“The former St. Cornelius church in Jefferson Park will soon exchange pews for paddles as it is set to become an indoor pickleball facility and private club.

“The mid-century modern church building at 5430 W. Foster Ave. is nestled into an otherwise residential stretch of Foster Avenue just east of the Kennedy Expressway. The church has not been in use since at least 2021, after the Archdioceses of Chicago consolidated the parish with two nearby churches. But work is underway to convert it into a place for pickleball, with the city signing off on a building permit for the project last month.

“Chris Petrick, listed as the manager for Dink Enterprises, said he and a group of friends had been looking for a place to play pickleball and hang out in the city, exploring mainly warehouse properties to buy. But industrial spaces proved expensive and often needed substantial work, prompting him to look elsewhere, he said.

“‘You need high ceilings, so I said, ‘Let’s look for movie theaters or old churches,” Petrick said. ‘And bingo, just like that, it popped up.’

“Records show the developers applied for a zoning change in April 2024, and a city building permit for the property was approved this May. The lead architect is Edward Torrez, principal for the Chicago-based firm Arda Design, which specializes in historical preservation.

“Torrez said the church building was left almost entirely intact, with preserved stained-glass windows, light fixtures and a sanctuary that is close to 40 feet high — ideal for prayer and pickleball. Contractors have already redone the roof and much of the masonry on the building, Torrez said.

“The exterior is going to look the same. The community was happy about that,” Torrez said.

“Along with two full pickleball courts, the club will have billiards and dart rooms, workspaces and a commercial kitchen, developers said. The basement, which Torrez said has a large assembly hall and was most recently used to train drug-sniffing dogs, will be converted into lockers. Petrick said he intends to maintain the other half of the basement, which includes a stage, for public community use.

“Torrez said he was excited to work on the project and believes it is important for architects and developers to consider creative uses for old churches, particularly as more and more have closed in recent years.

“‘I’m really happy that we get to do this,’ Torrez said. ‘Who would have thought of pickleball in a closed church?'” (Asimow, Block Club Chicago, 6/3/25)

Read the full story at Block Club Chicago

• Closed Catholic Church To Become Indoor Pickleball Clubhouse; Along with two full pickleball courts, the Jefferson Park club will have billiards and dart rooms, workspaces and a commercial kitchen, developers said, Noah Asimow, Block Club Chicago, 6/3/25
• Old church building on Chicago’s Northwest Side to be transformed into pickleball club, Noel Brennan, CBS News Chicago, 6/3/25
• Council okays pickleball club for former St. Cornelius Church, Dunkin’ next to Trinity Lutheran, Brian Nadig, Nadig Newspapers, 5/31/25
• Renovation Permit Issued To Transform Jefferson Park’s St. Cornelius Church Into Pickleball Facility, Daniel Schell, Chicago YIMBY, 5/21/25