Pickleball Courts Added to Capital Hill: The Pickleball Federation of the Northern Mariana Islands (PFNMI) has officially “adopted” the Capital Hill tennis court under Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho’s Adopt-A-Place program. The event, held on Friday, marks a crucial step in revitalizing neglected public sports venues across the island.
Mayor Camacho emphasized the program’s role in community engagement, stating, “This program is about the community working together” to maintain these sites. He further highlighted the value of sports for youth, adding, “Sports is so important [for] these children that have nothing to do.”
Revitalization Plans for Capital Hill Court
The transformation of the Capital Hill tennis court into four dedicated pickleball courts is underway. The process began with concrete pouring, and the next phases will include surface coloring and coating by Sealer King, followed by the installation of fencing by Delta Fence.
PFNMI President Nelson Krum expressed enthusiasm about the project Journey and the excitement it will bring noting, this development is expected to address the increasing demand for pickleball facilities on the island.
“Boy, it’s been such a long process and a lot of work, but it’s exciting that we’ll be able to roll out pickleball up here.” – (Nelson Krum)
Historical Context and Community Impact
Pickleball’s presence in Saipan dates back four years to when the first court was set up in Krum’s dental office parking lot. The sport later expanded to American Memorial Park and other sites. Krum credited Sean Ficke and Triple J for their crucial support, saying, “So then we came back up here, and it was really Sean Ficke and Triple J that made the commitment to let us get going with taking this over, and we met with the Mayor’s Office and Parks & Rec, and everybody said sure.” He praised the Mayor’s Adopt-A-Place program as “a fantastic program,” highlighting its effectiveness in leveraging community resources to improve public spaces.
Endorsement from Community Leaders
Sean Ficke, General Manager of Triple J, acknowledged the significant growth of pickleball, describing it as “one of the largest growing sports right now in the world.” Reflecting on the sport’s evolution, Ficke said, pickleball “is one of the largest growing sports right now in the world, and it’s great to see the [number] of people that are turning out and playing pickleball here. Dr. Nelson Krum has been an advocate…for over four years now, and I remember playing in his parking lot four years ago and only a few people were playing, and many years have gone by and now he’s really grown it to something really big.”
News in Brief: Pickleball Courts Added to Capital Hill
The Pickleball Federation of the Northern Mariana Islands (PFNMI) has adopted the Capital Hill tennis court under Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho’s Adopt-A-Place program.
The project will transform the court into four dedicated pickleball courts, addressing the sport’s growing demand on the island. PFNMI President Nelson Krum and Sean Ficke of Triple J emphasized community involvement and the sport’s rapid growth. The initiative highlights the importance of sports for youth and aims to revitalize neglected public venues, with support from local organizations and the mayor’s office.
Also Read: Pickleball’s New Official Fruit Revealed: Blueberries
