The Founding Players

  • John Palmgren (Instructor)
  • Dick Stindle
  • Snake Parr
  • Todd Nelson
  • Mike Kania
  • Doc Patel

Senior Pickleball in Racine has its roots beginning in High School. Charles Ellis who was a teacher and football coach at Park High School, went to work on his masters at Jackson State university in 1990. One of his classes was new games to teach to students. Chuck brought up Pickleball at a staff meeting at Park High and the staff agreed to give it a try. John Palmgren was the chair of the Physical Education department at Park High and ordered the equipment necessary to start the new activity. Very quickly it became the favorite class of the students in Physical Education.

The park and recreation department in Racine under the direction of Jeanne Brenner at Tyler-Domer was running a summer softball league for seniors at Island park. It was very successful and quickly expanded to Volleyball at Tyler-Domer on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.

In the fall of 2008, on one of the Volleyball days while having coffee someone suggested we find something to do on Tuesdays and Thursdays. John Palmgren brought up the idea of playing pickleball that he taught at Park High School. Very few people heard of the game but were willing to learn because it sounded like tennis and ping pong combined. Jeanne Brenner ordered the paddles and balls, we used badminton nets to string across the gym floor, we used tape to mark the courts. The original players who first played Pickleball at Tyler-Domer were Dick Stindle, Snake Parr, Todd Nelson, Mike Kania, Doc Patel and John Palmgren who taught the rules. By word of mouth the game grew very quickly and was expanded to Chavez recreation center.

The Evolution of Racine Senior Pickleball

  • 1990
    • John Palmgren (Physical Education Chair) approves the first equipment purchase. The sport quickly becomes a student favorite.
    • The game is introduced to the Park High staff as a “new game for students.”
    • Charles Ellis, a teacher and football coach at Park High School, discovers Pickleball while completing his Master’s degree at Jackson State University.
  • 1990s – 2007
    • The Racine Park and Recreation Department (led by Jeanne Brenner) focuses on senior engagement through softball at Island Park and volleyball at the Tyler-Domer center.
  • 2008
    • During a volleyball break, players look for activities to fill Tuesdays and Thursdays.
    • John Palmgren suggests Pickleball, describing it as a hybrid of tennis and ping pong.
    • Jeanne Brenner coordinates the purchase of paddles and balls. The first games are played at Tyler-Domer using makeshift badminton nets and floor tape.