Andy Close
WARREN, Pa. – Doug James and Kim Mong discovered pickleball while traveling some four years ago.
Now, it’s quickly becoming a staple in Warren, with brand new courts slated to be built at Betts Park, with Warren City Council approving the courts next month.
Plans are to complete the project by the spring of 2023, and James and Mong as part of the Warren Pickleball Club are helping to spearhead the fundraising efforts. In fact, the club is raising all the funds ($200,000) themselves.
“We’ve seen a lot of courts and groups and organizations and clubs,” James said. “That’s how we were able to put a lot of things together either. It’s not just our vision, it’s what we’ve seen and what works. We’ve picked the brains of all the club presidents.”
USA Pickleball describes the sport as “A fun sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Played both indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court and a slightly modified tennis net. Played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. Played as doubles or singles. Can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels.”
It was a long and at times tedious process to get where they are now, but one that was well worth it in the fact that it is bringing many people in the community together.
“One of the things that have been interesting in all these 70 different venues that we’ve been to throughout the country, Doug and I have been total strangers on somebody else’s turf. And every place we’ve been, it’s been a welcome community of pickleball players introducing themselves.”
The Pickleball Club currently has drop and play and Beaty Park until the courts at Betts are built. They have a summer pickleball program that is currently running through Sept. 30 of this year. A schedule can be found by joing their group “Warren Pickleball” on Facebook, or at cityofwarrenpa.gov.
They started by teaching pickleball to 36 new players in 2021, with 36 new players joining the ranks in 2022. They project by next year to have nearly 300 players
“I do a calendar of all the open drop and play when we have facilitators that have come through our classes,” Mong said. “We have certain dates and times, every day except for Friday and Sunday which aren’t scheduled. The nets are available for public use with our facilitators and when the facilitator leaves everything is put away. We’ve brought in over 90 new players. Before we got involved, there weren’t any options. We felt there was a huge need for it. To see the smiling faces and new people, it makes it all worth it.”
One of those players was Martha Betts. As a director for the Betts Family Foundation, she has been instrumental in helping to get the approval for the new courts at Betts Park. She was also part of the inaugural class that James and Mong taught.
“We’re really excited about getting these courts,” Betts said. “Betts Park is the perfect place for it and I think it will be a great boon for all of Warren County.”
It will also be easier for anyone to come and go as they please once the new courts are constructed.
“We’ll have permanent nets,” James said. “Just bring your paddle and play. There are some misconceptions about open play (at Beaty) You play a game until 11 and people waiting to play have their paddles on the racks. And when a game is over someone will yell ‘next four,’ and then the next four will come out and play. It gives everyone an equal opportunity to play. It runs very smooth. If no one else is down here, you can play as long as you want.”
The group has also added a Saturday morning mixer, in which beginner and advanced players have the opportunity to mix in with other skill levels.
“We have encouraged the atmosphere of paying it forward,” Mong said.
James said that given the timetable for when the courts at Betts were approved, it made more sense to begin construction in the spring. The courts will be split up with a center walkway, he explained.
Donations may be made to Warren Pickleball, P.O. Box 681, Warren, PA, 16365. The group has also filed an application for an IRS 501 C 3 tax-exempt status and is waiting for approval, which they hope to have very soon.
“Mike Holtz (Director of Public Works), Joe Reinke (Superintendent of Public Works), and Nancy Freenock (City Manager) have been more than receptive and outstanding to work with,” James said. “We’re very excited to continue to grow the game here in Warren.”
