Local Pickleball Organization Grants Funding to Two Chewelah Entities

The Northeast Washington Pickleball Association (NEWPA) has announced that they awarded grants to the Chewelah School District 36 (CSD36) and the Chewelah Golf and Country Club (CG&CC). A press release issued by Jim Gish, NEWPA treasurer, stated that the two entities have been working on projects that align with NEWPA’s mission of improving court facilities that are open to the public and ensuring public access to community pickleball venues.

“We granted $5,000 to the CG&CC to help defray some of the costs of repairing and refurbishing the Chewelah Sports Courts costs,” said Gish. “They are responsible for the rest of the cost.”

Gish explained that the NEWPA does not own the pickleball courts, but wants to help improve the playing conditions. “Improved playing conditions mean more NEWPA members,” he said.

According to the press release, the grant awarded to the CG&CC also recognized the 30 years that they have let the public play pickleball at the Chewelah Sports Courts. 

The other grant in the amount of $5,210 was awarded to the CSD36 and involves making facility repairs at the former Jenkins Middle School Gymnasium. The press release stated that this is a “critical project” for the pickleball community, because the Chewelah indoor pickleball season depends on CSD36’s commitment to open the facility to the public.

“With NEWPA, we are all members of the same community,” said Gish. “For example, we have been playing pickleball at Jenkins when the roof leaks. Money is tight. So here is a situation where NEWPA can help the school district. It is a symbiotic relationship. If the cooperation of NEWPA can help them (CG&CC and CSD36) to improve their plans, so much the better for everyone.”

NEWPA originally began as a club whose members are pickleball enthusiasts, Gish said. Formed in 2023 as the Chewelah Pickleball Club, the group evolved to become NEWPA and operates as a charitable nonprofit organization. “We are dedicated to supporting the growth of pickleball in northeast Washington,” said Gish.

NEWPA promotes pickleball events and bettering the facilities in which pickleball is played in the tri-county area as well as awards funding to improve pickleball facilities.

Gish said, “We hope that down the road, more communities will start improvement projects so that we can partner up with them and do more improvement projects. NEWPA funds are made up of member donations. The standard member donates $40.00 per year, and some members contribute more. Grant money comes from leftover funds that were raised to start the club.”

He added, “Pickleball has really evolved over the years. In 1965, when things got started, it was mostly a young people’s sport. Now, the new demographic is older people playing. It is still a family oriented sport, and it is very social. 

“Pickleball is played on a small court with four people. Most of the time, people show up to socialize, and the games just pop up. Pickleball promotes well-being not just in body, but in mind. It’s a lot more than just exercise.”

The goal of NEWPA is to get their name out there, Gish stated. “I’ve been playing for eight or nine years now. We don’t have campaigns to raise money. We want to partner with a city to promote pickleball.”

Gish said he anticipates that both projects that have been awarded grants will be completed this summer.

More information about NEWPA can be found at newpa.club or by calling 509-596-0979 or emailing info@newpa.club.