For several years, local pickleball courts were only located in private developments. Most of these courts did not allow players from outside the development or resort to play there, or they only allowed a few to do so. In 2017, a group of people, including several USAP Ambassadors and Gwen van Dorp, decided that the Tucson area needed some public courts where everyone could gather to play regardless of where they lived.

After a year of speaking to many public officials in the city and county and scouting locations across the area, it was decided that we needed to form a nonprofit organization that could “bring some money to the table.” TAP was formed as a social welfare 501(c)(4) organization in May, 2018. This was easier and cheaper than becoming a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The city had a Parks Foundation at that time, which could accept any contributions designated for pickleball that needed to be charitable in nature.

The first TAP Board was formed with Cindy Lutz as President, Jim Norwood as VP, Tom Starrs as Secretary, Priscilla Scott as Treasurer, and Deirdre Calhoun, Carol Carpenter and Sean Homer as directors. Our initial goal was to get 16-24 lighted courts at a single location with appropriate bathroom facilities and some shade. We also hoped that citizens would have free access to courts.

As we continued to lobby for public courts, we began fundraising. In our first year, we put on some round robins and a rodeo and then moved on to having a pickleball tournament in 2019, the Give Back Classic. We also received some grants. When Priscilla was running the Tucson Senior Olympics, she donated her tournament director income to TAP and TAP helped by providing volunteers for the event.

Since that time, TAP has become a city vendor with a contract to run the Tucson Senior Olympic Festival pickleball tournament. TAP receives a $2,000 tournament director fee and reimbursement for the required insurance policies (over $3,500). Three years ago, TAP added Picklin’ for a Cure to its portfolio as a co-sponsor, and it currently receives a donation of $3,000 for its role as tournament director for this charity event. In addition, we have sold several versions of t-shirts, as well as paddle bands and sport towels.

TAP donated its expertise to the city of Tucson in designing the 12 Udall Park courts and reviewing plans for the newly built Palo Verde Park courts under the Prop 407 bond program. TAP was successful in getting the City to agree on free open play at Udall. We have assisted city staff with advice on best practices for utilizing the courts and acted as a liaison between players and staff.

TAP has provided introductory pickleball clinics for several to help orient new players to the game and to the open play rules at Udall Park. TAP has also paid for a shade structure, multiple benches and a water bottle filler at the Udall courts. As a board, we are still working to have an additional 6 courts built at Udall in 2026 (also under Prop 407). This was promised to TAP when we accepted Udall as the central site for pickleball, but with only 12 courts. We have come a long way. But we still have a ways to go. This is a working board, with board members expected to volunteer.