Pickleball complex proposed near Unity Park

A new pickleball complex may be coming to Greenville in the summer of 2024. 

Named “PKL Park,” the complex would be located near Unity Park at 78 Mayberry St. – the former site of Mark V Studios, the first independent recording studio in Greenville. 

Featuring a mix of sports, entertainment and dining, plans for the complex include:

• Eight professional-quality pickleball courts
• Four restaurants 
• A full bar
• A stage with a 20-foot TV wall
• 10,000 square feet of outdoor green space 

The concept for the new pickleball center was formed by Nick Gilley, president of Base 360 and contractor for Gather GVL, and John Sharkey, co-founder of Greenville Sports Leagues. 

“With all of the popularity of pickleball and us being pickleball players ourselves, it just kind of made sense that this is exactly what Greenville needs,” Gilley said. 

Honoring history

The vibrant history of the Mark V Studios and the Southernside neighborhood will be highlighted throughout the complex.  

Gilley said a request was submitted to the city’s historic review board to deem the Mark V Studios as a historic building. For the project, the studio building will be renovated to house one of the restaurants and the bar.

“We’re doing the Mark V Stage that will be an honorary tribute to all of those musicians,” Gilley said. “The pickleball courts themselves will be named after the musicians that played there so we’re just kind of tying all of that history into the project.”

A mural wall showcasing the history of the complex’s site and the Southernside community is also planned to be featured along the Swamp Rabbit Trail entrance to the park. 

Design plans for PKL Park have been submitted to the city’s design review board and will be discussed during the Sept. 7 meeting. 

“We’re really excited,” Gilley said. “It gave us a lot of relief to see how much positive feedback from the community and how much a facility like this is needed.”