Manatee County's $44 Million Pool and Pickleball Complex in Lakewood Ranch Set to Open by Year's End

Manatee County's new $44.2 million Athletics & Aquatics Center at Premier Sports Campus North is on track to open before the end of 2026, giving Lakewood Ranch families a full-size competition pool and two dozen pickleball courts just off Rangeland Parkway. The 44,000-square-foot facility, at 16350 Rangeland Pkwy, has been under construction since a groundbreaking in early 2025, and county officials confirmed the year-end timeline in a report published September 23.

The centerpiece is a 52-meter Olympic-size Myrtha pool, eight lanes wide and up to 8 feet deep at its deepest point, built for high-level competition. A movable bulkhead lets the pool split into two shorter competition areas, so it can host multiple meets at once. Next to it sits a 25-yard, four-lane therapy and warm-up pool that's only 4 feet deep, meant for hydro aerobics, aqua biking, instructional swimming or simply cooling off after laps.

Outside, the campus adds 24 pickleball courts, 14 of them covered under a shade structure with fans and lighting so play can continue through Florida's hottest afternoons and sudden summer storms. The other ten courts are outdoor and lighted. A standalone hitting wall, a pro shop, a trainer's room and picnic tables with umbrellas round out the courts side of the property. Parking is built for roughly 241 vehicles.

What it will cost to use

The county says both memberships and daily-use fees will be available once the center opens, though it has not yet released a price list. Anyone who already holds a membership at G.T. Bray Recreation Center or John H. Marble Administration Building will get reciprocal access here, meaning current Manatee County recreation members won't need to buy a separate pass to swim laps or book a court at the new Lakewood Ranch site.

The building also includes an administration building of nearly 19,300 square feet, with two community rooms that can combine into one large space for events, a kitchen area, and locker rooms. County officials have said the complex was designed to handle both walk-in daily use and large tournaments, the kind of swim meets and pickleball championships that pull competitors and their families in from out of town and spend money at nearby hotels and restaurants while they're here.

Manatee County has not yet announced a specific opening date, membership prices, or a public hours schedule. Those details typically follow closer to a ribbon-cutting, and the county's recreation division has said more information will be shared as construction wraps up.

For now, the project remains one of the larger public recreation investments Manatee County has made in the Lakewood Ranch area in recent years, and it sits alongside other amenities already open at Premier Sports Campus North, including walking trails on the property. Residents watching for an exact opening date should expect an announcement from the county as the calendar turns toward late 2026.

Stay connected with more Lakewood Ranch coverage at the Lakewood Ranch Community Website, and join the conversation about the new center in our Community Forum. For more updates on growth and new amenities coming to the area, visit our community news section or check out our coming soon page for other projects headed to Lakewood Ranch.