FROM THE USAPA
SEQUIM
PICKLERS
SET SIGHTS ON
O
8
n Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, in the upper
northwest corner of the state, nestled along Highway 101
on the northern edge of the Olympic Mountains sits Sequim,
a small retirement community that’s home to over 170
pickleball players. It is home to the Sequim Picklers. The
Picklers enthusiastically embrace outdoor pickleball, a yearround activity even in an area known for annual rainfall that
reaches close to 15 inches. (Fun Fact: Even though Washington,
especially Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula, is known to be a
rainy state, it ranks 29th in the nation for annual rainfall.)
The players have been diligently working with the city to
raise $200,000 to have eight designated pickleball courts
built in their local park. The
Picklers have reached 70%
of the total through grants,
individual and city pledges,
youth and adult clinics,
tournaments and many other
different types of fundraisers.
Presently the Picklers meet at
a school playground where old
basketball courts are used for
morning play.
The Sequim Picklers work
to build the community by
welcoming and encouraging
both youth and seniors to
share their passion. If a video
were taken of a typical day at
the Sequim courts, you’d see
three generations of players,
and you’d hear laughter and
encouraging words. You’d see
a more advanced player taking
time to help a novice with a
serve. Around a table, Picklers
would be chatting and possibly
18
OUTDOOR
COURTS
Local players hope new courts will encourage
more junior picklers to join in on the fun.
BY DOUG HASTINGS
be planning an event while waiting to play. If someone walks
past the courts, he/she is encouraged to come in and play with a
borrowed paddle.
In the last two years, the Sequim Picklers have made several
significant changes: voted for an elected board, established a
nonprofit organization, and grown membership by almost 50%.
While working diligently on the dream of new courts, the
Sequim Picklers are deeply rooted in the community and are
committed to finding ways to build inroads. In the schools,
pickleball is now being taught as a lifelong activity. Not only
has the club given clinics to the local Boys and Girls Club, but a
group has traveled 1.5 hours to the Quillayute Native American
town of La Push to work
with the physical education
instructor to provide paddles
and teach the children how to
play in a setting where there
are few activities available. The
club also volunteers hours to
help with the city’s Lavender
Festival, an event that brings
over 30,000 people to Sequim.
While the main goal of the
Sequim Picklers is to work
with the city planners to build
first-class courts and then to be
able to organize tournaments,
a secondary goal is to be part
of a town where children and
seniors are honored. Sequim
is an active place, with bikers,
hikers, and boaters, and with
the addition of the pickleball
courts, it will be a premier and
fit town. •
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