“We’re more than friendly and welcoming,” Debi LaBonte, a four-year player, explained. LaBonte joined the morning group a year and a half ago, cementing the inclusive spirit of the crew. Eric and Kathy Kincannon, fixtures of the group for two years, echo the sentiment. “We don’t fight or keep people out,” Kathy Kincannon said, highlighting their openness to players of all levels.
From Chalked Lines to Organized Play
The group’s origins trace back to 2012, when Dianne Wing first played at Rumsey Park, chalking lines on tennis courts. Wing’s efforts to introduce pickleball to the community were instrumental. “We didn’t know what we were doing,” Wing admitted, recalling her early days with a homemade setup. Today, the group has grown to include over 50 players, ranging from a nine-year-old to a 92-year-old, all coordinating games via a group chat.
Rita Vasquez, who joined in 2018, emphasized the sport’s unifying power. “We’ve become a community,” she said. Despite having no official name, players sport shirts designed by Steve Eskenazi, a retired physics teacher, proudly displaying “Payson Pickleball Crew.” Eskenazi noted the shift in perception: “It’s not tennis for old people anymore.”
A Social Hub Beyond the Courts
The social aspect of pickleball is as significant as the sport itself. “It’s a social interaction,” Eric Kincannon said, noting the friendships that extend beyond the courts to hiking and kayaking groups. “Pickleball is all inclusive,” he added, reflecting on the diversity of the crew.
Upgrades and Challenges
The growing popularity led to the addition of six new courts by the Town of Payson Parks & Recreation department. Between April 22 and May 6, four courts were resurfaced. However, players returned on May 7 to find new surface cracks. “The underlying issue is that the original concrete slab is not post-tensioned,” explained Steve Richardson, Director of Town of Payson Parks & Recreation. Despite these challenges, the courts are safe for play.
The Evolution of a Sport
Invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, pickleball has seen explosive growth. With approximately 8.9 million players in the U.S. and a 650% increase in courts over the last seven years, the sport’s appeal is undeniable. In Payson, the Pickleball Crew’s camaraderie and passion for the game exemplify the sport’s transformative power in local communities.
News in Brief: Payson Pickleball Community Expands
Payson, Arizona’s pickleball scene is thriving at Rumsey Park, where six courts are full by 7 a.m. daily. The informal group of players, welcoming newcomers, includes a diverse range from nine to 92 years old. The Town of Payson recently added six new courts and resurfaced four existing ones, though new surface cracks have emerged. Steve Richardson from the Parks & Recreation department attributed these issues to the original concrete slab’s lack of post-tensioning. The sport, which began in 1965, now has 8.9 million players in the U.S. and a 650% increase in courts over the past seven years.
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