Volo Facility with Pickleball Courts, Beach Volleyball, and Sports Fields Coming to Baltimore Peninsula

South Baltimore-based social sports company Volo is opening a new sports facility at the Baltimore Peninsula development. The facility, which is called Volo Beach and will open in phases, already has four beach volleyball courts up. Pickle ball courts will be added in the coming weeks, and spaces for soccer, football, kickball, bocce, cornhole, and food and beverage will be ready by Spring 2024.

Volo Beach is located just north of E. Cromwell St. and just west of the former The Baltimore Sun building, which is about to be demolished. The volleyball courts were built in part of The Baltimore Sun’s former parking lot. The pickle ball courts will go in additional existing concrete spaces. And, kickball, soccer, and flag football will be played in existing green spaces that will undergo improvements.

Volo Founder Giovanni Marcantoni said the food will likely come from food trucks and a shipping container bar.

He said there will likely be more than seven pickle ball courts. He described the growing demand for pickle ball in Baltimore as “crazy,” noting there are not many courts Downtown.

The courts will be used for Volo leagues as well as for drop-in play, tournaments, and private rentals. Marcantoni said they are still figuring out how to sort out all the rules for court time.

Marcantoni likes that pickle ball not only appeals to the young professional demographic who participates in large numbers with Volo, but to people of any age from kids to seniors. He’s excited to offer a pickle ball program as part of the company’s Volo Kids organization where kids play free.

Marcantoni’s family is from Little Italy where bocce ball is popular. This inspired him to launch his company with bocce ball leagues at Federal Hill Park. Now with a social sports organization hosting many sports, more than 45,000 adult players, 7,000 kid players, and 800 coaches in Baltimore, he loves having bocce as a nod to his start and as a game that “anyone can play.”

Baltimore Peninsula, which is a multi-billion dollar mixed-used development, has buildings in the master plan where Volo Beach is located. Marcantoni said they plan on being there for a while and could move things around if needed.

Volo is also building out its own facility called The Park in Canton/Brewers Hill. Marcantoni noted that operations are a lot easier when his company runs the venues.

Volo currently has its own venues New York City, Denver, and Boston.

Volo will continue to run leagues and activities in other South Baltimore parks including at South Point, Swann Park, and the South Baltimore Little League facility.

Image below courtesy of Volo and Baltimore Peninsula 

About the Author: Kevin Lynch

Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.