“We wanted accessibility, we wanted visibility, and we wanted the community.”
With squash set to debut at the LA 2028 Games, the sport is taking active steps to become more visible and more accessible to all.
Project Beacon is an outdoor public squash court whose exterior walls will feature rotating art exhibits, combining sport and creativity in a way never seen before. This initiative integrates a state-of-the-art glass squash court with different art displays, promoting recreation and innovation.
The project aims to accelerate squash’s momentum in the U.S. by showcasing it in public spaces, starting in Chicago. It seeks to make the sport accessible to everyone, and provide programming, coaching, and equipment to reduce barriers to experiencing squash.
Beacon will offer the health benefits and joy of squash in a visually striking structure designed to attract more people to the sport. Its core goals—accessibility, visibility, and community—align perfectly with the chosen location: Union Park in Chicago.
The court’s unique feature will be its rotating art exhibits, showcasing work from children and professional artists, enhancing Chicago’s reputation as a global hub for recreation, arts, and innovation.
The project has received support from local businesses, the Professional Squash Foundation, US Squash and its Foundation, the Chicago Park District, and the vibrant Chicago squash community. Key community partners include MetroSquash, After School Matters, and the Chicago Parks Foundation.
Adriana Olaya, Head of the PSA Foundation, stated:
“We are thrilled to support such an innovative project. One of our main aims at the PSA Foundation is to make squash more accessible for all. Project Beacon will unite the squash community in a fun and inclusive way.
“We look forward to seeing the project grow, with locals jumping on court, and to inspiring similar initiatives across the U.S. and hopefully worldwide.
“Beacon highlights the power of partnerships in making a community impact. This initiative wouldn’t be possible without the leadership of local advocates like Arnie and the backing of US Squash and the PSA Foundation.
“A variety of activities will take place on the court, including squash clinics, professional exhibitions, amateur tournaments for all skill levels, summer camps, and more.”
Arnie Dratt, President of the PSA Foundation, remarked:
“For many people, this will be their first introduction to squash. Traditionally, you need to join a private club to play, which many people find intimidating or financially inaccessible.
“We decided early on that the court should be in a public park, not on private land. We were fortunate to connect with the Chicago Park District Chief Operating Officer, who saw our vision and embraced the idea.
“The court will sit alongside one tennis court and three pickleball courts, creating a hub for racket sports. The art on the walls will attract passersby, and the court’s visibility will drive interest in squash.
“We’ve ensured there’s a motivated team to run year-round programming during Chicago’s squash-friendly months, from April to November. While we initially considered a steel court, safety concerns in public spaces led us to opt for glass, which provides full visibility of the players.
“Finding a glass court that met Chicago’s building codes was challenging, but we collaborated with Rik Zwikker, the developer of the Amsterdam court, to make necessary modifications.
“We now have a blueprint to help others replicate this model. Project Beacon will be the first operating public outdoor squash court in the U.S., laying the groundwork for a nationwide effort led by US Squash.
“It’s a great step in the right direction. Two important aspects of outdoor squash courts is it presents squash as completely open, and the court just looks very cool. The second is it is a huge billboard for the sport, where, in the U.S. only 1 in 10 people know what squash is right now. This is something we need to change.”
US Squash are one of the core supporters of this project.
Kevin Klipstein, President and CEO of US Squash, gave us an insight into why US Squash are backing such an innovative project:
“We are supporting this project as a first step, a prototype, so that we can learn from it, and apply these learnings to support other markets to do the same.
“The U.S. Squash Foundation has provided a significant grant to make the project possible, our staff have contributed a significant amount of time in coordinating the rollout, and we’ll be involved in supporting the programming of the court.
“We’ll learn from this experience and pass it along, with the hope that we are able to get courts set up in LA, Philadelphia, Miami and other markets to increase visibility of squash.
“It’s an important part of the overall marketing mix for the sport in order to grow. Just as important is reducing the cost to build courts indoors too, which we are also working on.
“Arnie has made this project a success and he’ll continue to lead. We hope to leverage all of his experience in support of other courts going up too.
“What will perpetuate its success is ongoing programming that generates demand for more outdoor courts at the same and other locations.”
The court is currently en route from China to Chicago and is expected to open in spring 2025.
With Project Beacon’s vision and your support, they aim to build and sustain these courts with robust programming, making squash accessible to everyone.
Join them in making history by supporting the first public outdoor squash court in the U.S.
Support the project here: https://psafoundation.com/beacon/
