Premier Sports Campus North: New pickleball and swim hub coming soon to Manatee County
Premier Athletics & Aquatics Center moves closer to opening
Swimmers and pickleball players will soon have access to new facilities at Premier Sports Campus North in Manatee County. Fox 13's Kimberly Kuizon reports.
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. - Manatee County officials are inching closer to opening the new Athletics and Aquatics Center at Premier Sports Campus North in Lakewood Ranch.
Lakewood Ranch sports hub
What we know:
Crews are putting the finishing touches on the premier facility located east of Interstate 75 off State Road 70 on Rangeland Parkway.
The complex features an Olympic-sized competition pool designed to accommodate swim teams, water polo, and underwater hockey.
A second pool will host swim lessons and other local aquatic activities. Both pools are ADA-accessible.
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The site also houses 24 pickleball courts, with 14 covered to offer relief from the elements.
Beyond the sports courts, visitors will find locker rooms, a walking path, a dedicated food truck area, and a community room for meetings and birthdays.
A massive jumbotron on site will display scores during competitions and host community events like movie nights by the pool.
What we don't know:
Officials have not yet confirmed the exact date for the grand opening, though county leaders hope to open the doors by the end of the year.
Local community impact
What they're saying:
"This is going to be huge for anyone who is a pro pickleball player or just starting out," said Angela Donofrio, recreation manager for Premier Athletics and Aquatics. "We would love to focus on having the intro to pickleball for the little ones and also be able to bring in tournaments that have professional outreach to bring the community together. As far as the pool, the sky is the limit."
"It's endless what this can do," said John Linxwiler, captain of aquatics safety for Manatee County. "We can attract really big competitions such as state swimming, championships, national championships. I think that's the goal for some of these swim teams because they do have national swimmers. Having this premier swimming pool is an opportunity to give these kids that they've never had before."
What's next:
Youth swim teams are already working to schedule practice time at the facility, and college programs plan to train at the complex during winter and spring breaks.
Manatee County officials expect to welcome the public to the new complex before the end of the year.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from Manatee County Captain of Aquatics Safety John Linxwiler, Premier Athletics and Aquatics Recreation Manager Angela Donofrio, and reporting by FOX 13 reporter Kimberly Kuizon.