POCATELLO — A new family-friendly pickleball facility that touts affordability and something for everyone will soon be open inside the Westwood Mall on Garrett Way.

Poky Pickleball will provide indoor pickleball courts so people of all ages and skill levels can play one of the world’s fastest-growing sports year-round.

Entrepreneurs and Poky Pickleball founders Sterling Murdock and Jared Huckstep conceptualized the idea for a Gate City indoor pickleball facility back in July after they had outgrown their spaces for pick-up pickleball games.

“It started out with us playing in the church buildings and it got to the point where there were just too many people,” Murdock said. “Everyone wants to go play. Everyone wants the court. There’s only so many church buildings and (the Mountain View Event Center) and everything else like that when it comes to only being able to play outdoors for maybe four or five months out of the year.”

Murdock has over nine years of experience in the athletic facility industry, constructing football and tennis courts along with installing tracks and turf. Joining up with local business owner Huckstep, who owns Hux Customs gun shop in Chubbuck, the duo decided to pursue their passion for pickleball and made the decision in September to open a new facility.

“We went through with it,” Murdock said. “We went and looked at the space again, we went back and forth trying to see what rent is going to be best for everybody, so that we can still maintain it to be affordable for people. That’s the one thing we really wanted it to be — we want it to be affordable. We don’t want it to be where it’s too expensive for the normal person to come and be involved with pickleball.”

Murdock continued, “It’s a good sport for people that don’t really exercise a whole lot, people that may not be able to lift weights, they may not be able to run, they’re a little bit slower, especially the older generation. It’s a great sport for them. It’s low impact on their joints. They’re not running miles and miles, but it’s still elevating their heart rate, keeping them active. It’s a sport that anybody can play. You can go find a paddle for $15 to $20 and you can come and play.”

After the lease was signed with Westwood Mall in early December, construction began on Poky Pickleball, adding paint, fixing the electrical system and remodeling interior walls to transform the space into an indoor pickleball venue.

Utilizing his own sports facility company, Murdock was able to purchase the necessary materials and equipment at cost, saving money while personally investing in his pickleball dream.

Poky Pickleball will be temperature controlled during the cold winter months and hot summer months, facilitating an enjoyable climate year-round.

“We want it to be a place where kids can come and play,” Murdock added. “There’s not a whole lot of areas for the younger generation and the older generation to go somewhere and be active, minus a gymnasium or basketball court. The goal is to get in before the end of January, have a grand opening (in early February) and make it where anybody can come and play at any level, any ranking. If you’re brand new or if you’ve been playing for the last four years or even playing since grade school, we just want it to be where it’s enjoyable for everyone.”

Poky Pickleball will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, making the venue accessible to everyone regardless of schedule.

The current pricing plan will be around $5 to $8 for walk-ins and $29.99 for monthly membership plans that can include multiple family members and friends.

For anyone looking for that competitive edge, Murdock said there will be a pro shop with a variety of pickleball items available to try before you buy.

There will also be ball machines and training classes, with certified coaches to assist in honing pickleball skills and improving your game.

“We’ll have open play every day,” Murdock said. “We’ll have tournaments, we’ll have leagues, we’ll have every level anybody wants to come play. We’ll have after school programs for the students. We’re (also) working on a bunch of stuff with ICCU and Portneuf Medical Center. The biggest thing is we want to give back to the community and give them a space where everyone can stay active and everyone can stay involved.”