FROM THE ISLAND WANDERER BLOG: Most islanders are probably aware that Bainbridge is the home of Pickleball. Now Legislation is being proposed to make the game Washington State’s official sport.
“If we don’t claim it some other state will,” says Clay Roberts, a spokesman for the more than 400 Bainbridge Island Pickleball players. “This is very exciting (news). We have been urging the Governor to propose Pickleball as the state sport for some time.”
Two Washington State Senators -John Lovick of Mill Creek and Sam Hunt of Olympia – are behind the push to make the game, started by three island buddies back in the 1960s, the King of Sports in the Evergreen State. The Senate is expected to take up the matter sometime in February.
Roberts, who was a prime mover behind the creation of the Founders Court and its accompanying recognition kiosk at Battle Point Park, says state’s such as Florida, Arizona and Hawaii – where Pickleball is hugely popular – might be tempted to do the same, so Washington’s move to make the game it’s official sport, is coming none to soon.