SEATTLE — The clang of steel and hum of construction equipment now echo across a once quiet lot just off 15th Avenue West in Interbay, where dozens of people once lived in RVs. That site, formerly known as Salmon Bay Village, is being redeveloped into a 54,000-square-foot indoor pickleball facility called Pickle at the Palms, set to open in 2026.
Owned by Seattle Storm co-owner Ginny Gilder, the project is a family venture. Gilder’s daughter, Sierra, and son-in-law Kyle Schraeder are part of the development team. Schraeder will also serve as the facility’s general manager.
Construction began in early July, with crews clearing brush and preparing the foundation.
“We’re just breaking ground, really removing all the brush that was there before,” Schraeder said. “And then we're starting to build the bones of Pickle at the Palms.”
The transformation marks a dramatic change for a lot that previously operated as a city-sanctioned safe parking site for people living in RVs and tiny homes. Managed by the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), Salmon Bay Village housed approximately 50 people across 30 RVs and 10 tiny homes before it closed in May following the expiration of its lease.
Schraeder said the development team initially considered including housing in their plans, but ultimately pivoted toward a project more aligned with their background and experience.
“Multifamily was harder for us to push and a little bit more challenging within the space,” Schraeder said. “We just love sports. We wanted to get back into something that we know — something I personally can help manage.”
Pickle at the Palms aims to serve players at every level, from casual participants to competitive athletes. Schraeder emphasized that the facility is not intended to replace public pickleball courts but to offer a complementary, premium experience.
“There should be an opportunity to play outside for free as well,” he said. “This is just a more premium experience that allows someone to have a controlled time on when they want to actually play.”
He also pointed to the growing popularity of pickleball — both nationally and locally — as a key reason for the investment.
“We have little hubs around the city — Green Lake, Magnolia, Rainier Beach — but we don’t have an indoor dedicated facility,” Schraeder said. “With the other facilities starting to pop up, not only nationwide but here in Seattle, it’s nice that we have the ability to start connecting and collaborating together to continue to grow the sport.”
Not everyone has welcomed the transition. Some residents and community members have raised questions about what happened to the people displaced by the closure of Salmon Bay Village.
Magnolia resident Penny Fuller, 82, who plays pickleball at nearby courts, said she’s excited for more indoor options but concerned about those who were forced to leave.
“Where do those people now live?” she asked. “Yeah, it is a problem.”
KING 5 reached out to the Low Income Housing Institute to ask whether a new location has been identified for the RV parking program but has not received a response.