Where community, health, and pickleball take root.

The Pickle Orchard is a nonprofit growing equitable access to pickleball, community wellness, and youth opportunity — starting in San Jose and spreading outward.

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Our Mission

Growing something bigger than a game

The Pickle Orchard focuses on creating access to pickleball in underserved neighborhoods, reducing loneliness and isolation through regular, welcoming play, and supporting youth through positive, structured programs.

We're building a model that cities and partners can replicate — one that treats play as public health and brings people together across generations, backgrounds, and skill levels.

Every court we activate, every paddle we donate, and every community we build is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves access to joy, movement, and connection.

Equitable Access

We prioritize parks and schools in communities that have been historically under-resourced.

Community Wellness

We treat play as public health: movement, sunlight, and human connection.

Youth Pathways

We create safe, structured spaces for young people to learn, lead, and belong.

Data & Accountability

Our programs are measured and guided by real research, not guesswork.

Programs

How we grow community

Parks Families

Neighborhood Courts & Open Play

We transform underused park spaces into welcoming pickleball hubs with free equipment, clear court markings, and regular open-play sessions that bring neighbors together.

Youth Schools

School & Youth Partnerships

We donate equipment to schools, run clinics during PE and after-school hours, and create youth leagues that teach teamwork, resilience, and healthy competition.

Community Families

Community Events & Potlucks

Beyond the courts, we host food, music, and multi-generational gatherings that deepen social ties and create belonging in every neighborhood we serve.

Leadership Adults

Training & Volunteer Leadership

We train community coaches, court stewards, and volunteers to sustain programming long after we've planted the seeds — building local leadership from within.

Research & PXR

Research-backed impact, not just good vibes.

The Pickle Orchard works with a Senior Research Advisor — an NIH-trained biostatistician — to measure what matters:

  • 📊 Physical activity levels and health outcomes
  • 🤝 Social connection and reduction in loneliness
  • 🌱 Youth engagement and development
  • ⚖️ Equity of access across neighborhoods

This research layer turns everyday play into publishable, policy-relevant evidence that parks, cities, and funders can trust.

PXR

Where PXR Fits In

PXR (Pickleball Expected Rating) is a separate rating and analytics layer that sits on top of community play. The Orchard's data and research help ensure that PXR is grounded in real-world behavior, not just scores.

Community The Orchard
→
Science Research
→
Intelligence PXR

Together, The Orchard + Research + PXR create a full ecosystem: community → science → intelligence.

600+ community members reached
3+ parks activated as pickleball hubs
200+ youth introduced to pickleball
2 public-health studies in progress
Get Involved

Join the Orchard

Volunteer

Help run open play sessions, assist with youth programs, or support community events. Every hand makes a difference.

Join our volunteer list

Partner

Schools, parks, health organizations, and community groups — let's work together to bring pickleball to more people.

Explore partnerships

Play

Come to open play, bring your friends and family, and help spread the word. The best way to grow is together.

Find a local Orchard court

Stay Connected

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