“shadow” lines on tennis courts. The Rock Island Fitness
and Activity Center was the first facility on this side of
the river to offer all-day indoor pickleball. The Quad City
Tennis Club and Rock Island are home to professional
tennis player Madison Keyes.
Ambassador Barb Shinbori, Davenport, IA
The city in 2015 transformed 6 old tennis courts into 8
beautiful pickleball courts at Northwest Park. The Quad
Cities Senior Olympics are held every year, and the Iowa
Games organization hosted a “mini winter senior games”
in February. Ambassador Barb Shinbori was asked to be
the Event Director for the pickleball tournaments at these
two events. It was a great success and will become a yearly
event drawing many pickleball players from as far away as
Minnesota and Missouri, and of course Iowa and Illlinois.
Ambassador Scott Stocker, DeWitt, IA
Last fall, in the small town of DeWitt, just north of the
Quad Cities, Parks and Rec allowed space at the local gym
for pickelball, and soon three courts were established. In
nearby Clinton, six courts were painted on tennis courts
along the river. Indoor pickleball soon began at River Cities
Tennis Club, which has eight courts, has sponsored four
tournaments and offers pickleball lessons.
Ambassador Dave Stover, Geneseo, IL
The QCPC currently has four tournament directors. With
dedicated outdoor courts and indoor venues to handle
the Midwestern weather, the area has great potential
for tournaments and easy access with interstates and a
regional airport. In 2014, pickleball began at Geneseo and
spread to Silvis, Rock Island, and Moline. •
CLUB INFORMATION AND EVENTS CAN BE FOUND AT QCPICKLEBALL.WORDPRESS.COM.
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