Ascarate News, Senior Games + Chihuahuas Pickleball Night
- 4 days ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Ascarate Park Update: Our Unified Voice Was Heard!
PEPA President Ida Chavira PEPA Vice President Ben Avalos PEPA Leadership and Supporters
On Thursday, August 6, a dedicated contingent of El Paso's pickleball community attended the County Commissioners Court meeting to advocate for our sport at Ascarate Park. Prior to the meeting, PEPA leadership and other pickleball players met with El Paso County Project Manager Lidia Arias to privately share details and data that may not have previously been considered.
This unified effort was a direct response to recent park redesign plans, which proposed only 6 dedicated courts—a reduction from the 8 heavily utilized courts currently in place. Because PEPA learned that project planners were previously unaware of pickleball's immense popularity and high player volume at Ascarate, it was imperative that we make the commissioners aware of our needs. Thanks to everyone’s presence and advocacy, we sent a clear message that our community is passionate, unified, and growing.
PEPA Leadership Steps Up to the Mic
PEPA President Ida Chavira and Vice President Ben Avalos took the podium to deliver powerful presentations to the commissioners. (Videos are linked; click on their names below to view.)
Shared folders containing a proposed layout for 12 dedicated courts.
Highlighted the sport's inclusiveness for players of all ages across town.
Addressed the health benefits of the sport; made note of our local athletes competing nationally and the opportunity to attract out-of-town players to tournaments in El Paso.
Emphasized the community importance of Ascarate Park.
Noted high pickleball traffic versus low tennis court usage.
Stressed the need for ADA accessibility.
Ida’s rousing speech resonated deeply with the audience, and Ben's personal connection to Ascarate and the requests he presented conveyed exactly why pickleball merits a larger and updated facility at the park. Written comments submitted by other PEPA leaders were also read into the public record at the meeting.
A New Challenge
Our continued advocacy remains absolutely essential. An article published in the August 23–29 issue of the El Paso Inc. newspaper suggested that the county is exploring painting pickleball lines on planned tennis courts to avoid increasing construction costs. This direction is directly contrary to what PEPA presented. We must make it unmistakably clear to county officials: We need 12 dedicated pickleball courts. Multiuse tennis courts with painted lines—located away from the 6 planned pickleball courts—do not meet our community's needs.
Good News
PEPA President Ida Chavira recently received an update from Project Manager Lidia Arias indicating that the administration has officially directed the project team to include an option in their design for additional pickleball courts. The design team is currently developing these layout options. They anticipate presenting the new design to the Commissioners in September or October. Ultimately, the final decision will be up to the Commissioners Court.
The Power of Community
Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to attend recent meetings. Seeing a multitude of pickleball players in the audience on August 6 gave incredible weight to Ida and Ben's presentations; the power of your voice and presence cannot be overstated. Together, we are keeping pickleball at the forefront of county park planning.
El Paso Senior Games See Increased Participation in Pickleball Events
The 2026 Senior Games for pickleball were hosted last weekend at the Chamizal Community Center from August 21–23. The gym was packed as participant numbers visibly increased in both doubles and mixed doubles games. This truly is the one time of the year when players from all parts of El Paso and Las Cruces gather together to play and reconnect.
It was wonderful to see the Westside, Central, Northeast, and East neighborhoods—as well as Horizon City—so well represented. Players were visiting in the stands and seating areas, sharing hugs and laughs between games before battling it out on the courts. The crowd was a fantastic mix of familiar friends, rec center acquaintances, and new faces, creating a convivial atmosphere from the start.
Three Days of Non-Stop Action
The tournament kicked off with singles matches on Friday. The momentum grew on Saturday with a massive turnout of 50 teams for men's and women's doubles, followed by another spectacular showing of 45 teams for mixed doubles on Sunday!
At just $5 per person per day, the Senior Games are a good deal. Registration pulls players from all over the region together on the courts, and everyone walks away with an official Senior Games t-shirt. Plus, organizers provide plenty of bottled water and fresh fruit.
With only six courts available at the Chamizal Community Center, patience was required. The long wait times were a challenge for some, but the community spirit went a long way. The good news is that organizers are actively working on moving next year's games to a different indoor venue with more courts to keep things moving along and accommodate the growing numbers and interest in the pickleball Senior Games.
Let's Hear It for the Medalists!
A massive shoutout goes to PEPA President Ida Chavira and her husband Manny. They worked diligently all weekend to capture photos and gather every single medalist's name so no one was missed. Thanks to their hard work, we have a complete photo gallery to share (see link below).
We applaud all who participated and thank all friends and family who came out to cheer and support from the stands. El Paso pickleball is growing faster than ever, and our seniors are leading the charge. Cheers to all of our 2026 medalists!
Click here to see all the Senior Games pickleball medalists.
Join us this Tuesday, September 1, for Sun City & Chihuahuas Pickleball Night. Stop by the PEPA booth to say hello!
Game Time: 6:35 pm
Location: Southwest University Park
Seating Zone: Specially priced group seating is blocked out in Zone E (Sections 101-105, 120, 123)
Ticket Perks: Every Pickleball Night ticket includes a free exclusive Chihuahuas group hat (while supplies last) and a 10% Team Shop voucher.
Double Promotion: It is also "Bark at the Park" night, so you can bring your dog along to the game!
Sun City Pickleball is hosting a tournament in conjunction with Pickleball Night at the Stadium! Check out the details below:
Tournament Players: If you registered for the upcoming Sun City Pickleball and El Paso Chihuahuas Tournament on September 4–6, your game ticket is already included with your registration fee. Please note that you do not have to play in the tournament to buy discounted community tickets via this link from Sun City Pickleball Club.
Other News and Updates
Galatzan Rec Center
The leaky roof at Galatzan will be undergoing repair sometime around September 8 and will last approximately two weeks. Work will start with the main gym roof and will necessitate the shut down of all activities in the main gym. The auxiliary gym will be available for pickleball. When the main gym is finished, they will shut down the auxiliary gym and repair it. At that time, the main gym will be available for pickleball. The timeline may vary depending on the issues they encounter with the repairs.
New Outdoor Courts in Canutillo!
PEPA recently learned that there are four newly surfaced outdoor multiuse courts with permanent pickleball lines (bring your own pickleball net) at Gallegos Park, which also offers public restrooms, picnic tables, and allows dogs! PEPA board member Linda Wade stopped by to snap a few photos and provide us with the best GPS address, which is 7351 Bosque Road in Canutillo. Please note there are no lights for evening play at this time.
Loads of Upcoming Events (Save the Dates!) | "Candy" Tournaments are Coming!
PEPA Member Appreciation Event is coming soon! Stay tuned for more info.
Flyers below for: Horizon Beginner's Clinic, Nolan Richardson Mixed Doubles Tournament, Sylvia Carreon Doubles Social Mixer, El Grito Mixed Doubles Tournament at Armijo, Valle Bajo All Women's Doubles, and last but not least the 2027 Nusenda Sun Bowl Tournament Save the Date!
Tips from the Fyzical Therapist | FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers in El Paso
by Roy Kohn, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT & Andres Fernandez, PT, DPT (FAAOMPT Fellow-in-Training)
Move Faster on the Court: Why Every Pickleball Player Should Know About Plyometrics
Part 1 of a 3-part series
Watch experienced pickleball players for just a few minutes and you'll notice something: they always seem to get to the ball. They accelerate quickly, recover after wide shots, and stay balanced throughout the point.
While skill and strategy are essential, another key ingredient is power—the ability to produce force quickly. One of the best ways to develop power is through plyometric training.
Over the next three articles, we'll explore how plyometrics can help improve your pickleball game.
Part 1: What plyometrics are and why they're important.
Part 2: Lower-body plyometric exercises to improve footwork, balance, and court movement.
Part 3: Upper-body plyometric exercises to improve racquet speed, reaction time, and powerful shots.
What Are Plyometrics?
When many people hear the word plyometrics, they picture athletes jumping onto boxes or
performing intense workouts. In reality, plyometrics are much simpler.
Plyometrics are exercises that involve hopping, jumping, bounding, or quick changes of direction. They train your muscles and tendons to absorb force and then produce force rapidly.
Think of your muscles and tendons like a spring. When you quickly load a spring, it stores energy before releasing it to create movement. Your body does something similar every time you land from a hop or push off to chase a ball.
The better your body becomes at using this natural "spring", the quicker and more efficiently you can move around the court.
Why Are Plyometrics Important in Pickleball?
Pickleball isn't a marathon—it's a series of short, explosive movements. Every rally requires you to accelerate, stop, shuffle, and change direction in just a few seconds.
Strength helps you produce force, but power helps you produce it quickly.
That's where plyometrics come in.
When performed consistently, plyometric training can help improve:
Faster first-step quickness
Better balance and body control
Improved change-of-direction ability
Quicker reactions
More efficient movement around the court
Greater confidence chasing difficult shots
Plyometrics don't just train your muscles—they also train your nervous system. With practice, your brain and body become more efficient at working together, allowing movements to become quicker, smoother, and more automatic.
Are Plyometrics Safe?
Yes—when they're introduced appropriately.
Plyometrics aren't just for elite athletes. They can benefit pickleball players of all ages and fitness levels because the exercises can be modified to match your current ability. For some people, plyometric training may begin with gentle hops or simple weight shifts before progressing to more dynamic movements.
The goal isn't to jump the highest or move the fastest overnight—it's to gradually improve your ability to move safely, efficiently, and confidently.
Looking Ahead
Now that you know what plyometrics are and why they matter, it's time to put them into practice.
In Part 2, we'll introduce four lower-body plyometric exercises specifically selected for pickleball players. You'll learn proper technique, common mistakes to avoid, and simple progressions so you can safely improve your quickness and movement on the court.
A few minutes of purposeful training each week can make a noticeable difference—not by helping you hit the ball harder, but by helping you get to the ball sooner.
Roy Kohn is a fellowship-trained physical therapist and Director of Education with Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers in El Paso. Andres Fernandez is a physical therapist currently completing his final year of fellowship training in orthopedic manual physical therapy.
It's been a busy month of pickleball! Thanks for reading, stay cool, and we'll see you on the courts!
Liz Luscombe
Newsletter Director
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