Pickleball Facility Improvement Project
Dear GVR Pickleball Club Members,
There’s never been a more exciting time to be a pickleball enthusiast! With over 36 million players nationwide and a 158% growth rate in just three years, pickleball is officially the fastest-growing sport in the United States. We are seeing this same growth and enthusiasm in our own community with over 1100 GVR Pickleball Club members enjoying a variety of events from player development to community round robins. Our courts remain active and the programming for the pickleball community continues year round, even as some of our seasonal members have headed north.
The Club strives to stay in tune with member needs, and feedback from the 2024 member survey supported pursuing pickleball facility improvements, especially additional shading and expanded amenities. As a result of your feedback, the GVR Board approved the inclusion of pickleball facility improvements in the 2025 GVR Capital Improvement Plan.
For any improvements to become reality, we need your financial backing: while GVR has approved our request to improve the pickleball facilities, GVR will not pay for the improvements, delegating this responsibility to the GVR Pickleball Club. Guided by the 2024 member survey feedback, the Pickleball Facility Improvement (PBFI) Steering Committee (Jeff Washburn, Janet Reynolds, Janice Redinger, Barry Stock and Patrick Furumoto) working with GVR staff and a local architectural firm have come up with two potential court options, a menu of optional add-ons and estimated costs for improving the KJB Pickleball Center.
Option A: Construct one new court in the gravel area to the south of the building. If selected, this option could be modified with an optional add-on feature to make the court "all-abilities inclusive”, that could provide an exciting possibility for members navigating physical challenges.
Option B: Build two new courts in the same area.
In addition to the court options, there is a menu of optional add-ons that could be selected such as shade screens, a practice court with a hitting wall, expanded social gathering areas, and expanded seating, etc. Display boards illustrating the design options, optional add-ons and cost estimates can be viewed on the Club website along with the architect’s final report and a list of the most frequently asked questions using the links at the end of this letter.
I’m certain that there will be some members concerned that at this time, pickleball facility improvements are not being considered for the Canoa Ranch Center. This decision was based on a number of factors including the anticipated neighborhood response to the noise of 2-4 more courts and this site being projected to be the most expensive.
The PBFI Communications Committee (Barry Stock, Kris Servais, Jeff Washburn, Patrick Furumoto, Juli Howell and Natalie Whitman) will begin a multi-faceted campaign to share the details of the project with club members. For those in Green Valley, there will be volunteer Project Ambassadors on the courts to answer your questions. Our Ambassadors are Kris Servais, Greg Wright, Danielle Priore, Gail Gersonde and Joanie Davis, and they welcome your input.
On Tuesday, July 22nd at 9:30 am (AZ Time) there will be an interactive internet Zoom community meeting for any club member to hear about the project and to get your questions answered. The Zoom meeting link to join in is here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88427462857?pwd=iwFAzRCAsq5kmyDdTaE6JPjZWAI7CO.1
Meeting ID: 884 2746 2857
Passcode: 671023
Members in Green Valley are also welcome to attend an open house at East Center on Thursday July 24, 10:00 am for a live chat with the Project Ambassadors.
The PBFI Steering Committee with Club Board approval is now seeking member input on the court options and menu of add-ons presented for improving the KJB Pickleball Center. Once the July communications have wrapped up, in August, we’ll invite all members to participate in a brief survey, which will help the Steering Committee and Board determine what facility improvement priorities members favor, as well as member willingness to provide the funds for these improvements. Those of us involved with the PBFI project, believe that the funds you contribute serve as your chance to invest in the future of GVR Pickleball Club.
The Board, and PBFI Committees welcome your comments. A mailbox has been set up for members who have questions about the Project. Questions may be sent to this link: (gvrpbclubpickleblast@gmail.com)
Engaging the membership is our goal, so together we can build an exciting future!
With appreciation and enthusiasm,
Jeff Washburn
President, GVR Pickleball Club
Additional information can be found in the following links: