"We're not just about playing; we're about fostering a thriving pickleball culture."

Orlando Advanced Pickleball (OAP) started as a small community of pickleballers, to now having cultivated a huge group of pickleball enthusiasts in Florida, boasting over 3,900 members. OAP, founded in April 2023, joined DUPR in October, is not only encouraging level base play, but also about making a positive impact on the environment.

Beyond the court, OAP is committed to sustainability through their pioneering pickleball recycling program in Florida. By converting worn-out pickleballs into functional zip ties, OAP has diverted over 225 lbs of pickleballs from landfills, equating to over 1,500 pickleballs recycled and counting. "We're not just about playing; we're about fostering a thriving pickleball culture", says Dave John, founder of OAP. Strategic bins have been placed across key locations in Central Florida, with plans for expansion pending local government approval. In the meantime, individuals are encouraged to transport their worn-out balls to courts equipped with recycling bins to help preserve the environment and support OAP's mission to ensure pickleballs don't end up in landfills, both for the sake of environmental responsibility and for the legacy future generations of pickleball enthusiasts.

“We're committed to ensuring pickleball don't end up in landfills, both for the sake of environmental responsibility and for the legacy we leave for future generations of pickleball enthusiasts,” Dave adds. The organization is also hosting a Fundraising Tournament in June, to raise money for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, that already has over 220 registrants!

Founded just a year ago, OAP wasted no time in partnering with DUPR shortly after its inception. “Recognizing that DUPR is the pinnacle of accuracy and consistency in pickleball rating systems, OAP swiftly joined forces. Now, OAP is preparing for upcoming events, ensuring that scores are entered into DUPR”, Dave confirms. 

The OAP Team recognized the importance of recycling pickleballs after noticing many damaged balls being thrown away in trash cans at courts. Standard recycling facilities cannot process thermoplastic molded resin, the material pickleballs are made from, so OAP took the initiative to ensure these balls do not end up in landfills. 

“Every contribution helps our collective efforts” David adds. “We can help save the world, one pickleball at a time." Whether it is through league participation, tournament play, merchandise purchases, lessons, or donations, all of it helps towards the goal of a more environmentally efficient pickleball community.

OAP operates their recycling initiative without any financial gain, emphasizing their dedication to making a difference in the environment and the pickleball community. As a relatively new organization, OAP has quickly established itself in the pickleball world through partnerships with organizations like DUPR for accurate rating systems and innovative initiatives like pickleball recycling.

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Learn more about Orlando Advanced Pickleball here.