Community

Photos from 2024 Community Day Fundraiser. See more photos here.

Thank you to all the volunteers who made the day possible. It would not have happened without each and every one of you!

Thank you to Town Manager and Select Board members Mark Dockser, Chris Haley, Carlo Bacci and former Select Board member Jackie McCarthy for coming out to support us!

Thanks to Tina Lech from 6.0 Six Zero for your generous donation

Thanks to Caffe Nero of Reading for providing delicious, free coffee throughout the event

Thanks to the team from Whirlaway Sports in Methuen for bringing paddles, apparel, shoes and more

Thanks to Del Sur for showcasing your delicious empanadas

Thanks to Nancy P. for the Reading Pickleball Players Association branded merch & Linda Z. for logo design

2023 Festival of Trees

Dec 2023

"Deck the Halls with Pickleballs" wins Most Creative at the Reading Educational Foundation's annual Festival of Trees. The tree was a joint effort between local pickleball advocates and the RPPA, to spread the joy of pickleball. Thanks to all who helped to make this happen and donated:

Tree & lights
Pickleballs
Paddles
RPPA t-shirt
Lessons for 4
and more...

2023 RMHS-run Fall Unity Day

Fall 2023

RPPA was invited back to help RMHS make pickleball possible for 160 students at Reading Memorial High School's Fall Unity Day. Thanks to Heather L from RMHS for the invitation. There were initially 20 available spots per time slot, and over 40 students signed up for each time slot! RMHS was able to accommodate all who wanted to play.

Student attendance for the pickleball option nearly doubled from the prior spring's Unity Day. 8 courts were in play non-stop, from 8:45am to 2:15pm with one lunch break for one hour.

Unity day is a, "day of coming together to learn something new, getting to know someone new and have fun," according to the RMHS Orbit. Students get to choose from an array of optional activities.
Pickleball was made possible thanks to donated paddles, balls & nets from the pickleball community, and volunteers from the pickleball community who helped manage play, including Nate W, Nancy P, Kathi P, Dave P, Mary Kay W, Eileen M, Peter L, Barbara S, Paul S. Thanks to all who donated paddles, nets & balls.
It's great to see people of all ages enjoying the fastest growing sport in the US.

Fall Street Fair

Sep 2023

RPPA engaged with lots of visitors at the Reading Pickleball Player's Association's booth. Some wanted to know more about pickleball. Others asked where they could learn to play, or where there were courts in town. Our RPPA-made pickleball wall (pictured) was a huge hit with all ages.

Reading Friends & Family Day

June 2023

Sunshine over a mountain with blue, green and white pickleball court in foreground

Hundreds of community members learned more about RPPA's mission & the benefits of pickleball. Some tried our pickleball wall. A few lucky winners won prizes.

RMHS-run Spring Unity Day

May 2023

Two RMHS students playing pickleball on the courts behind RMHS. One player is hitting a ball over the net, while the other is in position for the next ball.

RPPA was invited to volunteer at the Spring Reading Memorial High School Unity Day. 60+ students from Reading Memorial High School chose Pickleball as an optional activity.

Unity day is a, "day of coming together to learn something new, getting to know someone new and have fun," according to the RMHS Orbit. Students choose activities that are of interest to them.
Pickleball was made possible thanks to donated paddles, balls & nets from the pickleball community and volunteers from the pickleball community.

Community Pickleball Open Play & Clinics

March 2023

200+ people came together for a sold out event at the RMHS field house in March 2023 to help get dedicated courts in Reading. 80 players per 2 hour block of time. 32 learners in clinics. Play slots sold out within a day. Clinics sold out in hours.

Individuals would play a game, 4 to a court.
After the game, they'd switch out and the court would be filled with another group of 4.
Those who finished playing would get matched up with others and get out to play again.
During the few minutes they waited for a court, they'd meet new people or catch up with those they already knew.

RPPA was asked to hold this event every weekend!

Click here for event highlights

Nets and Balls for Play at Memorial Park

Prior to 2023

Funds collected prior to the formation of RPPA were used to provide balls & two temporary nets for courts 2A and 2B at Memorial Park.