by Julie Gowel ·
Friday, January 23, 2026
Owner Yvonne Chern stands inside the new badminton facility that will house 16 courts. While the floors have been sanded, they still need to be polyurethaned and painted before the February opening. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
For years, Harvard residents have watched the building project on Ayer Road, across from Harvard Lanes, inch along from a muddy lot filled with bucket loaders and backhoes, to a barn-like building that finally took shape last fall. The mystery of 203 Ayer Road is close to becoming a community destination. Boston Badminton, a recreational facility featuring 16 full-size badminton courts, is aiming to open its doors to the public on Valentine’s Day, bringing one of the largest badminton venues in the region to Harvard.
Years of planning, permitting, and construction, five to be precise, resulted in the striking new sports facility located close to the Route 2 interchange off Ayer Road. Yvonne Chern, owner and operator of Boston Badminton, signed the purchase and sale of the land in Harvard on April 9, 2021, during the early days of the pandemic-era building boom. L.D. Russo, a local construction firm, was responsible for the build.
According to Nat Coughlin, president of L.D. Russo, the project formally began in May 2024, starting with extensive environmental site preparation. “We worked closely with the Town of Harvard, especially with Conservation, to get two critical tasks completed,” said Coughlin in an email to the Press. The first was a wetlands relocation and replication project and the second was a considerable abatement of invasive plant species.
“This project required substantial earthwork to level a large enough area to meet the needs of the building, parking, and stormwater management,” Coughlin said. “Several months of work went into preparing the site pad and the ponds, slopes, and systems required for the project.”
The foundation permit was issued in November of last year, and construction of the concrete foundation and walls began that month. While L.D. Russo originally aimed for an early fall completion, the project ultimately wrapped in late December due to challenges related to electrical service design and bringing power onto the site, an issue that impacted multiple trades as they worked to get building systems online.
The final finishing touches are underway, including installation of a premier Robbins sports floor system which is currently undergoing the long process of sanding and sealing. According to the Robbins website, “22 of the past 27 NBA championships have been won by teams that practice or play on a Robbins floor,” including the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers.
Chern owns a successful badminton club in Westborough of the same name, and needed to expand her business to meet demand. “When I signed the purchase and sale here, we were the only game in town,” she said in an interview with the Press at the new building on Ayer Road. “We were overflowing. There was always a very long line of players waiting.” Since that time, a number of other badminton facilities have opened in the state, but Chern said she hopes the Harvard facility will invigorate the recreational side of the sport.
“When COVID struck, people were looking to socially interact and remain fit,” said Chern. “This is exactly the reason why I started the Westborough facility, almost 20 years ago. I was amazed at how a racket sport can bring people together. I was convinced that we needed a facility for that.”
Chern designed the Harvard location with scale in mind. While her Westborough facility contains eight courts, the capacity is double here, giving her the ability to host larger events, accommodate more recreational play, and reduce the bottleneck that often forms during peak times.
“In every way possible, [Chern] wanted to ensure that we built a world class badminton facility,” said Coughlin. “She worked with our superintendent and project manager to make sure we understood how the ventilation, the lighting, the paint color and sheen, and even the reflectiveness of glass on doors near the courts all impact the player experience.”
While Feb. 14 is the target opening date, unless weather or final construction delays shift the calendar, Boston Badminton in Harvard plans to host the Northeast Coleman Cup Regional Team Championship (for adult advanced and competitive grades) on March 21 and 22.
Additionally, Chern has tournaments booked for March 28 and 29, and April 4 and 5. She also plans to host the Bay State Games in July, which historically has drawn between 250-325 participants.
Residents and the general public will be able to access Boston Badminton through both membership and nonmember options, with a mix of staffed hours and remote entry. Members will have 24/7 use of the courts and other amenities, including a fitness center, outdoor picnic and seating area, bike rack, and electric vehicle chargers. Chern said the planned staffed hours are weekdays from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
During staffed hours, a pro shop selling items such as rackets, shuttlecocks, and related gear will be available, as well as racket and shoe rentals for $5. Additionally, light refreshments can be purchased during staffed hours, and a workspace area for adults will be accessible.
The model mirrors the facility in Westborough in that much of the business will run through online systems. Players can purchase memberships and reserve courts digitally, and the facility will operate efficiently with a small staff. Court rentals cost $20 per hour for members and $40 per hour for nonmembers. More information can be found on the Boston Badminton website at bostonbadminton.com.
Boston Badminton will also offer facility rentals for corporate events, private parties, and community programs. Inquiries can be directed to info@bostonbadminton.com, and Chern said rental rates will match Westborough’s. Groups may reserve individual courts or the full facility depending on size.
Chern’s interest in badminton extends beyond the game itself. When asked how she became interested in the sport, Chern exclaimed “I’m a mom!” She explained that she was looking for a way to keep her kids active year round, and foster connections through socialization. She found that in badminton, and since there wasn’t a dedicated facility for the sport at the time, she decided to open one herself.
“I’ve always enjoyed being with people, and having people together,” she said. “I think that is the best way to live life.”
That philosophy continues even as competition grows. Since 2024, new badminton facilities have opened in the region, including larger court centers connected to elite coaching programs. Rather than viewing them as threats, Chern calls it “synergistic,” believing that more facilities can grow the sport overall, especially if Harvard becomes a hub for recreational play and community-centered programming.
Her long-term hope is that the Harvard facility becomes a “center of family fun,” where beginners feel welcome, players of similar skill levels are paired for recreational games, and the courts serve as a place to move, laugh, compete, and meet neighbors. She wants to make the facility available for use by the Council on Aging as well as Harvard Park and Recreation.
“[I hope it] becomes a super community center,” said Chern. “There is a high school team tournament coming up. I will probably try to encourage [Bromfield participation] and offer some free coaching so Harvard can form a team. For the seniors across the street, we can offer a low rate during nonstaffed hours. That’s probably how we will start, especially with the locals here.”
“Badminton is a racket sport that can bring people together. That’s why I built it,” said Chern of the Harvard Boston Badminton location.