One Year Spend Under Cover

Perhaps fittingly, rain fell frequently on Thursday, Oct. 22.

Despite the weather, play continued throughout the day at the Patch Reef Park covered pickleball complex that opened exactly one year prior.

“This is my No. 1 go-to spot,” Cil Ciliberti said. “I left all my other spots, including free areas.”

Many share Ciliberti's assessment. 

In the first year, the new courts enjoyed play from more than 200,000 people.

Mary Pat Smagala was among those who attended the grand opening and plays with her friends several times a week.

“It was fun,” said Smagala of the opening. “It was crowded. There was free stuff. We were so excited because we were playing outside all summer and it was really hot. It was fun to see it all happen. We're very fortunate to have this amazing facility here.”

While Smagala was there from the start, Nicholas Keener made his first visit to Patch Reef on the anniversary.

“It's country-club nice,” said Keener, who works in the pickleball industry. “I'm blown away by the facilities.”

The Patch Reef Paddle and Racquet Club offers open play, reserved courts, monthly tournaments and clinics at different times throughout the day.

Teresa Pelletier came to Patch Reef on the anniversary to take part in a clinic that focused on dinking and driving.

“I love these pickleball courts because they are covered,” she said.

Alex Vazquez had been a soccer player until a couple years ago when his father invited him to play pickleball.

For the first year he played on various area courts. Now he can be found at Patch Reef almost everyday.

“Since I've found this place I haven't gone anywhere else,” the 23-year-old Vazquez said. “It has everything you want.”

And now “everything,” once again, includes outdoor pickleball.

Shortly after the covered facility's grand opening the District rebuilt Patch Reef's outdoor tennis and pickleball courts. All of those courts have now reopened.

“Now we have the outdoor courts, too – which are nice,” said Sharon Silvers, who attended the grand opening. “I don't mind playing outdoors in the sun when it's cooler.”