St. Luke’s University Health Network has launched St. Luke’s SportsPlex and Pickleball Lehigh Valley at 4636 Crackersport Road, South Whitehall.

St. Luke’s SportsPlex is one of the largest pickleball and indoor/outdoor sports facilities on the East Coast, outside of Florida, and it is home to Pickleball Lehigh Valley.

“St. Luke’s is pleased to once again add to the opportunities it offers to the residents of the Lehigh Valley and beyond with what I am confident will be the premier pickleball and indoor/outdoor sports facility,” Robert Martin, St. Luke’s chief strategy officer, said. “It’s important for St. Luke’s, charged with the health and well-being of the people of this region, to always be willing to try something new, to take a chance and to offer our friends and neighbors a whole new experience. Right here.”

St. Luke’s SportsPlex, formerly Parkland Pickleball Club, is a 75,000-square-foot former tennis and racket club that has been completely updated to support pickleball and other multisport activities.

Housed within six 8,000-square-foot “barrels” or bays, there are 12 NBA-quality hardwood pickleball courts, 12 designated hard court pickleball courts and an event center, which is also lined for pickleball, bringing the total indoor courts to 25.

In addition to the Amish-built indoor barrels, there is a 22-court, three-acre outdoor pickleball venue that offers a festival atmosphere and ample parking on- and off-site for large national, regional and local tournaments.

St. Luke’s SportsPlex also houses a spacious sports-themed event center and a state-of-the-art-player lounge and is poised to become the indoor/outdoor sports and pickleball destination in the Northeast.

St. Luke’s SportsPlex also offers indoor space for both team and individual training for youth to adults to enhance their skill and sports performance level.

St. Luke’s SportsPlex supports multisport activities after 3 p.m. on the wooden surfaces in Bays 1 and 2 and on the turf in Bay 3. A large player lounge and viewing area runs the length of the fields so that parents can watch their athletes train.

The facility is Wi-Fi enabled so parents can be connected online for their work and family needs.

“Are you already an expert pickleball player?” Mary Jo Cambridge, director of operations for PLV, asked. “This is the place for you to find high-quality drilling, open-play and tournament competitions. Are you just getting started? Join the movement and take a pickleball 101 class or lessons from a PPR certified teaching pro.”

“PLV provides a full range of private and semiprivate lessons, skill and drill sessions and open play,” Cambridge said. “Our team at PLV is made up of passionate and knowledgeable certified pickleball coaches who are dedicated to helping introduce players to pickleball or to help elevate a seasoned players game. We have a full schedule of weekly clinics and offer private lessons.”

St. Luke’s SportsPlex and PLV will also feature a physical therapy site, a pro shop, a player lounge with viewing area and outdoor event area, leagues and tournaments and pickleball lessons, clinics and classes.

According to John Hauth, St. Luke’s senior network administrator of sports medicine relationships, St. Luke’s SportsPlex and PLV are wanted in the Valley by its residents, and are a good fit for the region.

“The Lehigh Valley is special and unique,” he said. “We have a wide variety of sports in the area from youth to professional. St. Luke’s is proud to be part of that with numerous state-of-the-art sports facilities of all kinds.”

He added pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country for all ages.

“The demand to open has been so tremendous, we’ve decided to do a soft opening and get people playing pickleball,” Hauth added. “We anticipate that memberships will go fast.”

Those interested in joining should go to MyPickleballLV.com. If you already have a Court Reserve account, search for Pickleball Lehigh Valley.

According to Hauth, the soft opening was held at the end of December, into the new year. Free open play was offered for members who made reservations using Court Reserve.