About the Club

Officially established in 2017, the Sunrise Pickleball Club is a non-profit 501c7 organization dedicated to organizing and promoting pickleball at Rusch Park in Citrus Heights, California. We have members of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds.  The all-volunteer Board of Directors helps to oversee club funds, manage drop-in play sessions 6 days a week, and arrange quarterly Round Robins, holiday parties, and other events.  We welcome all players, new and experienced, to come enjoy the fun, healthy, and addictive sport of pickleball!

Club History

Pickleball started at Rusch Park in the beginning of 2015, on four existing tennis courts. Playing on those courts was a challenge due to severe cracking, but Pickleball players are a dedicated group, so we kept on playing. Eventually there were about 30 to 40 players playing on the courts.

Steve Cooper was the leader of the group and the USAPA area ambassador. Later in 2015, Steve initiated talks with Sunrise Recreation and Park District about converting two of the old tennis courts to six dedicated pickleball courts. After many meetings, Steve convinced the park district to build the new courts. Money was budgeted, blue prints were drawn up, and construction was finally started in April of 2016. At that time, we were the Sunrise Pickleball Group, since we were not an official club.

While considering construction of the courts, the park district asked for several things from the group. One, they wanted the group to form an official club, so that the club could help manage the courts and act as the liaison between the players and the district. Because of the increased responsibility the club was taking on, the park district agreed to grant the club use of the courts on the mornings of Monday through Friday and Sundays. Second, they asked for some financial help in the construction of the courts. A core group of 28 players contributed $2,900 towards the nets and net posts. Third, the park district asked the club to help run any tournaments put on by the district.

On June 25, 2016, the six new outdoor courts at Rusch Park opened for play, and were widely viewed as some of the best outdoor courts in the area. Prior to the grand opening, the group donated many work hours helping with park repairs, painting, gardening, etc.

On January 1, 2017, the Sunrise Pickleball Club(SPC) was officially formed with officers and bylaws and began accepting members.

As of December 2018, SPC had over 400 members. We were quickly outgrowing our 6 courts.

The park district and club board worked together to secure a $10,000 grant towards the construction of 6 additional courts. However, that grant amount fell far short of the projected budget of $40,000-50,000.  Sunrise Pickleball Club members stepped up to the challenge.  By voting to increase membership dues, supporting various fundraising events, and making many generous individual donations, the club raised the additional money needed.  On August 24, 2019, all 12 courts were opened for play, making Rusch Park the largest dedicated pickleball facility in the Sacramento region at that time.

Membership continued to increase with pickleball's explosion in popularity, suggesting even more courts would be needed.  The club leaders started fundraising and ordered an environmental survey to identify locations to build additional courts.  The environmental survey revealed flood plain complications that restrict adding several courts together almost anywhere in the complex. It did show that up to 3 unlighted courts could be built on the west side of courts 6 and 12 at a significant cost. In 2022, members voted not to proceed with the additional court construction.

Throughout 2022 and 2023, using the funds previously earmarked for new court construction, the club was able to add numerous facility enhancements and repairs including: crack repairs and resurfacing, additional windscreens, benches, concrete walkways, shade structures, resetting of the net posts on the East courts to regulation width, new drinking fountain and water bottle filling station, a storage lock box, additional signage, and more.