January 8, 2025
Happy Birthday Skyline!
Congratulations to everyone who went to those four City Council meetings over the summer and fall last year, and to everyone else who has kept up the call for courts! We have our first dedicated courts inside the city limits, at 5050 Yvette in northeast El Paso. What a beautiful site. I will let you know when a dedication ceremony is scheduled.
Go "Play Happy!" Thank you for the picture Keith Koether. At this time five of the six total nets have been installed.
To former City Council Representative Joe Molinar: we could not have done it without you. Your presence on the dais will be sorely missed.
Serve Pickleball Facility Expected to Open in Early April
On January 8, I spoke with Joseph Isaac, owner of Serve, a private indoor/outdoor pickleball and entertainment venue on the west side. He is hoping to be open for business in early April of this year. The facility will offer five indoor pickleball courts, four outdoor courts with cabanas, and one padel ball court. Court surfacing and net installation is being done by a company out of Austin.
At this time pickleball memberships are not being offered; court reservations will be available through an app and court fees are not yet finalized. There are plans to have pro lessons, leagues, and tournaments.
“While on vacation with my kids and a friend’s family, our group went to a pickleball entertainment venue and had a great time,” said Isaac. He and partner Alex Orozco, a long-time El Paso restauranteur, decided that El Paso was ready for this entertainment option. “We want to create that lively, festive environment.”
On the food side there will be a restaurant with an outdoor patio, stage area, and a party room available for reservation. The menu options are still in development but are expected to be along the lines of hamburgers, pizza, salads, and other healthy options.
Mary Frances Keisling (MFK) Update
Last summer, some PEPA members formed the Mary Frances Keisling Neighborhood Association (MFKNA), in order to apply for grant money to start 1 - 2 pickleball courts in the (as yet) undeveloped MFK park at 651 Gomez Road and Upper Valley. The City grant that was applied for was the Neighborhood Improvement Project (NIP), and it allowed pickleball courts to be requested up to a limit of $75,000. Because MFK is not yet developed, the cost to build courts will be much higher than the $75K grant limit because engineering plans have not yet been drawn.
BUT! They did it! The request has been "... deemed feasible."
The Neighborhood Association has until February 27 to gather a minimum of 15 signatures of support from people living adjacent to the park; more signatures would improve the chance of project approval. Wish them luck, and if you know anyone who lives adjacent to the park at 651 Gomez Road (most street begin with "Valley," like "Valley Palm") and would support our efforts to get courts, please contact Jim Rolph or any Board member, or email us at pickleballEP@gmail.com to get a support form to sign.
Thank you to Jim Rolph and the MFK Neighborhood Association for your efforts.
Annual Membership Drive: renew here
Westside Beginners' Clinic
Most of our free clinics that Ben runs are held in northeast, but mid-January he will hold one at Galatzan on the westside. If you have friends who resolved to exercise this year, spread the word. Our HOME PAGE has flyers for this and all events.
Play happy,
Jamie Fisher
President, Pickleball El Paso Association
Great newsletter! Thank you for keeping us in the loop. Blessings!
Russell and Susan