Tom Helfrich is the volunteer coordinator for Pickleball at the City of New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center Monday through Friday mornings. He has taught Pickleball to over 150 new players at the Recreation Center in addition to coordinating the Annual Pickleball Tournament. He also desired to open up Pickleball to wounded veterans and others with physical limitations. Tom collected donations from local Pickleball players to purchase the specifically designed athletic wheelchair needed for players to maneuver easily and quickly around the court.
Tuesday May 1, 2018 Tom Helfrich attended the New Port Richey City Council meeting and formally donated the sports wheelchair to the City of New Port Richey for the Recreation and Aquatic Center.
Tom Helfrich will also be organizing introductory Pickleball lessons for kids at the Recreation and Aquatic Center this summer. Call the Recreation Center at 727-841-4560 for further information.
The City of New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center is a 35,000 square foot facility on 14 acres with 4 pools, two full size gyms, a dance studio, fitness center, restaurant style kitchen, and meeting rooms, situated at the edge of Downtown New Port Richey. After a $1.8 million dollar expansion project completed this year, the center boasts an expanded state of the art fitness center, additional multi-purpose rooms and an indoor playground complete with child watch for members.
The Aquatic Center has a kiddie pool, dive pool, lap pool and a plunge pool complete with a 28 foot high water slide. Tables, chairs, chaises and shade structures assure members of areas to relax and get out of the sun. Ping Pong and other outdoors games are available free of charge. Healthy snacks from the concession stand can be purchased on weekends. Pickleball is played Monday through Friday from 6am to 12:30pm with free lessons available on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
The Recreation Center is open Monday –Friday from 6am to 8pm and from 10am to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The Aquatic Center lap pool is open from 8am to 7pm Monday through Friday and all four pools are open from 10am to 4:30pm on Saturday and Sunday. Memberships are available daily, monthly or annually and are open everyone, City and County Residents as well as visitors to our area.