How we got here
A History of the Northfield Pickleball Association
In the early spring of 2024 a small group of pickleball players (the steering committee) met for the first time to discuss whether a pickleball organization was something worth pursuing. After several meetings and much discussion it was decided to proceed. Time was spent making a survey to determine if others were interested in organizing, and if they were, what things they would like an organization to promote. The survey was sent to 105 pickleball players and 95 responded. The results showed that people overwhelmingly wanted to organize and that they wanted the organization to get more courts built, improve the Riverside courts, seek options for an indoor facility and explore more opportunities to learn and play the game.
After meeting with the Northfield Parks’ manager to share the survey’s results, the steering committee sought volunteers to form a committee to explore organizational options and make a recommendation on what kind of organization we should be. That organizational committee interviewed 12 pickleball organizations to try to discern the best way to proceed. After much study their recommendation was that we should be an unincorporated association whose purpose is to promote the sport of pickleball in Northfield by improving facilities and enhancing opportunities to learn and play the game. If we were to have fund-raising needs, we should consider establishing a fiscal sponsorship arrangement with another local nonprofit like Northfield Shares. This would allow the Northfield Pickleball Association (NPA) to receive tax-exempt donations without becoming an incorporated 501(c)(3) organization.
On Saturday, April 5 the Northfield Pickleball Association (NPA) was founded. A group of 14 volunteers met that day to ratify the new association’s bylaws and to elect the first board of directors. Many thanks to Curt Gilbertson, Ray Gainey, John & Paula Case, Josh Zimmerman, Greg Stai, Lori Farmer, Tory Borovsky, Bruce Hamilton, Susan Larson, Brenda Fletcher, Art Weeks, Bill Seeberg and Bev Legler. Thanks also to Wayne Kivell, Adam VanSickle and Susie Weinbeck who served on early committees that helped move the association forward.