CHICAGO — A long-shuttered Catholic church in Chicago’s Jefferson Park neighborhood is being transformed into an indoor pickleball facility and private social clubhouse, developers announced this week. The St. Cornelius Church building, located at 5430 W. Foster Ave., is being repurposed to feature two pickleball courts, game rooms, coworking space, and a commercial kitchen, while maintaining many of the site’s historic features.
The move marks yet another example of creative reuse for aging religious buildings across the city.
From Sacred Site To Sporty Hangout
The mid-century church building, closed since 2021 after the Archdiocese of Chicago merged local parishes, was sold for $1.35 million in March 2024 to Dink Enterprises LLC. The company, led by Chris Petrick, had originally been scouting industrial spaces for a recreational facility, but found those options too costly or in disrepair.
“You need high ceilings,” Petrick explained. “So I said, ‘Let’s look for movie theaters or old churches.’ And bingo — this popped up.”
The 38,000-square-foot lot includes a 32-car parking lot, which will remain for club visitors. Renovations are underway after the city granted a building permit in May 2025.
Keeping The Spirit — And Structure — Intact
Led by architect Edward Torrez of Arda Design, the project aims to maintain the church’s iconic look. The building retains its stained-glass windows, original light fixtures, and a 40-foot sanctuary ceiling. “The exterior is going to look the same,” Torrez said. “The community was happy about that.”
Alongside pickleball courts, the site will also include:
- Billiards and dart rooms
- Workspaces
- A commercial kitchen
- Basement locker rooms
- A public-use stage area
The basement, which previously served as a dog training facility, will be partly reserved for community events — something Petrick said was essential to the project’s vision.
A Church Rich In Local History
The St. Cornelius parish dates back to the early 20th century. The current building was constructed in 1964, during a postwar population boom. At its peak in the 1980s, the parish served 2,500 families. Over the decades, its demographics shifted to include a large number of Hispanic and Filipino worshippers.
In 2020, the Archdiocese consolidated St. Cornelius with St. Tarcissus and St. Thecla parishes, forming St. Elizabeth of the Trinity. Despite drawing the largest average Sunday Mass attendance, the decision was made to cease services at the Foster Avenue church. By 2021, the church was designated for “profane but not sordid use” — effectively cleared for secular redevelopment.
Preservation With A Modern Twist
Torrez emphasized the importance of reimagining disused sacred spaces while honoring their architectural legacy. “I’m really happy we get to do this,” he said. “Who would have thought of pickleball in a closed church?”
The former St. Cornelius school building, also closed by the Archdiocese, was purchased by Chicago Public Schools in 2021 and now operates as the Catalpa Early Childhood Center.
With the rise of pickleball’s popularity nationwide, this Jefferson Park project offers both a nostalgic nod and a look into how urban spaces can adapt to changing community needs.
What do you think about old churches being turned into modern recreation spaces? Would you visit this pickleball clubhouse? Share your thoughts in the comments at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
