By Khevin Barnes
If you are fortunate enough to live in Vail, chances are you’ve driven by The Rincon Valley Fire Station #1 on Camino Loma Alta. At first glance it may appear to be an unremarkable compound nestled among the prickly pear and Ocotillo, but nothing could be further from the truth. Inside the towering walls designed to hold immense, state-of-the-art fire engines, emergency vehicles and equipment, you’ll find eighteen spirited men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting the residents of Vail. Firefighting is one of the most essential services in any community, and firefighters are some of the most selfless public servants you will ever encounter.
When they aren’t fighting fires, attending to medical emergencies or removing unwanted desert creatures from our yards, our firefighters are standing at the ready behind the walls of that building where they spend a good deal of time keeping physically fit and ready for the next call for help.
When the crew at the fire station decided to add the game of pickleball (a vigorous ball and paddle game played on an open court) to their daily health curriculum, they began by painting court lines on the cement floor of the building that houses the fire engines. They rounded up some old wooden paddles and fashioned a net to fit the required dimensions for a proper court. And in between the calls to offer their assistance and services to our community, they played.
Just two miles away from the fire station is the “Del Webb 55 Plus” neighborhood. One of the residents, Margaret Casolari, is an avid pickleball player and an active member of the Del Webb Pickleball Club. As fate would have it, she knew one of the firemen who had shared the news of their make-shift pickleball court. Margaret had an idea that would set the gears in motion for a creative way to thank the members of fire station #1 for their community service.
She enlisted the help of Tim Collins, the U.S.A. Ambassador of Pickleball for Vail and a Del Webb resident, and John Apgar, a pickleball instructor and representative for “Engage Pickleball”, a US-based manufacturer of quality paddles. The company offered a substantial discount and Mr. Apgar was able to procure new paddles, balls and hats. Several members of the club got together and donated the funds to purchase a portable net for the game, and an automated ball machine was presented to the fire station by one of the communities’ notable players, Bruce Reilly. A celebration was held at the facility on January 9th, followed by a rousing series of games on the outdoor courts in the Coyote Creek community nearby; organized by Tom Warfield.
Our fire fighters give us their time and talents on a daily basis, protecting the health and safety of our Vail community. The pickleball players of Del Webb were honored to offer this practical and playful contribution to thank them for their outstanding service.
