Fall River pickleball tournament supports sensory-friendly playground

A three-day pickleball tournament will bring competition, vendors and community programming to Kennedy Park in Fall River from July 17 through July 19.

The Office of Mayor Paul E. Coogan announced the event, called The Borden Open Pickleball Tournament, in partnership with the Fall River Pickleball Group, according to a community announcement. The tournament will take place at the Kennedy Park Pickleball Courts on Bay Street.

The competition is scheduled to feature men’s, women’s and mixed divisions, offering players multiple opportunities to participate across different brackets.

In addition to matches, organizers plan a community area that will operate daily from noon to 4:30 p.m., according to the announcement. The space is expected to include food trucks, local vendors and community resource tables.

Residents are encouraged to attend, support participating athletes and explore offerings from local businesses and organizations, according to the announcement.

A portion of proceeds from the tournament will go toward Mae’s Playground, an initiative focused on building a sensory-friendly, inclusive play space designed for children of all abilities, according to the announcement.

The funding is intended to help advance development of a playground that emphasizes accessibility and shared play experiences.

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This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River pickleball tournament supports sensory-friendly playground