Excitement was high early Saturday morning as a large crowd gathered at Fritz Grupe Park in Stockton for the ribbon-cutting and official opening of 10 new pickleball courts.
On the fence of the pickleball courts, posters were hung with quotes such as, “It’s a good day to play pickleball.” Audience members could be heard saying, “Whoo, it’s happening!” Many had their pickleball paddles in hand and were dressed in sports attire to begin their first game on the new courts.
The project was championed by District 3 Councilmember Michael Blower, who said he was “fired up” to celebrate the court's completion. He even sported pickleball socks for the event.
From taped lines to dedicated courts at Grupe Park
Blower said the entire project came about because of a single phone call from Linda Christopherson.
“She gave me a call and said, 'We’ve got this wonderful group called the Grupe Park Pickleball Players, we get together every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and she invited me to come,'" Blower said.
Christopherson is a member of the Grupe Park Pickleball Players that formed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team, consisting of retirees, had been left without a place to play their sport when In-Shape and the senior center shut down during the pandemic.
The number of players varied from six to 20, the group said.
The group started to meet in the parking lot of the park to play. They drew lines with tape and played on unlined asphalt with temporary nets.
Gil Parker, a member of the original Grupe Park Pickleball Players, said the group began in a parking lot because the tennis courts were locked up.
“We were going stir crazy, like everybody else, trying to handle it and decided to come several times a week and play,” he said.
For about five to six months, the team played in the parking lot, Parker said.
“The more we played, the more we enjoyed it, and then we realized how much we enjoyed the people we played with,” Parker said. “We just began a community here.”
He said the group fostered a strong sense of community, bringing together people of different races, ages and neighborhoods across Stockton.
“As it grew, that became more of our personality,” Parker said. “It is one of the things we are most proud of. We reflect the community we live in, and as much as we love this game, this has just given us an excuse to be together and to understand one another.”
When the park’s tennis courts opened in November 2020, the group began playing on the three tennis courts.
The group said the tennis courts were underused, prompting members to approach the city about converting them into dedicated pickleball courts.
“Nobody was really playing tennis,” Christopherson said. “That’s when we thought this would be a wonderful facility.”
Pickleball players take their push for courts to City Hall
She said the team formed a committee and began going to the Stockton City Council meetings to advocate for the courts.
Blower said the process started in December 2023 and took nearly three years to complete. He said he pushed hard to secure funding for the project, including the $302,500 the council allocated at its July 9, 2024 meeting.
“I was blessed being in the right place at the right time on the council budget finance committee,” Blower said. “I really want to thank the council from 2024 that voted in favor and agreed to let us spend money on this very, very worthy endeavor.”
New courts welcome longtime players and pickleball newcomers
Following opening remarks, Blower and the audience entered the courts to cut the red ribbon. The ribbon-cutting ceremony symbolized years of a long-awaited project for pickleball enthusiasts.
As players began taking their spots on the courts, the sound of paddles hitting pickleballs filled the space.
“If you close your eyes and listen, you pretty much realize all you’re hearing is laughter, people having a good time,” Parker said. “In that respect, it is kind of monumental.”
However, not every court was being used to play the game. On one court, a couple wearing matching shirts with the words “Team Tofu” got engaged.
Blower said seeing such a large group of people taking advantage of the park was great because he wants people to engage with city parks and use them. He said when it came to getting funding for the project, he felt it was important for older citizen to have outdoor opportunities.
Blower’s message to the community was that he hoped people who have not had a chance to play pickleball would know that the Grupe Park Pickleball Players are very welcoming.
“If you don’t know how to play, they’re more than happy to teach you how and show you the ropes and have you be able to join the fun,” Blower said. “If somebody has interest, I would say don’t hesitate to come out and introduce yourself.”
Record reporter Victoria Franco covers public safety in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at vfranco@gannett.com. Support local journalism by subscribing to The Stockton Record at Subscribe to The Stockton Record.
This article originally appeared on The Record: New pickleball courts open at Fitz Grupe Park in Stockton | Exclusive
