Construction underway on pickleball center

Construction has started on the Down the Line indoor pickleball center in the long-vacant Kid’s Choice building.

The facility, at 4317 Ravensworth Road, Annandale, will have 18 full-size pickleball courts, seven state-of-the-art golf simulators, and a sports bar, says developer Jenni Bae. She anticipates opening in 2025.

Bae envisions Down the Line as a social gathering space with a balcony for spectators. It will offer expert pickleball coaching, leagues, and amateur and pro tournaments.

An avid tennis player, Bae took up pickleball during the pandemic. She says the sport is fun, social, and accessible to people of all ages.

Her family also owns the Han Gang restaurant next door. They purchased the Kid’s Choice property in 2015 with plans to convert it into an adult day center and banquet hall. The Board of Supervisors approved the project in 2018 but it never got off the ground.

Related story: Park Authority removes pickleball from Annandale park

“Once we saw how popular pickleball is, our family decided to pivot,” Bae says. “The building was designed as a sports facility, so that made more sense.”

While planning the Annandale project, the City of Fairfax asked her to create a temporary pickleball facility in a vacant CVS that was slated for redevelopment.

The Down the Line center in Fairfax opened earlier this year at 10390 Willard Way. It has three full-size courts, a half-size court, a practice court, live scoreboards, a players’ lounge, and a mini pro shop.

The Fairfax facility offers memberships for individuals for $45 a month and Silver Paddle memberships for $20 a month for people age 60 and above.

You don’t need to be a member to play. Members get half-price rates on open play sessions and private court reservation and priority access to programs and events.