While it used to be all about shuffleboard and tennis, the newest fitness craze to take hold in 55+ communities is pickleball, a sport played on a badminton court with a net, a perforated plastic ball, and wooden paddles.
Several communities around Tampa are especially good at attracting residents who want to play competitively and recreationally. Here’s what each one has to offer.
Town Shores of Gulfport – Gulfport, FL
Low $200s – Low $700s
Pickleball courts are part of the amenity package offered in Town Shores of Gulfport, where 1,327 condos are well-located near the water and close to Tampa and St. Petersburg. Many of the residents here love having pickleball available as well as shuffleboard, tennis, and bocce. There’s also an on-site property manager taking care of maintenance issues as they arise. Residents don’t have to worry about landscaping, painting, or exterior property upkeep.
Buyers who like the idea of playing pickleball on the water will also enjoy the boat dock and kayak launch. Homes have between one and three bedrooms, one and three bathrooms, and range from 810 to 2,210 square feet.
There are 18 buildings spread out over well-maintained and pleasant grounds, and residents enjoy getting together in the clubhouse for book discussions and puzzle nights. Gulfport is a growing Florida retirement destination. If you’re really interested in upping your pickleball game, the local City of Gulfport Recreation Center offers classes.
Del Webb Bexley – Land O’Lakes, FL
Low $400s – High $600s
For something really special, pickleball players might want to consider moving into a new construction home at Del Webb Bexley. This 55+ community just north of Tampa is slated to have one of the most impressive amenity centers in the area.
The 17,000-square-foot clubhouse is under construction and will include a fitness center, an aerobics studio, a grand ballroom, and a food and beverage center. Joining the collection of pickleball courts will be a resort-style pool, a resistance pool, tennis courts, and an outdoor amphitheater. Community gardens, a dog park, and plenty of paths for walking and biking will also be available.
Buyers can choose from more than a dozen models and work with Del Webb to personalize their finishes and details. Single-family homes will be between 1,372 and 3,950 square feet with two and five bedrooms. Many floor plans come with lofts, bonus rooms, and dens. Choosing a private pool is not out of the question and attached garages are included.
Pickleball leagues and tournaments are expected to take place once residents start moving into the 850 homes at Del Webb Bexley.
The Groves Golf and Country Club – Land O’Lakes, FL
Mid $200s – Low $500s
Another 55+ community in the Land O’Lakes area of Tampa is The Groves Golf and Country Club, where all racquet sports are included at the community’s Racquet Club. There are pickleball courts, tennis courts, and a fitness center. The clubhouse has its own restaurant—Vesh—where residents and their guests enjoy everything from Sunday brunch to weeknight dinners. It’s a community-minded place where neighbors throughout the 754 single-family and attached homes feel like family.
There’s also golf on-site. Buyers who balance pickleball times and tee times will enjoy the 18-hole Gary Koch golf course which includes an aqua driving range and putting green. A library, a card room, and a media room round out some of the most appealing amenities for active adults looking for Tampa real estate in an age-restricted community close to the city but surrounded by nature.
Homes are available in various models and sizes, ranging from two to five bedrooms. Attached homes start at just over 1,000 square feet while some of the larger single-family floor plans have 2,552 square feet and attached three-car garages.
Kings Point – Sun City Center, FL
Below $100k – Mid $300s
Pickleball courts can be found in various places around Kings Point, one of the most popular 55+ communities in the Tampa area. It’s right across the street from the Sun City Center community, which also offers pickleball.
In Kings Point, there’s a South Clubhouse and a Community Center. Each location has four pickleball courts. There’s also lawn bowling, shuffleboard, tennis, softball, basketball, handball, and volleyball. It’s hard to get bored, and with over 5,277 properties spread out across this huge community, residents are bound to find a neighbor looking for a pickleball partner.
In addition to the pickleball courts, Kings Point offers pools, an art gallery, and a floating fishing dock. Homes are single-family models or attached, and available on a resale basis. They range from two to four bedrooms with 1,360 to 3,000 square feet. Sun City Center is the place to be for buyers looking for a Florida retirement community that’s golf cart-friendly and designed with active adults in mind.
Esplanade of Tampa – Tampa, FL
Low $400s – Low $700s
When you want to be in the city limits and you have pickleball players who haven’t reached 55 years of age yet, Esplanade of Tampa is the best place to buy. This community doesn’t have age restrictions, allowing residents to live with children, grandchildren, or roommates of any generation. Pickleball is popular, and so is bocce, tennis, and swimming. There’s a clubhouse with a fitness center, card room, billiards, and a multipurpose room.
With 12 spacious floor plans available, buyers can select a new or resale home in diverse models. The Novelli collection features two- and three-bedroom properties with attached two-car garages and between 1,856 and 2,740 square feet. The La Palma collection has several homes with three-car garages and two or three bedrooms. These models have between 1,856 and 3,006 square feet.
Being in Tampa, residents have easy access to shopping and dining in unique areas like Historic Ybor and Hyde Park. A new waterfront park being developed along the Hillsborough River may have public pickleball courts once completed.
