News & Fun Facts

Memorial Park in Reading, MA Named #6 Busiest Location in the US and Canada by Playtime Scheduler - Sep 2023

How strong is the pickleball community in Reading?  We were named #6 busiest locations in the US and Canada!  Memorial Park's placement on this list is even more amazing when you consider that:

• There are over 247,000 users of Playtime Scheduler, an app exclusively for pickleball bookings 

• Memorial Park in Reading, MA has just four courts, and they are shared tennis/pickleball courts

• The #1 location has 10 courts, #2 has 9 courts (8 indoor, 1 outdoor), #3 has at least 8 courts, #4 has six courts (all indoor), and #5 has 12 courts

• The defunct asphalt volleyball outdoor courts by RMHS that are not regulation courts that are used for pickleball are not included in this statistic

• The many indoor pickleball sessions held in town are not included in this statistic

What else is amazing about this?

• • • Pickleball is adding to the vibrancy of our town, bringing people to Reading every single day.* 

    • Whether it's residents or others, pickleball players are 

      • • Stopping into CVS, Market Basket & other stores

        • Getting gas, recharging their EV

        • Grabbing a coffee, sandwiches, dinner & drinks

        • Going to the bank

        • Getting their oil changed while they're playing!

And there are even more benefits

1. Pickleball is a revenue stream - out of town residents pay to reserve courts on Play Local

2. Pickleball is helping meet 2 of CPDC's stated goals as of Jan 2022 to "...Build community and activate the public realm in Downtown Reading through cultural economic development and placemaking initiatives..." And helping to, "..."Brand and market Reading to attract new investment and customers."

*unless there's inclement weather, courts are being used for other activities, or the courts are closed

Pickleball News from Reading

•  Consultant ready to unveil senior center cost projections, Bob Holmes (Mar 2024)

"As for SWEC, the bulk of Monday meeting was putting together a presentation that includes recommendations to the Select Board. The recommendations include five plans.  The first was called “Just a Little” and included multi-purpose fields for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, basketball and pickleball..."

• SWEC considers pickleball, dog park proposals for land by Burbank Ice Arena, Bob Holmes (Oct 2023)

"The Reading Pickleball Players Association (RPPA) was back before SWEC Tuesday night, pleading their case once again for eight temporary courts behind the Burbank Ice Area... 'We started with Rec, and Rec said go in front of SWEC,' said RPPA member Mary Ann Devlin. “So we went in front of SWEC and SWEC said go in front of the Select Board. So we went in front of the Select Board and Select Board said go in front of FinCom. So we went in front of FinCom and in between members of the Select Board took us aside and said you should probably consider a citizens’ petition. It’s your best bet. That’s what we were told.

“We want pickleball more than anything in this town and so we followed what we thought was the right path because we relied on town leaders to tell us how to get this done. Then we were told by FinCom your plan changed so you better go back in front of SWEC and here we are today.”

If you hear frustration in her words you’re right. It was a sentiment shared by other RPPA members in the room."

• Pickleball courts on the warrant for Reading MA 2023 November Town Meeting, Chris Rhatigan (Sep 2023)

"...Article 6 regards approving $2 million in funding for the second phase of the Birch Meadow Park project. This would include reconstruction of a municipal parking lot, improvement of basketball courts, and the reconstruction of a playground, according to the Select Board's agenda...Article 12 is regarding funding for $200,000 eight temporary pickleball courts to be constructed adjacent to Burbank Ice Arena. "

• Town officials update public on phase 2 Birch Meadow plans, Bob Holmes (June 2023)

"Initially, the Phase 2 drawings included pickleball courts where the basketball courts currently are.."

• Article that refers to the 8 pickleball courts at the Birch Meadow complex as well as the capital budget line item for phase 2, Patrick Blais  (Apr 2023) 

"By the spring of 2021, architects...unveiled the current three-phased proposal...Future phases of the Birch Meadow improvement plan propose the construction of an upgraded children’s playground, eight new pickleball courts, and two new outdoor basketball courts by Bancroft Avenue and the RMHS’ Rise Preschool parking area...A new multi-purpose field for lacrosse, soccer, and softball games is also proposed for park land situated behind the Coolidge Middle School...Presently, Reading’s long-term capital budget includes a $2.5 million line-item for FY’25 that would cover Phase 2 of the project."