Club History
October, 2008: Upon the recommendation of member Maureen Norris the Recreation Committee recommends to HOA Board that Pickleball be allowed to use one tennis court two evenings a week to determine interest in the game. Had to use masking tape to line courts and then remove it and recycle tape to save on costs. Asked for donations from participants to help recover costs of tape. The Recreational Committee Purchased portable nets for this.
November, 2008: Recreation committee has David Zapatka and Greg Mather demonstrate pickleball on tennis court #5 using taped lines and a temporary net borrowed from Oakwood at the annual Cottonwood/Palo Verde Recreation Night where homeowners are introduced to the sports, games and amenities the HOA has to offer. This was a trial to see if there was any interest in pickleball. Over 70 homeowners attended the demonstration and tried the game, making the night a huge success. From this came a core group of homeowners who wanted to see pickleball brought to Cottonwood/Palo Verde. This led to temporary use of tennis court number 5. Mary Littlewood and Sandy Stultz came to our courts every other week to teach lessons on this court for the following year.
February, 2009: Sun Lakes PIckleball held its first club meeting. Also, Recreation Committee recommended pickleball be allowed to move to Sisk Park and share the parking lot until permanent courts could be built. HOA approved. HOA paid for resurfacing the lot with new blacktop and purchasing heavy duty nets. Volunteers prepared the lot by drilling holes for the poles, building the cast iron poles and assembling everything. We had to use chalk to line the courts.
May, 2009: As the Monsoon's approached, the SLPCC asked the Recreation Committee to recommend to the Board to have permanent paint to line the courts. It was thought that rain would wash away the chalk and constant re-doing of the lines all summer would be needed. the HOA Board approved. Volunteers did all the work on painting the lines, buying the paint and getting access to a lining machine.
2010-2011: The Recreation Committee purchased a storage cabinet for the equipment when the courts were not in use. The club also purchased ball-stop screens to aid the players in controlling the balls. Volunteers created a method to keep them upright. Setup and take-down of the equipment was necessary on a daily basis. Hours were limited to Monday - Thursday 12:00 - 5:00 pm. The Sisk Park parking lot was not available for pickleball regularly as play was often cancelled due to the Ramada being reserved for special events. The process to find a location for permanent courts took on a life of its own. The Facilities & Grounds Committee reviewed 21 different locations around the CWPV community and presented these ideas and rationale to the Board. After several months the Board approved the location south of tennis court #1. The permitting process began with the county.
May, 2012: The final stages of getting the rezoning. The HOA revised their decision for the court location, developing a compromise with the tennis club to give tennis court 2 to pickleball and retrofit it for four pickleball courts. The tennis club got a new court east of court 5.
May, 2012: The final stages of getting the rezoning. The HOA revised their decision for the court location. developing a compromise with the tennis club to give tennis court 2 to pickleball and retrofit it for four pickleball courts. The tennis club got a new court east of court 5.
July, 2012: Maricopa County approved the permits.
August, 2012: Construction plans are approved by HOA.
October 15, 2012: The fences come down and constructions begins on Tennis Court 2 for four pickleball courts.
December 4, 2012: Courts are dedicated with an Open House for the HOA Board and community. A demonstration was given on how to play. Play begins for membership!
March, 2014: The 1st Annual Norris Invitational Tournament begins.The tournament is named after Maureen and Dick Norris for their unceasing efforts to get pickleball courts built in Sun Lakes. Their and many others' efforts provided the basis on which the club exitss today. Click here to see the results.
In 2016, the club added socials and fun activities which continue today. Silly prizes and fun, and sometimes outrageous, costumes are generally the order of the day for these activities:
Welcome Back, Rodeo; Tis the Season Christmas social; Cupid's Caper; Club Love Charity Social; Aloha to Summer Hawaiian style social; Ho Ho Ho December Social; Ring in the New Year Party at the Courts; End of Year Parties, and more.
In 2019 a group of homeowners started petitioning the HOA board for new courts. The pickleball club joined the effort in 2020 and in 2021 our 3 newest courts were completed.
October 2026: A Special Club Meeting presents Dick Norris with an Honorary NIT Medal for all Maureen and his efforts to bringing Pickleball to the Sun Lakes Cottonwood/Palo Verde Community - A special recognition was written by former President Irene D'Aloisio and read by current President, Mike Anecito:
As we gather to celebrate and present this recognition, we look out at a beautiful 7-court facility bustling with energy, laughter, and community. But to truly understand the spirit of the Sun Lakes Pickleball Club Cottonwood (SLPCC), we must look back to October 2008.
Before there were permanent nets, pristine fences, or painted lines, there was a vision shared by two remarkable people: Dick and Maureen Norris.
It was Maureen who first stepped forward to recommend to the HOA Board that we try this unknown game called pickleball. In those earliest days, the sport didn't live on dedicated courts; it lived in a shared space where players used masking tape to carefully line the asphalt. To keep the dream affordable, players would peel up the tape, save it, and recycle it for the next game.
From those humble, taped-out lines grew a passion that could not be stopped. Through the move to Sisk Park, the daily grind of setting up and tearing down heavy-duty nets, and the tireless evaluation of 21 different locations across the community, Dick and Maureen were the steady heartbeat of our progress. They fought for this club, volunteered their time, and laid the literal foundation for our first four permanent courts in 2012.
Though we deeply mourn the recent passing of Maureen, her legacy is permanently etched into every ball hit on these courts. And to Dick, who is still with us today at 85 years young, we want to say thank you. Thank you for your unceasing grit, your vision, and your belief in what this community could become.
You didn't just build courts; you built a family.
With deepest gratitude and admiration,
The Sun Lakes Pickleball Club Cottonwood Community