Abilene approves PickleTex pickleball complex with six outdoor courts, three indoor courts

Abilene has cleared the way for a new pickleball hub in north Abilene, approving PickleTex’s conditional use permit for a nine-court complex at 1200 Ruswood Dr. The plan calls for six outdoor courts and three indoor courts on a 1.292-acre tract in the Radford Hills Addition, giving local players a larger dedicated facility than the piecemeal court options many have relied on.

The city’s final-reading agenda for April 9 listed CUP-2026-04 as the permit needed to allow outdoor recreational activities, specifically pickleball courts, at the site. The approval moves the project toward construction after city leaders also set operating rules designed to limit impacts on nearby property owners, including outdoor hours that avoid late-night play and vinyl wind blockers to help reduce noise and light spill.

For players, the scale matters as much as the location. A mixed indoor-outdoor setup gives PickleTex the flexibility to keep play going when weather changes and creates room for league nights, lessons, open play and tournaments in one place. Ryan Connor, the company’s owner, said the project is moving into permits and construction and could open as early as July, while PickleTex’s own site says the courts are scheduled to open in early summer 2026.

The permit also points to a bigger shift in how Abilene is handling pickleball growth. For years, local players have used a patchwork of spaces, including Rose Park and McMurry University gyms, while other courts have required membership. Connor said there has not been one dedicated location in Abilene that players can always use, and the new complex is positioned to change that by offering a more permanent, full-time home for the sport in north Abilene.

That broader demand is not unique to Abilene. USA Pickleball’s 2025 growth report says Pickleheads added more than 2,300 locations last year, bringing the national total to 18,258 locations, while total known courts reached 82,613 and USA Pickleball membership reached 104,828. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association says participation climbed from about 4.2 million players in 2020 to more than 24 million in 2025.

Abilene already has an active base to feed the new venue. Abilene Country Club says it operates eight permanent outdoor pickleball courts at its North Facility and eight more outdoor courts plus four barn courts at its South Facility, along with men’s, women’s and mixed leagues and a junior program. PickleTex’s plan adds another layer to that local ecosystem, with a pro shop and paddle rental signaling a facility built for regular play, not just court access. The approval suggests Abilene is entering a more organized phase of pickleball expansion, where new court time is being built into the city’s sports landscape rather than fought for one temporary setup at a time.