New Pickleball Courts Proposed at The Porticos in Fox Point

A proposal to add pickleball play and construct courts at The Porticos in Fox Point is moving into the Village review process.

The Fox Point Village Board is scheduled to consider the request at its Tuesday, September 8 meeting. The proposal involves using existing tennis and basketball courts at The Porticos, 500 W. Bradley Road, for pickleball.

For North Shore families looking for more places to play pickleball, the proposal could eventually add another local option — but the project still has several steps to go before anything is approved or constructed.

The September 8 agenda describes the request as an “Outdoor Recreational Use Request for Pickleball Play and Construction of Courts on Existing Tennis and Basketball Courts” at The Porticos.

The Village Board is not being asked to give final approval to the courts at this meeting.

Instead, the request is expected to be referred to the Fox Point Plan Commission for additional review and a recommendation.

The Fox Point Plan Commission serves as an advisory body to the Village Board and reviews land-use issues before making recommendations.

Where Are The Porticos?

The Porticos property is located at 500 W. Bradley Road in Fox Point.

The proposed pickleball use would be on existing tennis and basketball courts rather than on an entirely new recreational site.

Village planning materials say the property is within Fox Point's Institutional zoning district and that the existing courts qualify as a public recreational facility under Village code.

That means the question is less about whether recreation can take place there and more about whether pickleball is an appropriate use at the site and what conditions might be needed.

Why Does the Proposal Need Village Review?

Under Fox Point's zoning rules, outdoor recreational facilities must be reviewed for several potential impacts.

Village staff has identified factors including:

• Whether the use could create a nuisance or hazard

• Compatibility with surrounding properties

• Potential impacts on nearby property values

• Lighting and screening

• Adequate parking

• Whether the use is consistent with the residential character of the Village

Village staff has previously noted that pickleball is physically similar to tennis in terms of the amount of land it uses, but the Village can impose conditions to address concerns surrounding outdoor recreation.

Noise is likely to be one of the issues residents and officials watch closely, since pickleball courts around the country have sometimes generated concerns from nearby homeowners.

What Happens Next?

The September 8 Village Board meeting represents an early step in the process.

If the Board refers the proposal, the Plan Commission would study the request and make a recommendation back to the Village Board.

The Village Board would then hold a public hearing before deciding whether to approve the request, deny it or approve it with modifications or conditions.

That means there should be additional opportunities for residents to weigh in before a final decision is made.

The Village of Fox Point Agenda Center posts upcoming meeting agendas and supporting materials as the proposal moves through the process.

This isn't the first time Fox Point officials have considered how pickleball fits into Village recreation.

Village staff has been discussing pickleball use at Village parks with residents, and earlier Village materials recommended referring pickleball use on Village-owned recreational facilities to the Plan Commission for review.

If approved, it could help establish how Fox Point approaches pickleball facilities, including questions surrounding locations, operating hours, parking, screening and neighborhood impacts.

Other Pickleball Proposals Included Restrictions

Fox Point has previously imposed detailed conditions on pickleball facilities.

In a separate 2024 pickleball approval, Village conditions included operating hours from 8 a.m. until dusk, no outdoor court lighting, landscape screening and sound barriers designed to reduce noise reaching neighboring properties.

Those conditions do not automatically apply to the Porticos proposal, but they provide some context for the types of issues Fox Point officials have considered when evaluating pickleball near residential areas.

Any conditions for The Porticos would be determined through this project's own review process.

How to Follow the September 8 Meeting

The Fox Point Village Board meeting is scheduled for:

Tuesday, September 8, 2026
7 p.m.
Fox Point Village Hall
7200 N. Santa Monica Boulevard
Fox Point, WI 53217

Residents can attend in person or participate remotely.

Join the Village Board meeting on Zoom

Meeting ID: 873 3525 6142

Dial: (312) 626-6799

The Village's agenda confirms that the pickleball proposal is listed under New Business for the September 8 meeting.

What We'll Be Watching

Several details still need to emerge as the Porticos proposal moves through Village review, including how many pickleball courts are planned, whether the courts would remain available for tennis or basketball, proposed hours of operation, parking arrangements and any measures intended to address noise.

Those details will likely become clearer when the proposal reaches the Plan Commission.

For now, the September 8 referral is the first major step toward determining whether The Porticos could become Fox Point's newest pickleball destination.

Pickleball has become an increasingly popular activity for both adults and families because it is relatively easy for beginners to learn and can be played across generations.

Additional courts in Fox Point could give North Shore residents another place to play without traveling farther into Milwaukee County or neighboring communities.

For families looking for other outdoor recreation options nearby, check out our guide to the best parks in Milwaukee's North Shore.

You can also explore more local outdoor ideas in our North Shore outdoor activities guide.