When Jim Grabowski visited The Villages, Fla., he couldn't believe the pickleball craze.
"They have 115 pickleball courts," he said. "You can't get on them in the morning or early evening."
Grabowski, a tennis player for 40 years, quickly learned why it's so popular.
"It's much easier (than tennis) to play, much easier to learn and it's much more social," Grabowski, of Peru, said. "Everything's so confined. You're just always interacting."
Played with a hard paddle and a whiffle ball on a court one-third the size of a tennis court, the sport combines the elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis.
For the past five months, Grabowski and other Peru residents have been working to bring pickleball to their city. About two weeks ago, five courts opened at the 28th Street Park, at 28th Street and Marquette Road. So far, the response has been positive, Grabowski said.
"On the seventh day, with no planning whatsoever, all courts were busy," he said.
The Peru Recreation Commission gave Grabowski a $3,000 budget, but he said not even half has been spent. The four pickleball courts, once tennis courts, will be converted back to tennis courts should pickleball be unsuccessful.
Grabowski and other players are running clinics from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the new court to introduce people to the sport. A local pickelball website is up at www.positiveinperu.com, including a clinic schedule.
The court is open to all, and anyone with questions can call 815-830-3102.
30 comments:
And he spin goes on and on and on. Peru is a long way from The villages Jim. Most people in Peru could not even afford to step onto the grounds.
How many times does it have to be stated that picjle ball is not the problem in Peru. It is the manner in which it has been introduced to Peru that has been the problem and now the introducing personnel and their methods are just as offensive to the majority of Peru citizens. Pickle ball is now on 28th street a much used tennis court is no longer. The neighbors of 28th street park are insulted. Who has won because this is now a win lose situation. The winners will never be the Grabowskis or the Peru Park Commission or Mayor Harl and some of the aldermen because when you flaunt something in peoples faces they all of a sudden develop elephant memories.
AMEN 1:06. Well put!
A father and his two boys tried to play tennis on the pickle ball court this morning, which by the way the people from Hoffman Estates assured us could be done. I assure you it cannot be done. jb
There are 4 courts at 28th street park not 5. However, 5 nets were purchased by Mr. Grabowski. Does anyone know where that net is today?
Anon 3:59 PM Hoffman Estates?
Probly going to be used in his back yard when the new mayor comes in and has the tennis courts put back up. No accountability in the parks dept so they probly don't even know they are missing one. This pickle ball thing is so ridiculous. The city of Peru isn't a retirement village. There are young people that like to play tennis. That's why we put tennis courts up. There are no clinics or special equipment that needs to be furnished by the city. Tennis is taught in school and some kids get tennis scholarships to college. I never heard of pickle ball scholarships . This grabowski couple needs to be put in their place.
4:48 I respect your comment but I have to disagree with you on one portion. Peru has become a retirement village. We have nothing here to retain the youth after graduation. We have a mall. We have bars. We do not have great paying jobs in this community. Too much retail/restaurants with minimum wage. Very few events that bring cultural events to Peru in comparison to other communities. I have to be honest when I say that I encourage our youth to go elsewhere and experience more that life has to offer. Just my opinion.
True we are becoming a retirement city but certainly not like The Villages of Florida and our seniors have a lot less money. The weather here is not like a place where you would locate a retirement type place. I only know the Villages from all their TV commercials and base my opinion on what I see there.
If there is not a handle put on city expenses and taxes seniors will not be able to live in Peru in years to come.
We keep referring to Mr. Grabowski as an ambassador. How did he get that title? It appears that he went to Florida on vacation, played pickle ball, came home and proclaimed himself an ambassador and eventually took over 28th street court.
My question is to our Mayor, our city council, rec board and public property committee members.
It seems as though the ambassador can reserve the court anytime he deems necessary. Since this is a public park, owned and paid for by the taxpayers, can any other citizen do this?
Who or what is the "newly formed Pickleball Ambassadors Club" that Mr. Grabowski mentioned. Who belongs to it, how do you become a member, where do they meet, what do they do? The information regarding this issue seems pretty vague.
For those who are interested the ambassador has the 28th street court reserved every Tues., Wed., and Thurs. from 6 to 8 until the end of November. Who ever heard of "clinics" lasting 6 months and being held 3 days a week? These aren't clinics people. He's reserving your court for his personal use. And, because we have allowed him to he is also reserving it on additional days - just because he can.
Again, can any other citizen do this?
There is 4 courts and ample time for everybody to enjoy pickleball. Go to the park anytime and you will find a court. You need a paddle and ball just like a tennis court or a basketball for a basketball court. As far as a club? So what. There is a club for people who jump in the river on below zero days, the polar bear club. Enjoy the many experiences Peru has to offer! I want Bike trails and some have been critical of the past bike trail planning efforts. A small area for pickleball doesn't change the quality of life for anybody. Lets get real.
Oh but you are wrong about changing the quality of life for people. How about the families that used to be able to walk to the park to play tennis. They cannot do that any longer. And how about the families that surround the park? Try listening to the constant twak, twak, twak of not only one wiffle ball, sometimes four. And then try having sixteen people in your backyard. Try it! And then try it at 6-8pm. Tennis did not make near the amount of noise, and there was only one ball and maybe 4 people. This sport does not belong in a neighborhood park. It belongs at Baker Lake away from homes. Try having it in your backyard then talk about the quality of life. If he wants to have clinics they should be held during the day. Not when people are trying to relax in their yards after work. Please just TRY IT!
2;27 obviously you don't get it or understand the post above. Just looking for answers. obviously you have none. too bad.
Like the earlier post said if we vote someone new in the court will go back to what the people want. A tennis court. We are sick of a few doing what they want with the cities money. Our money. This town needs to be run by the community and not a select few. That will better our quality of life! Everyone needs to vote and prior to that ask what each candidate stands for. None will be perfect but one will be behind the community and not shoving stuff in our faces and saying "here''.
PLEASE explain to me the many life experiences available in Peru. I need entertainment!! Oh, and p.s., I just laugh about the "ambassador" designation. Would you want to be called "Mr. Grab - Pres of the Pickle Ass.?"
Pickleball is loud.
This morning was scheduled as a family pickle ball day by our ambassador. Guess that was just another excuse for him to get possession of the court because there were no families present. Just the usual handful consisting of the ambassador, several rec members,and 1 or 2 citizens. Now he will also have the court this evening from 6-8 for the same group of people.
On Sun evening at 7:00, I observed two young girls walk to the 28th Street Park. They had tennis racquets and one ball. They didn't have to bike on West St or Shooting Park to get to a court But where was the court ? They attempted to volley among the maze of pickleball nets. Their skill level was "Novice". Their volleys generated no annoying "twok". They brought back the "Good Ol' Days" of a neighborhood park with a TENNIS court.
Last night's (7/4) pickle ball clinic - no one showed up. Again the court was reserved and sat vacant. This nonsense has got to stop. This court has become nothing more than the ambassador and his cohorts playground. Bring back the good old days so everyone and anyone can use this public TENNIS court for both pickle ball and TENNIS.
You people need to make up your mind. Either the pickle ball courts are going basically unused or the mouse from all the people using them is unbearable. Which is it?
12:49 Pm
Unless Grabowski is present with the supplies, no one can use the courts because as he told us he has a regular job and can be there only at specified times.. So at his convenience they are used and then they are awful.
In between when the courts are empty because Mr Grabowski is at work, then tennis players have tried to used the court but can't because it has been mutilated with pickle ball permanent nets.
Anon 12:49 Is this a little mouse or a big mouse? Maybe what you are hearing is a rat. Do rats like pickles?
If the city bought the hand held equipment, then it should be available during all hours that the park is open. For Grab to keep the equipment at his house is an absolute joke. Honestly, am I missing something here. This situation can't be bold.
The city did not purchase hand held equipment. Anyone can purchase equipment any play at any time they would like. I have seen playing at all different times of the day.
10:02 AM
And you don't have a clue as to what is happening and your information is all wrong. Go to the city web site and read Recreation Commission minutes from Jan. 2012 until March.2012
Does the Ambassador have Diplomatic Immunity and is accountable to no one ? I'd like to see frisbee golf,and deck shuffleboard, and tetherball, and bike paths, and croquet greens, and volleyball courts, and horshoe pits, and handball courts, and an exercise trail, and a swimming pool, and sturdy playground equipment. Perhaps we need to send the Ambassador on another vacation where he can see these items and return to bring them to fruition. It didn't take any planning to foist pickleball on us.
He seems to be the one in charge and the public be damned.
10:02 The city most certainly did purchase rackets, balls and the nets. And they can be found in the ambassadors garage. He was given a 3,000 dollar budget and they already have a line item for the new budget of 3,000.
Wouldn't you hope that any decision any government body makes would be for the best interest of the majority and not for just 1? Wouldn't you think all avenues would be pursued and all involved would be included in the discussion before a decision is reached? That to me would be true government-one of the people, by the people, for the people. Many decisions are made in haste and then the repercussions begin. A government that explores all roads before making a decision is more apt to succeed.
I live on 28th and had just purchased new tennis items before the pickleball court was established. Willing to give it a try, I went to a clinic in the evening with my 10 year old daughter and was promptly told to return with an adult as children were not being taught at this time. I completely felt like this was a club and I was not invited. Now I get in my car and drive over a busy highway to play tennis when I previously walked only steps. I guess I missed the meeting when this change was being discussed.
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