Save PADELphia Venice Island
Hi Everyone,
During the overnight hours heading into September 3, our beloved outdoor community Padel racquet sport center on Venice Island in Philadelphia’s Manayunk neighborhood - fondly known as “PADELphia” - was ripped apart by the Schuylkill River, which reached an epic high flood stage in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ida’s drenching, relentless rains.
PADELphia is one of the very few Padel centers in the U.S. Padel is the fastest growing racquet sport in the world. Our courts were never designed to be big money generators. Instead, we built them to boost the sport of Padel here in the states and to grow a community around its unique social positivity.
During Ida, our two courts, workout space, pro shop, and trailer took a direct hit and were fully submerged by river water. The unprecedented Schuylkill River breach damaged the courts, toppling metal pillars and the lighting system. Glass panels were compromised and reduced to rubble piles. Turf was caked in layers of mud and muck. Nets caught river debris and were flattened.
There is much to be done to clean up, repair, and revive PADELphia.
This GoFundMe campaign begins with the Padel community in mind. Your donation will support the clean up effort and structural repairs and help us rebuild as quickly as possible.
There is no flood insurance to help get the job done.
Our gift to the community now needs the support of the community. We hope to raise $75,000 by September 22, 2021.
Please share this with everyone and anyone you think will understand the circumstances we find ourselves in. Rebuilding PADELphia is for everyone: those who’ve come to know and love the sport and those who have yet to discover it. It is a community asset that we have believed in and you have grown to appreciate.
Of course our hearts go out to you if you also have been affected by Ida. We recognize the past year and a half has been difficult for all of us.
Even a small donation will support this effort. And if you can't make a donation, it would be great if you could share this fundraiser link to help spread the word.
Thank you so much. Help us rebuild and restore this community treasure.
-Team PADELphia
