Kenyon locals finding new recreation opportunities with pickleball

Dee Kimmel has never considered herself as an athlete.

“I have no athletic cell in my body. I’ve never been into sports at all,” she said.

That might be changing, however, thanks to the rapidly growing sport of pickleball.

A newcomer to the area, Kimmel recently started a pickleball group with the support of Kenyon-Wanamingo Community Education. Earlier this month, they met up outside Kenyon-Wanamingo High School for their first session.

While she’s eager to introduce others to her sport of choice, she makes no secret of the fact that she herself is a beginner.

Kimmel began playing in January while wintering at an Arizona RV park. She connected with a group of pickleball players there, mostly women ranging from their 60s to their 80s. Some of their senior members had been playing for around 20 years, and had little trouble keeping up with the younger ones.

“It’s so easy for older people,” said Kimmel.

She began taking lessons with them, and found herself hooked.

Now in Kenyon, she started the group as a way to stay in practice over the summer. While seeking other players via Facebook, she connected with Amy Belcher, director of Community Education, who offered equipment.

According to Belcher, community ed acquired pickleball equipment about a year ago. Based on the number of requests she received for pickleball equipment, and the sport’s growing popularity elsewhere, she saw a clear demand. Belcher said it was an especially easy choice considering the equipment is a relatively small investment — just a portable net, paddles and balls.

Belcher said the sport appeals to many people looking for a low-impact recreation option.

“It gives them an opportunity to be active, but it’s not super strenuous,” she said.

Community ed has two sets of pickleball equipment.

Since providing the equipment, community ed has been fairly hands off, allowing Kimmel to oversee the group. Kimmel said the small group is manageable at its current size, but they might have to implement a registration system if it grows.

Currently, there are no requirements for people who wish to join.

“They just need to show up,” said Kimmel.

They don’t have a set schedule at the moment, so Kimmel said that anyone interested in joining should pay attention to the Concerned Citizens of Kenyon group on Facebook, where she’ll be posting future updates.

While they’ve started playing in the afternoon, Kimmel floated the possibility of playing in the morning as the weather heats up this summer, depending on players’ schedules.

Kimmel said the players they have thus far are all beginners, with little to no prior experience. Some of them joined after finding other groups less welcoming to first-timers.

The blacktop at the high school is sufficient for their needs, though Kimmel noted a larger group might require a different facility. She’s aware of other communities that began playing with portable nets before putting in courts. She said having a dedicated court would be “wonderful,” but acknowledged the difficulty of establishing one.

Listing her favorite aspects of the sport, Kimmel cited exercise, fresh air and socializing. She said the group has been a good way to meet people in Kenyon, and she’s already found a few more potential players.