SoLé Mia installs first floating pickleball court in North Miami

SoLé Mia turned its 7-acre Laguna Solé into what it calls the first floating pickleball court at a residential resort property, putting North Miami into one of the sport’s newest experiments in access and spectacle. The custom inflatable court was announced May 28, 2026 and sits inside a 184-acre master-planned community already built around water, beaches and wellness.

The court is not just a stunt piece. SoLé Mia said the playing surface measures 44 feet by 20 feet, with an overall footprint of 66 feet by 33 feet, and that it was manufactured to official pickleball dimensions with baselines, service boxes and a non-volley zone. The company said it used DWF material, the same high-density material used in professional stand-up paddleboards, to create a stable surface that can still deliver an authentic ball bounce. It is anchored with a purpose-built system and can be inflated in about 60 to 90 minutes, with a front-entry base connecting it to the lagoon’s edge.

That technical detail matters because pickleball’s next phase is no longer about whether people want to play. They do. USA Pickleball’s 2025 annual growth report said Pickleheads added more than 2,300 new places to play last year, bringing the nationwide total to 18,258 locations, while its database now lists 82,613 courts. USA Pickleball said membership reached 104,828 in 2025 and sanctioned 144 tournaments that year. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association said 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025, up sharply from about 4.2 million in 2020.

SoLé Mia is leaning into that demand as part of a broader amenity package. The development sits between Biscayne Boulevard and Oleta State Park, and its marketing also points to a one-mile loop around the lagoon, beach access, yoga classes, a children’s park, dog parks and Reserve Padel Club. The floating court is another layer in that mix, designed to make the lagoon itself part of the recreational draw rather than just a backdrop.

South Florida has already shown how far developers will go to turn pickleball into a signature attraction. The Fort in Fort Lauderdale has been described locally as a 43-court facility with the world’s first dedicated pickleball stadium. SoLé Mia’s floating court pushes the idea further, testing whether a novelty format can broaden participation and add court time, or whether it remains a luxury amenity that plays best on social media.