Quick Quiz 🧩
True or false—a heart attack and a cardiac arrest are the same thing?
(Answer below)
In this Edition:
- Lincoln City Pickleball—A Warm Coastal Welcome 🐙
- Portland Parks Post Pickleball Policy ⚠️
- Fun Times at Pickleball Kingdom 👑
- Another Sock Sighting! 🧦
- Pet Pals: Meet Archie 🐕
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Coastal Courts in Lincoln City 🐙
Sun, sea air, and pickleball fun—what could be better? That's exactly what I found when I joined a morning of open play at Dorchester Park in Lincoln City, Oregon.
The park's newly lined and resurfaced courts have permanent tennis nets, and the friendly Lincloln City Pickleball Club (LCPC) members keep portable pickleball nets in on-site boxes. If you're visiting without them, you can check out a net from the nearby Lincoln City Recreation Center where the LCPC members also play.
The eight courts at Dorchester Park are in a lovely setting surrounded by buildings and trees, so the wind is not a huge factor. Take your paddle and visit these friendly folks on the coast! I played a few games with Lincoln City Pickleball Club members Joan (L) and Peggy (R) (photo inset). They happily showed off the cute LCPC tees featuring a black octopus holding a paddle with the words "Fear the Paddle."
Play level at Dorchester Park was mostly intermediate (3.0+), though all levels were welcome. I wish my game play had been a bit better that day—I was handily beat by a fit 92 year-old (kudos Don!)—but "I'm learning" to accept that my body (and my game) is not the same as it was a year ago.
Joan (inset, photo above) shared that LCPC hosts an annual Paddle at the Beach tournament—a popular fundraiser for the Lincoln City Parks and Rec—and they're considering a winter event. To learn more, visit the Lincoln City Pickleball Club Facebook page.
According to Joan, Pickleball Hall of Famer Enrique Ruiz, recently stopped by the courts to play and "was very exciting to watch." How cool!
The next time you plan a trip to the coast, don't just hit the beach (photo inset), bring your paddle—you'll find friendly faces and a warm welcome waiting!
Portland Parks Post Pickleball Policy ⚠️
Many community agencies around the United States, including Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R), are trying to respond to the pickleball craze with a thoughtful, community-first approach.
In some communities, however, pickleball is overtaking traditional tennis spaces at a rapid pace. One of my Beginning Pickleball students sent me a recent New York Times article that captures pickleball's growth through aerial photos. Check out these amazing before-and-after shots—thanks for the link, Mark!
Portland’s approach to pickleball emphasizes balance: preserving tennis, where demand remains, while allocating new pickleball-specific infrastructure in locations that meet the city's noise and distance guidelines (pickleball courts must be at least 300-600 feet away from homes).
It should come as no surprise, then, that signs like the one pictured below are spelling out the policy in detail, so there is no confusion about where pickleball is—and is not—allowed.
This sign (above), posted by the City of Portland, says, "Tennis Only—No Pickleball." When I took the photo it was a lovely Saturday in August, but only one of the four tennis courts at Willamette Park was in use.
So...Where can you play pickleball in the City of Portland?
The following outdoor courts are available for free play on a first-come, first-served basis:
- Columbia Park (8 courts, bring net)
- Gabriel Park (6 courts, nets included)
- Hillside Park (1 court, bring net)
- Laurelhurst Park (2 courts, nets included)
- Pier Park (4 courts, bring net)
- Sellwood Park (8 courts, bring net)
On their website, PP&R lists recommended pickleball guidelines—such as limiting play to one hour if others are waiting. Need a pickleball net? Joy Crazy rents pickleball nets for just $30/week!
Another Sock Sighting! 🧦
Proof that pickleball isn't just about the paddles and balls...socks are stealing the show again!
I'm getting a real kick out of Raph's pickleball socks.
His latest pair (above) says it all: "THAT JUST DILLS MY PICKLE."
🥒🎾
A Joy Crazy Time at Pickleball Kingdom 👑
What a blast! The Joy Crazy crew had two dedicated courts to check out Pickleball Kingdom's new facility in Tigard, Oregon during their soft opening (thanks Grady!) One court was for "winners" and the other for "warriors"—and the atmosphere was everything we hoped for: great energy and plenty of friendly competition.
The best part? Seeing old and new faces from our Joy Crazy community and playing together in the sparkling new 13-court facility, where the scent of fresh paint still lingered.
We had a "Joy Crazy" time at Pickleball Kingdom—and what a delight to see Lynn (inset) sporting her new teal Joy Crazy T-shirt!
Each pickleball court has its own TV screen with automatic scoring and instant replay. In the photo above, Maureen (inset, coral top) presses the button on the mounted machine to add a point for her team.
A few of us, like JoAnn (inset, black top), tested out the Piqlz interactive dink wall—a fantastic tool for drilling and sharpening your dinking game.
The major hiccup? The volume. It was quite loud, but the owners plan to add sound abatement soon.
If you haven't gone yet, I recommend a visit to experience the newest addition to our regional pickleball scene!
Pet Pals: Archie - The Neighborhood Greeter 🐕
Archie is owned by Char and is a fun Havanese/Shih Tzu mix who takes his "job" of being cute very seriously.
According to Char, "He still has his long puppy eyelashes and he's seven!" This, we assume, means he melts hearts everywhere he goes.
Archie starts his mornings with a neighborhood walk, happily greeting dog friends and humans alike. When he's not busy socializing, you'll find him playing fetch with his favorite stuffed toys.
Fetch champ, Chief Cuteness Officer, and official morning greeter—here's adorable Archie (above) in a classic "puppy pose" with his stuffed toy.
Thanks for sharing your pet pal with us Char, what a cutie!
Want your furry friend featured next?
Send us their photo and story for Pet Pals.
Quick Quiz Answer 🧩
False—a heart attack and a cardiac arrest are related, but very different:
Heart attack: This happens when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked, often by a clot. The heart usually keeps beating, but the muscle is starved for oxygen. It's a circulation problem.
According to a handy PDF from the American Heart Association®, "Symptoms of a heart attack may be immediate and may include intense discomfort...More often, though, symptoms start slowly and persist for hours, days or weeks before a heart attack."
Dave Paul, my hubby and a Portland Fire & Rescue Paramedic, wants you to know women's heart attack symptoms are often atypical. "This is well documented, and may include unexplained fatigue, or back or jaw pain, to name a few," he remarked.
Cardiac arrest: This happens when the heart suddenly stops beating. Blood is no longer pumped to the brain and other vital organs and a person becomes unresponsive. It's an electrical problem.
Time is criticial during cardiac arrest and an AED (automated external defibrillator) can be used to restart the heart quickly and save a life.
It's good to know where the closest AED is located before an emergency occurs. At the Friendly House , my pickleball home, the AED is in the hallway, across from the gym. Pulse Point can help you find the closest AED near you. Search your phone's app store and download the "Pulse Point AED" app—it's free! 💛
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To contact Shannon Diffenderffer, M.Ed., send an email to shannon[@]joycrazy.com
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