Retired newspaper publisher and pickleball aficionado Frank L. Beeson has a vision. For 36 hours, pickleball players will fill the courts in Vandalia’s Helke Park for one unforgettable weekend in September.
Some of the players will pitch tents and camp out. Others will bring their families to enjoy a community celebration complete with food trucks, pickleball clinics and raffles. All will embrace the spirit of this marathon — to have fun and raise money for community and educational initiatives in Vandalia and Butler Township.
Welcome to the inaugural Paddle-Palooza, slated for Sept. 26-27. Register here.
“We expect slots to go quickly, given the enormous popularity of the game,” Beeson said. “We encourage players to register early. We welcome players of all experience levels, including beginners.”
For a two-day wristband, the cost is $20. Players can pre-purchase an inaugural T-shirt for another $20. (Both costs exclude fees). The event will run from noon on Friday, Sept. 26 until midnight on Saturday, Sept. 27. All ages are welcome, but participants must be at least 13 to play.
“Those with 36-hour wristbands are free to come and go as they please throughout the event,” Beeson said. “Players can play one match and move up to another court or, if no one is waiting on their court, they may play another match. At least one court must be in play for all 36 hours. And if four players want to go for the Guinness Book of World Records, which is 36 hours plus one minute, we will accommodate (and cheer them on) if they are willing to make the attempt.”
The event is sponsored by the Vandalia-Butler Foundation and the Vandalia Parks and Recreation Department, with all proceeds benefiting the Vandalia-Butler community through educational and community grants.
The Vandalia-Butler Foundation is a component fund of The Dayton Foundation. Leadership for the Vandalia-Butler Foundation rests in our own community, while fiscal oversight of our funds is maintained by The Dayton Foundation, which serves the Dayton/Miami Valley area. This partnership allows for the Vandalia-Butler community to benefit from local leadership and profit from resources pooled with others for investment growth.