EPiC Pickleball Courts in Ellensburg - PHASE 1

NOTE: We reached our goal for 2020!  Thank you so much!  Keep an eye out for our 2021 Phase 2 campaign so that we can make further improvements to the court area.  The EPiC Courts will be a great addition to West Ellensburg Park for years to come!! 

NOTE:  Please donate directly to Darla Sautter if you can -- GFM has fees. Venmo, Zelle, cash/check and depositing directly into the Ellensburg Pickleball Club account at WSECU are all options . Off-line donations will be added to the total here. Thank you!!
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OUR STORY
The Ellensburg Pickleball Club (EPiC) is raising funds for the establishment of four new pickleball courts at West Ellensburg Park. The club will provide most of the extensive labor, but needs monies for the purchase of the materials and some possible contracted service. We have received a grant from the City of Ellensburg Parks Department in the amount of $7610, which is a great start! We want to try and match that with donations and will run this fundraiser through the completion of the project, finishing (hopefully!) Summer 2020. *

The current plan is to repair and resurface the cracked/damaged 62' x 120' asphalt pad that currently exists at the park, then adding a sports court surface, paint for four pickleball courts, with permanent posts and nets.

100% of monies received will be put toward creating the new court area, which -- in addition to surface repair, refinishing and painting -- may include such things as spectator seating, additional windbreak/shade creation, backboard installation, an emergency AED, and (if we're really successful in our fundraising!) lights for evening play. Should there be any remaining funds, they will be used to purchase ongoing supplies such as outdoor balls and better beginner paddles for those learning the game.

Thank you for donating to our cause!
~ The Ellensburg Pickleball Club  ~

Post created by Darla Hill Sautter, USAPA Ambassador for Ellensburg and EPiC member. Also on the Go Fund Me committee are EPiC club members Pat Gigstead and Rhonda McKinney. All monies received will go into a bank account set up specifically for club purposes, managed by a leadership team that is in the process of formation. 

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Why pickleball? Pickleball -- founded in the fabulous Pacific Northwest -- is the fastest growing sport in America, with a 10% increase each year for the last ten years. It's a combination of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton; some describe it as playing ping-pong, but with a partner and while standing ON the "table."  Nearly every week, the USA Pickleball Association posts photos of new courts opening somewhere in the nation, and now pickleball is seeing extensive growth in Kittitas County.  All three locations where organized play is open to the public -- on the CWU campus, through the Ellensburg Parks Dept., and in the Upper County -- have gone from 0-10 players at the start of 2019 to 25-40 players presently.  (Figures aren't exact as some people play at more than one location.) 

Why is pickleball so popular? It's an easy-entry sport, affordable and simple to learn.  It's much easier on the joints and rest of the body than tennis and racquetball, which is part of the reason that 75% of the players nationwide are age 65+.  But it's not just a sport for seniors -- check out some YouTube videos by searching "Pickleball U.S. Open."  Last year, 2200 players from teens up to octogenarians participated in the national championships and in watching the young pros play, you can see this is a serious, highly competitive sport, too. 

Many, many people -- once they pick up a paddle and give it a go -- become quite committed to the sport because of the fun they have and the fitness goals they achieve. And a myriad of new friendships are made along the way. Fun, fitness, and friendship -- we love that we're doing our part to help the residents of our valley lead healthier, happier, and more connected lives!

*** The COVID-19 pandemic threw our original timing off, but the plan is still fully in the works!