Pickleball Magazine 3-4 Courtesy of Pickleball Guru | Page 68

Regional
matters
continued
KROC CENTER PLAYERS
TEAM UP TO INVEST IN THEIR
FACILITY
T
o say the Kroc Center in Camden, NJ, has an
underserved population is an understatement. With
an average income of $26,000, the inner city sports
facility’s demographic often struggles to come up with the
$25/month membership fee and even the $5 drop-in fee for
non-members. But while money may be scarce, compassion
and decency abound.
Recently, members donated a sports wheelchair—designed
for speed and maneuverability—to one of the employees of
the center, John Miranda, who has spina bifida and has been
playing pickleball at the Kroc Center every Monday for the
past three years.
The donation of the wheelchair, a $2,000 investment, was
a huge gift for a facility where members don’t typically have
their own equipment and play with wooden paddles loaned
to them during their visit. While many players drop in from
outside of Camden, bringing their own equipment, the local
demographic is always a priority, and gifts like the wheelchair
show everyone’s commitment to the community and the
sport.
Denise Donald, USAPA District Ambassador for New
Jersey-Eastern Pennsylvania, says John is an inspiration to
the Kroc Center pickleball program and players enjoy seeing
him improve his game.
“John is technically playing at a 2.5 level, but played 3.0
in a tournament because no one else entered in the 2.5
level,” she notes. “But he did get a medal. Outside of the
tournament setting, he plays on the Kroc Center’s beginner
courts.”
And John isn’t the only different-abled member the
Kroc Center caters to. Another regular member with
Down syndrome enjoys playing the game as much as
anybody.
“We’re proving this is a sport anyone can play and
enjoy, regardless of ability,” Donald says. “Pickleball is
truly open to all players.”
She adds that introducing pickleball to an inner
city environment that serves everyone of every ability,
where there is no viable tennis program to speak of, has
been a huge success. The center’s typical meetup size
has grown to 36 people with a waiting list. Members
will co