COLUMBUS, Ohio — Westerville will soon be home to a premier pickleball “eatertainment” venue.
Smash Park announced Wednesday that it is opening a 50,000-square-foot venue in the Westar Place business district off of Polaris Parkway. Construction for the recreation center kicks off this summer and is expected to wrap up next year.
The venue will offer food, drinks and recreation, including pickleball, shuffleboard, bocce ball, a patio, rooftop bar, televisions and yard games. Those with pets will also find a dedicated dog space adjacent to a dog-friendly outdoor patio.
“We carefully consider each new location, and the Columbus metro is a diverse and active community, perfectly suited for the booming sport of pickleball and our other social offerings.” said Smash Park CEO Monty Lockyear. “The community has been so welcoming, and we can’t wait to bring our unique mix of food, drinks, entertainment and recreation to Westerville and the surrounding area.”
The Smash Park venue will have 30,000-square-feet of indoor space to house pickleball courts, a full-service restaurant, a 21-and-over “Paddle Club” axe-throwing, duckpin bowling, and two karaoke “Sing Suites.”
Those dedicated to pickleball, cornhole, darts, duckpin bowling or axe-throwing can join Smash Park’s weekly leagues.
“Westerville is proud to welcome Smash Park to Westar Place.” said Rachel Ray, City of Westerville Economic development director. “Westerville is home to a number of corporate headquarters, and this is exactly the type of amenity those businesses have requested and that we’ve envisioned for this prominent site. With its event spaces and team-focused games, we’re confident that Smash Park will become a go-to destination for employees of Westar business and visitors from across the region.”
The recreation area will also be equipped for nighttime entertainment such as glow pickleball and glow dodgeball.
The venue plans to hire more than 100 employees and expects more than 500,000 visitors annually.
