path to get there. When faced with issues presented by opening a pickleball club in the city, Northville decided to partner with a local church. This special partnership solved their problems of land, proximity to the city, and the expenses that come with opening the largest pickleball facility in the state. Northville Pickleball Club is a distinct example of ingenuity and resolve, paving the way for others to follow.
When partner Mike Kowalczyk looked around Detroit, he noticed a gaping hole in the pickleball realm. Faced with very few places to play, he realized that he was “going to have to build something from the ground up.” This brought Mike to his first obstacle: land, especially land within the city, is pricey. Wanting to aid the pickleball community in Detroit, he knew that his facility should be within city limits, as players are less likely to drive long distances. This is when Ward Church entered the scene. Connected through friends, Kowalczyk met with the church leadership and worked out a deal: Ward would give 1 acre of land, and Mike would build the facility. A partnership like this allowed Mike to focus on creating the largest pickleball facility in the state – a 70,000 square foot complex, home to a 50,000 square foot building with 16 courts.
When asked about his decision to partner with the church, Mike answered “Pickleball is inclusionary. The collaboration aspect just made sense.” This begs the question, though: are there any downsides to partnering with a non-profit? While Kowalczyk has had a wonderful experience so far, he offers this piece of wisdom. “It’s time. Nothing will get done fast. It’s not a corporate setting, so there are always multiple decision makers. Many of these decision makers are volunteers as well. Nothing gets done quickly. Embrace the fact that you’re going to have more time… more time for decisions on your end!” Partnering with a non-profit brings more people into the conversation. It also presents atypical challenges in working with the municipality. Zoning takes more time, working with the Parks and Rec. Department takes more time, deciding on programming takes more time, etc. But Mike embraced the drawn out schedule and used the extra time to his advantage.
Kowalczyk and his partners used these lengthened waiting periods to brainstorm how their complex would be used for the greater good. Although this “public good” aspect is required by Detroit’s municipality when partnering with a non-profit, Mike acknowledged that thinking about the public good has become second nature to the whole team. After all, the entire vision was born out of a desire to meet a community need. Kowalczyk and his partners are beyond excited to use their facility not only for pickleball, but also for building up their beloved city. Northville is planning on hosting the national charity for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, an organization near and dear to Mike and his family. Additionally, there are already plans in place to offer programming specifically for disabled veterans. This bent on benefiting the community is the heartbeat of Northville Pickleball Club. Partnering with a non-profit was the perfect decision for this club, and offers an unconventional path for others faced with similar roadblocks. Stay tuned for Northville’s grand opening in 2025!
