Building Community Through Sport

At a time when screens are quickly replacing face-to-face interactions, Yev Galper, a local entrepreneur, believes that racquets can help bring people together in today’s disconnected digital world.

Pickleball enthusiast and coach Galper is developing a facility in Hopkinton (next to Fairview Estates, and across from Weston Nurseries) that will feature both America’s fastest-growing sport and the world’s fastest-growing racquet sport under one roof.

A striking new building is being built on a prominent site visible from Route 135. The project currently under development is more than just another sports center. It’s a carefully planned community hub designed around the social joys of pickleball and padel, two sports that Galper believes offer something increasingly rare in modern life: genuine human connection through play.

The Numbers Behind the Vision

Galper’s approach to this project combines a high level of business expertise and strategic community development skills. Instead of following the typical “build it and they will come” mentality, he launched a pre-opening that has already proven successful, even before the location is open. With little more than a basic website featuring a “sign up for email” button and a promotional video, he has recruited over 1,000 residents within a six-mile radius to join his VIP waitlist.

This isn’t just a marketing triumph — it’s evidence of real community demand. His waitlist also serves several valuable purposes: it generates excitement through anticipation, helps validate a business concept (“I’ve never received such a successful response before actually launching”), and provides a dedicated group of early users when the club opens.

Galper is targeting the end of the year to complete construction, and the planned grand opening will be in the first quarter of 2026.

He plans to pre-sell Founding Memberships before construction is complete. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a great deal on a membership. He plans to pre-sell 400 of such memberships, and he’ll announce them first to people who sign up for his VIP Waitlist.

Join the VIP waitlist here: www.openplayppc.com

Once on the waitlist, you’ll be able to follow the construction and be notified when the VIP Founding Memberships are announced.

Innovative Membership Model

The club’s membership model also deviates from the typical pay-to-play model seen at most racquet sports clubs. Rather than charging players each time they participate, Galper plans to use a monthly fee system modeled after fitness chains such as Lifetime Fitness. Some of the things that pickleball players can expect with the monthly membership are:

• Unlimited open play sessions. (Open play is a structured play option that pairs players of a similar level.)
• Court booking privileges.
• League membership (no extra cost).
• Participation in local tournaments.
• Use of facility amenities.

This model resolves a frequently reported annoyance about being nickel-and-dimed for each amenity in addition to a monthly fee. It also eliminates the hesitation to play due to court fees by providing consistent, all-inclusive pricing.

A Multi-Sport Destination

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The Open Play has been carefully planned to meet the needs of both sports and its future growth. The planned layout includes:

Outdoor Courts:

• Three pickleball courts.
• Six padel courts.

Indoor Facilities:

• Eight pickleball courts.
• Two padel courts.
• Pro shop and smoothie bar.
• Players’ lounge.
• Fitness area.
• Restrooms and locker rooms.

Mezzanine Level:

• Golf simulator (Yes to member survey, 26% interest).
• Professional-grade table tennis table.
• Additional social spaces.

Sixty-car parking lot

What is Padel?

Padel is a racket sport played on a court with walls, and in a doubles format, that combines elements of tennis and squash on an enclosed court that is slightly shorter and narrower than a doubles tennis court. And the signature touch: Glass-and-wire mesh walls that ring the court, letting players use the walls as a tactical tool to bounce the ball off them mid-rally. The scoring resembles that of tennis, but underhand serves are always utilized and struck below waist level. The racket is solid (without strings).

The Padel Revolution

Padel is ideal for players of all ages and skill levels because it’s quick to learn and easy to play. Most people pick up the basics within their first 30 minutes on the court, allowing them to start enjoying the game right away.

As the fastest-growing sport in America (pickleball) continues to gain momentum nationwide, according to Google, padel has emerged as the fastest-growing sport globally, providing a reference point.

In 2025, padel is widely recognized as the fastest-growing sport globally. It’s a racquet sport that combines elements of tennis and squash, and its popularity is surging due to its accessibility and social nature. While other sports like pickleball and climbing are also experiencing significant growth, padel is currently leading the pack in terms of rapid expansion.

The numbers are starkly different: In 2024, there were 17,000 padel courts in Spain (up to 25,000 courts now), where it has become the most popular sport, ahead of soccer and tennis. Currently, Massachusetts has just two clubs offering padel with a total of seven courts between them. Both clubs are in Hyde Park.

This is both a challenge and an extraordinary opportunity. Galper’s facility will get New Englanders and the Northeast acquainted with a sport that has transformed recreational athletics in Europe and Latin America. Both Padel and pickleball are suitable for players of all ages.

Corporate Partnerships and Community Integration

The club has a business model that goes beyond individual memberships and involves cutting-edge corporate partnerships. Galper has developed a sponsorship option for local businesses who will get their name on not only the state-of-the-art courts, but it’s a brilliant way to integrate the community into the park and raise money doing so. Founding Corporate Sponsorship opportunities can be found here: openplayppc.com/sponsorshiphopnews

Sponsors will enjoy complete visibility packages, which may consist of:

• Court naming opportunities (such as “Pickleball Court #1 – Your Company Name Here”).
• Court gates and net with the logo.
• Branding in booking apps and on the web.
• Sponsor pages on the facility website.
• Corporate team building and customer appreciation, quarterly company events.

The partnerships with local businesses will develop a network of community stakeholders who have a vested interest in seeing the facility thrive.

Professional Sport Endorsements

The center will be backed by some heavy-hitters in the industry, chief among them Joola, the number one pickleball brand worldwide. The facility’s official pickleball sponsor will be Joola, whose professional players include Ben Johns (considered to be the greatest pickleball player of all time).

The brand’s history in table tennis is a testament to its high-quality pickleball equipment. It is more than just providing the equipment; it is a partnership.

Joola has already committed to sponsoring events, as well as supplying high-quality table tennis gear for the venue. These types of brand endorsements show the sector’s belief in the facility and provide members with quality equipment and tournament-level experiences.

Community Engagement and Charitable Initiatives

The facility has already established itself as a community partner. Galper has pledged to team up with local charities, specifically the 26.2 Foundation, to organize an annual tournament to raise funds. The events can help the broader community beyond athletic pursuits and exercise. The proposed tournament format is an exhibition in event planning sophistication.

Early rounds can be held at public courts (subject to town approval).

Events will have:

• Professional sponsors supply prizes and equipment.
• Strong support through major sponsorships from industry leaders.

Addressing Modern Lifestyle Challenges

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The facility’s design philosophy addresses multiple current issues affecting active adults. The property location in Hopkinton offers an antidote to the traffic and scheduling variables that torment commuters trying to reach facilities located further away. For those who used to work out at clubs, the local choice relieves the headache of uncertain commute times and last-minute cancellations.

The social side of the facility’s design acknowledges that, as adults, it’s challenging to make friends and maintain a social life. Both pickleball and padel are social sports at their core; you switch partners and opponents, so it’s easy to introduce yourself and get to chit-chat.

The Multi-Generational Appeal

One of the most commendable things about both sports is that people of all ages can play them. The facility is also tailored for young children through players in their 80s and beyond. This multi-generational focus offers the possibility for families and communities to come together for fun activities outside of the traditional age-segregated environments.

Because the sports are scalable, competitive players will constantly be challenged, and those in the market for social play can get precisely what they want. This flexibility guarantees appeal to a broad audience and longevity of membership across a variety of ages.

Expanding Horizons: Rec Sports of Tomorrow

With professional pickleball on the rise and players cashing in on sizable tournament winnings, as well as scholarships in college becoming available, the game is evolving from casual entertainment to a serious athletic endeavor. High schools are beginning to explore varsity programs, and the facility is discussing potential partnerships with local schools.

The center’s “holistic” model, which blends recreational play, competitive components, social elements, and community partnerships, means it is well-positioned to both capitalize on and help drive this surge. Providing a venue for both casual players to enjoy a day of social recreation and serious competitors to challenge themselves, the facility caters to the sport at all levels.

Building More Than a Business

This project is an investment in the health of the community, in social connection, and in the power of sport to unite people. In an era when many American communities find themselves isolated and disconnected, facilities like this one, which allow us not just to teach but also to play together, can provide some real-time solutions.

The planning, community consultation, and long-term vision apparent in this project make it a model for other developments. With the explosion of both pickleball and padel — racquet sports played on courts smaller than tennis courts, the lessons of Hopkinton could become a model for how communities across America think about recreational sports infrastructure.

The opening of the facility is more than just new courts and equipment – it’s opening the next chapter in sport as a catalyst for community, where the love of play serves as the bedrock for lifelong relationships and shared connections that extend beyond court lines.