Giving Back
Pickleball has given us so much – we aim to give back, and to develop the sport, particularly in the youth population and in underserved communities.
Are you interested in participating in one of these programs? Do you have an idea for another way to give back through pickleball? Use the Contact Form to get in touch. Thanks!
Incarcerated Communities
Washington DC Pickleball partners with the Pickleball for Incarcerated Communities League (PICL) and with the DC Department of Corrections to promote pickleball in incarceration settings. Volunteers have been playing weekly at the DC Jail since April 2024.
The program recently expanded to include teaching pickleball at the District of Columbia's detention center for male and female youth, through DC’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS). Pickleball offers a holistic approach to rehabilitation that encompasses physical activity, skill acquisition, mental well-being, and social reintegration.
Current efforts include outreach to returned citizens who have completed their sentences through the Department of Correction's READY Center. Paddles have been graciously donated by Selkirk and 11SIX24.
The response has been enthusiastic - check out this video.
DC Public Schools
In 2026, volunteers from Washington DC Pickleball taught pickleball in two high schools, KIPP DC Legacy, in Ward 8, and KIPP DC College Prep, in Ward 5. Over 100 students from each school participated, and teachers were trained on effective methods for introducing pickleball in the classroom.
An after-school pickleball program at Ferebee Hope Recreation Center, located next to KIPP DC Legacy, is ongoing, and an after-school program is planned at the newly opened Brentwood Hamilton courts, located next to KIPP DC College Prep.
Pickleball is being taught in schools nationwide, including in Washington DC. But teaching is limited by lack of court space.
In 2026, Washington DC Pickleball partnered with DC Public Schools to convert single-use tennis courts to dual-use hybrid courts at two locations: HD Woodson and Eastern High Schools, both in Ward 7.
Six courts were painted at each school, with portable nets provided in storage boxes. These courts will allow for effective teaching by DCPS staff, and are available to the general playing community outside of school hours.
In August, over 70 DCPS middle school teachers participated in a training session on ways to teach pickleball.
Community Support
Washington DC was hit by a series of layoffs in 2025, with resulting food insecurity. To support our community, Washington DC Pickleball sponsored a food drive benefiting the Capitol Area Food Bank in November and December. Over $1000 in monetary donations, plus food donations, was raised from players at sites all over the city.