Defend Our Ascarate Courts! + Upcoming Events and More
- Aug 1
- 4 min read
URGENT: Defend Our Courts!
The fight to protect pickleball access at Ascarate Park is entering its most critical week. El Paso County is moving forward on the park redesign, and our open-play community faces a severe cut: the county's proposed plan takes our eight heavily utilized courts and downsizes them to just six.
One of the most important aspects of our role as an association is our continued advocacy and activism for expanding court access across the city. On Wednesday, July 29, PEPA leadership and local players gathered at the Ascarate Park Pavilion to learn and speak up about the park's redesign plans.
The Data Gap
While much of last week’s meeting focused on the duck pond and lake, PEPA maintained a strong presence led by President Ida Chavira and Vice President Ben Avalos. When asked, project architects and meeting facilitators admitted they have no tracking data on how heavily the pickleball facilities at Ascarate are actually used. They are entirely unaware that even in Wednesday’s sweltering late-afternoon heat, the courts were at maximum capacity with cars lining the parking area. Because the county lacks this insight, they are not treating our active use of the grounds as a priority.
Two Upcoming Meetings
Prior to the public meeting on Thursday, August 6, PEPA has arranged a meeting with El Paso County Project Manager Lydia Arias on Monday, August 3 at 6:00. We will have 30 minutes to formally present our community's usage data and explicitly spell out our needs before the project plans are locked in place. This meeting is open to all and will be held at the park’s administrative offices building at 6900 Delta, it’s directly inside the park's main entrance, right alongside the Ascarate Golf Course clubhouse and the main parking lots.
Let's also show our strength in numbers this coming Thursday!
YOUR PRESENCE NEEDED AT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING
When: Thursday, August 6 at 6:00 PM
Where: Ascarate Park Pavilion
Why: All community feedback gathered over the past few weeks will officially be presented to the Court to dictate the next steps for funding allocations.
Wear: Your Pickleball El Paso t-shirt if you have one (preferably blue, but any logo shirt works!)
These two meetings are our urgent opportunity to:
Prevent the county from downsizing our eight active courts.
Advocate for at least 12 dedicated courts, ADA-accessible parking, permanent lighting, shade structures, player seating, and water fountains.
Reiterate that these facilities operate at maximum capacity, even in the summer heat.
The Bottom Line: This reduction in courts is unacceptable given how highly utilized Ascarate is by our community. To secure the facilities we need, we are calling on all players to make their presence known. Please join us on Monday and/or Thursday to advocate for our sport!
El Paso Rec Centers: Who are these people?
Gary Del Palacio spent his life ensuring that the people of El Paso had safe and welcoming places to gather, play, and grow. As a dedicated, long-time employee of the El Paso Parks and Recreation Department, he worked tirelessly behind the scenes, spearheading neighborhood park developments and expanding youth sports programming across the community. Beyond his city career, Gary served for a decade on the Sun Bowl Association board and fiercely advocated for youth college scholarships. To this day, the annual Gary del Palacio Memorial Golf Tournament gathers hundreds of local players to raise college scholarship funds for high school seniors. Following his passing in March 2005, the city renamed the former Album Rec Center in his honor as a tribute to his legacy of public service. Today, the center is a busy and wonderful gathering spot where his spirit of community connection lives on, especially on the pickleball courts, where local players meet and PEPA clinics and other events are held. We benefit from the commitment Gary Del Palacio made to our community and the vision he had for El Paso!
Pickleball Senior Games are coming!
If you're 50 years of age or older, you're eligible to play. Games will be held at Chamizal Community Center on the indoor courts beginning at 9:00 AM.
Friday, August 21: Singles
Saturday, August 22: Doubles
Sunday, August 23: Mixed Doubles
Note: If your partner for doubles or mixed is younger than you, you’ll play in their younger age division.
It’s a really fun (albeit somewhat long) day with lots of familiar faces. You’re welcome to bring snacks, along with friends and family to cheer you on from the bleachers!
Recent Results and Photo Gallery
The Paddle of the Brave Tournament was held at Wayne Thornton Community Center at Grandview on July 13. Eight extraordinary teams competed. Entry fee was toiletries and personal hygeine products for our local veterans. Thank you Edward and Grace for hosting an excellent, well run event! Congratulations to all teams!
Beginner's Clinics
Fun group of beginners at Galatzan Rec Center the morning of July 15! We appreciate all the teachers coming out to learn how to play! Thank you to Richard Salcido and his staff for welcoming our group. Thank you to Fyzical Therapy Balance and Hand Centers for supporting our free clinics. We appreciate all the volunteers who helped teach the beginners! See you all the court!
Chamizal Beginners Clinic
Our first Beginners Clinic at Chamizal Community Center on July 30 was a total HIT! So much fun on the courts! Thank you Amilcar Galindo and staff for all your help, support and enthusiasm! Thank you to all of our awesome volunteer coaches! Thank you PEPA members for making this possible. Thank you Fyzical El Paso Therapy Balance and Hand Centers.
Welcome to our new players!
Thank you to our PEPA members and supporters!
You are the driving force behind our mission to grow the game and advocate for our community! Not a member? Click here to join.
See you on the courts!
Liz Luscombe
Newsletter Director
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