OAKLAND — The Oakland Area Chamber of Commerce has received a $25,000 grant from AARP to create a pickleball court and pocket park adjacent to the Timothy Booker Senior Citizens’ Center in Oakland.
AARP received more than 3,600 grant applications and awarded 310 across the nation. Oakland is one of four selected in Mississippi.
“We are so excited to have our project partially funded through AARP. Their funds will go a long way to creating this wonderful space at our Senior Citizens’ Center. Already, business and industry in the area have stepped in to help with the project,” said Linda Ross Aldy, immediate past president of the chamber, who wrote and submitted the grant. The project must be completed by Nov. 30, 2023.
“We chose to request funding for a pickleball court after my sister (coach) Carol Ross, a longtime pickleball player, remarked that the slab from the old school cafeteria looked like the perfect size. We have since learned that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S.,” said Aldy. “Of course, we could not have done this without the mayor and town board fully behind the project and we are so thankful that our two groups work so closely together for the good of the community and the Oakland area.”
According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, pickleball has grown from 3.5 million players in 2019 to 8.9 million in 2022. The number of players will jump to 22 million in 2023, according to UBS.
“We didn’t find any public pickleball courts in the area when we did our research. The nearest one is in Oxford,” said Aldy. “We’ve already had requests for classes and we will offer some when our court opens.”
Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong and is played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. It can be played as single or doubles and because the court size is smaller than tennis, it is a low-impact way to enjoy sports and stay active. Various research conducted by Aldy shows pickleball suits all ages, including seniors. It provides low-impact exercise, improves balance, flexibility and cognitive functions as well as nurtures social connection, offering a holistic approach to well-being. It is considered a beginner-friendly sport for any age or skill level.
The AARP Community Challenge is a grant program to make tangible improvements in communities that jump-start long-term change. It is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for people of all ages. To learn more, visit aarp.org/Livable.
