Help Us Build a 4th Pickleball Court at Encanto Park!

Location: Encanto Sports Complex, Phoenix, AZ

Initial Goal: $20,000 (*achieved on 3/18/26)

New Goal: $25,000

UPDATE - March 18, 2026

We are so thankful to have reached our goal of $20,000 today! A sincere thank you to all 114+ donors for believing in our mission and supporting our Fourth Court campaign.

We will keep this GoFundMe active and increase our target to $25,000 for those who wish to keep supporting us. However, we are transitioning to Phase Two, which involves seeking corporate sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring our new fourth court, please visit our website for more information or to contact us.

UPDATE - March 3, 2026

We received an incredibly generous donation from an anonymous donor in the mail on 2/28/26 that brought our total to $19,300.

We achieved our first target of $10,000 in just 22 days with the help of 93 generous donors. We are thrilled and grateful to have reached this milestone. All contributions are tax-deductible and will go 100% towards the construction of our fourth pickleball court.

INTRO/HISTORY

Hello everyone, I’m Jae Staats, the organizer of this GoFundMe campaign. Over the past three years, I have collaborated with the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department to enhance the pickleball experience at Encanto Park.

We successfully raised funds for three benches, introduced new championship nets, set up a paddle holder, initiated the parking lot re-striping project, hosted three pickleball tournament and painted a stunning mural on our south wall with the help of volunteers from our community.

Instead of just complaining or expecting the park to do all of these things, we decided to take action and create a positive impact!

OUR GOAL

Our primary objective has consistently been to construct a fourth pickleball court in an underutilized storage yard adjacent to our existing courts. As the popularity of pickleball surges throughout Phoenix and at Encanto Park, our players experience wait times exceeding 40 minutes just to play a single game.

Establishing a fourth court with a dedicated entrance and a shaded waiting area would significantly decrease waiting times. Additionally, it would create a space for lessons, senior activities, and the introduction of this game to new players.

It would also positively impact the tennis community as we currently share a space and routinely overflow onto their courts causing distractions and stoppage of play.

WHY ARE YOU PAYING FOR A NEW COURT?

The Parks Department is constructing new pickleball courts across Phoenix, prioritizing areas that currently lack any facilities. Unfortunately, since Encanto already has three courts, there is no funding available for an additional fourth court.

WHAT DOES MY DONATION GO TOWARDS?

In the summer of 2025, we engaged a top-tier court construction company to assess the storage yard, take measurements, and deliver an estimate. The overall cost amounted to $94,980 for a post-tension slab, fencing, court painting, net, new entrance gate, and windscreens.

As a public city park, the costs and fees are higher than those for a private residence; however, the Park incurs expenses that can be up to four times greater, which means we are saving a significant amount of money.

Our goal is to secure $20,000 through this campaign, with additional funds sourced from corporate sponsorships (Phase Two). Achieving this initial target will demonstrate to corporations and businesses, both local and national, the strength of our community and encourage them to contribute.

MY DONATION IS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE?

Yes, your contributions are 100% tax-deductible through A3F Incorporated (EIN: 26-2438971), a nonprofit organization founded in 2008 that supports film, community and recreation.

WHAT HAPPENS TO MY DONATION IF YOU DON'T REACH YOUR GOAL?

All contributions will be placed in a secure escrow account with the City of Phoenix, earmarked for "Pickleball Only" improvements at Encanto Park. In the event that we do not meet our target or are unable to construct a fourth court, the funds raised will be allocated towards better lighting and other necessary upgrades.

SUMMARY

Pickleball is growing rapidly in popularity, promoting fitness, community engagement, and healthy competition. The addition of a dedicated court at Encanto Park will provide local residents with a modern and accessible facility to enjoy this sport, fostering a sense of community and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

I have met so many new people whom I now consider friends, and I truly value the moments we experience together at Encanto. The introduction of a fourth court allows us to expand this incredible community even more!

Thank you for your time, consideration and hopefully a donation! Please reach out with any questions. Sincerely, Jae