The Salvation Army in Cambridge Hosts Grand Opening of New Pickleball Facility
Cambridge, OH (March 1st, 2024) – The Salvation Army in Cambridge is excited to invite all Gurnsey County residents to the grand opening of the Hilltop Pickleball Facility at 1501 Morton Ave in Cambridge. The grand opening will be held on March 4th, 2024, to feature an open house with light refreshments beginning at 6 pm, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at 6:30 pm. This facility features the popular sport of pickleball, which continues to increase amongst youth and older adults. During the open house, people of all ages can experience demonstrations, which will be available from 9 am to 6 pm on March 4th, and learn about the game of pickleball.
“The Salvation Army in Cambridge has always strived to meet the relevant needs of our local communities. This new facility has provided us with a unique opportunity to reach out to our community members and engage them in recreation and in fostering new community relationships. Pickleball is bringing new individuals into our community with tournaments and providing healthy lifestyle programming,” stated Captain Candice McMillen, Corps Officer for The Salvation Army in Cambridge Corps Community Center.
Throughout the early 2020s, Pickleball was named the fastest-growing sport in the United States by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, with an estimated 4.8M players at the end of 2023. For The Salvation Army in Cambridge, pickleball started with a simple request by US Pickleball Open Pro Jackie Bradshaw to use the gym for training. It quickly expanded to 200 monthly participants using the one court at the Cambridge Corps gym.
“We are part of this community and grow as this community grows. This new facility will help our local community grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It will be a new source of socialization and community engagement. It starts with pickleball, but we hope it will grow into more as we look to add memberships and leagues, host tournaments, and add other events to utilize this facility fully,” continued McMillen.
The Salvation Army in Cambridge has been a critical fixture in Gurnsey County for over 100 years. It provides essential programming to help feed, clothe, and spiritually uplift their local community when needed. From offering prom dresses to teenagers, weekly food from our pantry, summer camp for youth, and crockpot classes, The Salvation Army works to provide programs and services for all demographics and ages.
For more information about The Salvation Army in Cambridge, OH, or to make a donation, call 740-432-7759.