BOISE AREA PICKLEBALL ASSOCIATION

The City of Meridian hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, October 27 to officially open the second phase of Discovery Park, Meridian’s newest regional park located in south Meridian. 

Discovery Park is located at 2121 E. Lake Hazel Road, between Eagle and Locust Grove Roads.

This expansion of Discovery Park, which broke ground in 2022, more than doubles the size of the existing park, bringing its total size to approximately 64 acres.

The park’s new amenities include an Active Area featuring six pickleball courts and two tennis courts dual-striped for pickleball; bocce ball courts; a 40-yard dash challenge; and basketball courts. The park’s Teen Area has a skatepark, a sand volleyball court, hammock poles, and a shelter with WiFi. Additional new attractions include a bike park and pump track; three additional softball fields (two of which will be illuminated); public art pieces and artisan-made benches; picnic shelters; a restroom/concession building; paved walking paths; more than 500 additional parking spaces; and room for a future community garden.

Below (in alphabetical by last name order) are the bios submitted by the current candidates for the 2023-2024 President-Elect Position: 

DAVID CLEVERDON

David Cleverdon is a proud Idaho native who deeply cherishes the lifestyle and quality of life that the Treasure Valley has to offer. A passionate advocate for his community, David's connection to the valley extends far beyond his birthright. As a dedicated business owner in the software development sector, he has a strong commitment to workplace safety and saving lives. His experience in project and resource management, combined with his ability to motivate and share a vision with his team, showcases his leadership abilities.

David's athletic journey has its roots in many years of tennis (USTA). However, since 2018, he shifted gears to embrace pickleball, playing on average, 3-4 times a week, as his schedule permits. His enthusiasm not only extends to playing, but also to giving back to the playing community, which is evident in his volunteer work with BAPA, ETC (Pickleball), and the previous years with the USTA.

Stepping into the role of President-elect for BAPA in 2023-24, and further transitioning to the role of President in 2024-25, David is determined to uphold and expand on the remarkable legacy of the Boise Area Pickleball Association. He eagerly anticipates the chance to cultivate and lead a team devoted to growing the vision of pickleball in the Treasure Valley.

KRIS KOJIAN

Hey there, I'm Kris, and I'm excited to be nominated for the role of President-elect at BAPA.

I've had some early success in my career, including my current position as an Executive Producer collaborating with movie studios and streaming channels. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend the past 20 years working with some of the world’s biggest brands at the forefront of marketing. That said, my professional journey commenced with a focus on nonprofit endeavors. Even as my professional lens has shifted, I’ve carried on contributing positively to the community. As a devoted volunteer, I've continued to actively engage with benevolent community-building organizations donating my time, resources, and abilities whenever possible.

Over the past five years, I’ve found a new passion that I want to explore more deeply: pickleball. I've made some incredible friendships on the court and even managed to hone in my dink shots while introducing new players to the game. My foray into the world of organized sports began during childhood, where I distinguished myself as a hockey player, eventually competing nationally at the collegiate level. This lifelong dedication to athletics instilled in me the values of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance—attributes that will shape my approach to leading BAPA.

Pickleball, for me, is a blend of all these experiences. It's not just a sport; it's a way to bring people together, to bridge gaps, and to have a ton of fun. As BAPA President, my aim is to fuse my digital marketing expertise with my community-driven approach. Imagine a mix of strategic growth, raising awareness, and inclusivity within the Boise area pickleball community.

I've seen firsthand how sports can be a catalyst for positive change, and I'm determined to make pickleball a cornerstone of our community. Whether you're a seasoned player or just getting started, I want pickleball to be your game of choice. Together, let's create a new chapter for sports and community through BAPA.

- Kris

Angie Rogers, a local school teacher and BAPA member, has worked with BAPA to secure pickleball kits to loan to PE teachers for use in their curriculum.

There are a total of 4 kits available to check out for 1 to 3 weeks and the kits include the following:

• 4 Portable pickleball nets
• 30 Selkirk paddles
• 30 pickleballs

Click here to learn more about this program.

By holding the Hero's Memorial Tournament, June 8-11, 2023, BAPA raised approximately $17,000 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. 

In addition to the regular pickleball tournament, BAPA held the first tournament division for co-ed wheel chair athletes. Eight people partcipated in the division, just a portion of the 329 players who had fun over the weekend.

KTVB reported on the event.

BAPA recently held its first Just for Kids event at Settlers Park. 

Event coordinators Chris Haskins and Chris Mounier taught the kids different aspects of the game focusing on control and soft shots. 

There are many more events scheduled this summer for kids. If you know of a kid who might be interested, check out Just for Kids. Memberships are only $10, and events are $5 for JFK members. 

The BAPA executive board has added a new membership level: Youth 

This membership is designed for kids up to and including 15 years of age, and is only $10 per year.  

In addition, BAPA will hold a series of events Just For Kids during the outdoor season this year.  It's time to get your kids and grandchildren involved in BAPA and pickleball.  To join, click here.

Registration is now open for the 2023 Heroes Memorial Tournament

Save the date:  June 9-11 at Eagle Tennis Club

BAPA is excited and proud to announce we will be raising funds to support the Challenged Athletes Foundation and will be hosting the state's first ever wheelchair divisions!

Grab a partner and get signed up today!

PickleballBrackets.com

You must create an account (if you do not have one) and log in to register. Once you are logged in, do a search for 'Heroes' to display the event.

The City of Eagle is currently in the design phase of a new park complex.  The Eagle Regional Sports Complex will be located off Highway 16 just east of River Birch Golf Course.  The proposed design plan only identifies four dedicated Pickleball courts and two tennis courts.  As a member of BAPA or a follower of the BAPA Facebook group page you are likely aware how quickly the sport is growing. 

Ed Sloan, a long-time resident of Eagle, has attended a few meetings and approached BAPA to garner a means of support for the project.  We are asking Pickleball players around the Treasure Valley to submit letters of support to the City of Eagle to express the need for more courts in this project.  Now is the time since the city is in the design phase.  Construction is set to begin late spring or early summer and will take approximately 2-3 to complete.

Below is a form letter for your convenience.  Please modify the letter to include your name and address and sign at the bottom.  You may also write your own personal letter of support.  Please submit to the city at clerks@cityofeagle.org no later than March 10, 2023.

Community members are also urged to attend Coffee with the Mayor meetings every other Wednesday from 9-10 AM to express your support for more courts.  There may come a time where we will reach out for players to attend a city council meeting to show support.  We will notify you when and if that time comes. 

Thank you for supporting Pickleball in the Treasure Valley!

BAPA Board

FORM LETTER in PDF FORMAT

FORM LETTER in WORD FORMAT

Our officers and volunteers have curated a variety of pickleball drills and skills videos onto it's own YouTube channel.

Just subscribe to access the videos. Then look for Drills & Skills tabs in left column above Subscriptions.

The prestigious award was presented to BAPA member Dick Johnson by the CEO of the Games at a special dinner ceremony at the Hilton Convention Hotel in St. George, Utah. Three other player were also inducted: Alice Tym and Yvonne & Jim Hackenberg.

Dick said one of the most enjoyable things at the Huntsman Games this year was not only winning the needed gold medal to continue his Grand Slam pursuit but also winning it in men's doubles with his long time Boise High buddy and fellow BAPA member, Tim Gleason.

Read all of the article submitted about Dick Johnson by Lawana Johnson, by clicking here.