Category: Community Highlights

Y-USA Awards Grant to Expand Pickleball, Renovate Racquet Sports Wing at Sinking Spring YMCA- Open House Jan. 9th

Posted on Updated on by Chrissy Faller

YMCA of Reading & Berks County Awarded Y-USA Grant to Expand Pickleball and Renovate Racquet Sports Wing at Sinking Spring YMCA

Community is invited January 9th to learn, play, and get involved.


December 22, 2025, Reading, Pa. — The YMCA of Reading & Berks County has been awarded a capital grant from YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) to support the expansion and improvement of its pickleball program at the Sinking Spring YMCA in response to a growing community demand. The investment will allow the Y to create a dedicated racquet sports wing through the addition of a hybrid court comprised of one tennis court and four pickleball courts.

Pickleball has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the country as interest continues to rise locally as does tennis. 

At the Sinking Spring YMCA, court time and programs are consistently full, with players of all ages seeking more opportunities to play, learn, and connect. Expanding capacity will help reduce wait times, support additional leagues and events, and create more access for new and returning players.

“This expansion will be a game-changer for accommodating our avid, competitive pickleball players and newcomers learning or improving their game,” said Jesse Whiteman, branch executive director for Sinking Spring YMCA, Sinking Spring, Pa. “It also gives us the launchpad for making additional capital improvements we need.”

Building Renovations to Enhance the Y Experience

Sinking Spring YMCA will move the speed and agility training area, which is currently located where an additional “hybrid” court will be built. The hybrid court will be outfitted with a tennis court and four pickleball courts.

Planned improvements will focus on increasing the number of playable courts and upgrading court spaces to improve play, accessibility and overall experience. The expansion will benefit both pickleball and tennis participants and allow the Y to better serve a wide range of skill levels, from beginners to experienced players.

Upon completion, the Sinking Spring Y will have a total of four tennis courts and 10 pickleball courts designed to provide a professional-level environment for both sports. The equipment upgrades and improvements planned for all existing and new courts include:

  • Adding an additional tennis court which doubles as four pickleball courts.
  • New sturdy, portable nets for the pickleball courts.
  • New curtains and new benches for all courts.

As part of the grant agreement, the YMCA of Reading & Berks County will launch a fundraising effort to match the Y-USA investment and to improve the facility. Additional details about the campaign will be shared in the coming months as planning continues and renovation costs are finalized.

Open House & Racquet Sports Membership Night: Friday January 9, 2026

To celebrate the growing racquet sports community and invite the public to get involved, the YMCA will host an Open House & Racquet Sports Membership Night on Friday, January 9 from 5- 9 p.m. at the Sinking Spring YMCA. “Our open house is a perfect chance for people to try something new, meet our team, and see what’s coming for racquet sports at the Y,” said Whiteman.

The Member Night is open to anyone interested in learning to play pickleball and for junior tennis players ages 11-18 interested in improving their skills. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet staff, connect with other players, enjoy light refreshments, and take part in open play pickleball and tennis throughout the evening. Information about racquet sports programs for the second half of the season, running January through March, will be available, and discounted registrations will be offered during the event.

More information about the Y’s Open House Racquet Sports Member Night and its programs can be found at ymcarbc.org/racquet-sports.

“Pickleball is bringing people together across generations,” said Phillip Borup, president and CEO, YMCA of Reading & Berks County. “This grant from Y‑USA will let us grow that connection—more courts and better amenities mean more opportunities for families, seniors, youth and everyone in between to be active, social and healthy.” This expansion is another step toward creating inclusive spaces that support physical activity, social connection, and lifelong wellness.

About the YMCA of Reading & Berks County

For 167 years, the YMCA of Reading & Berks County has strengthened our local community through putting Judeo-Christian principles into practice with programs that builds healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. The YMCA of Reading & Berks County operates five branches in Adamstown, Mifflin, Reading, Sinking Spring and Tri Valley; two Early Learning Centers in Reading and Richmond; and seven transitional housing programs for residential care at the Reading Y and Camp Joy locations.

The Y is a nonprofit committed to strengthening the community and empowering individuals by ensuring access to resources, relationships and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives and generations, the Y strives to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment, and demonstrate the importance of connections among 2,700 Ys in 10,000 communities across the United States. 

Spider Web Layered Bean Dip: A Spooktacular Snack You’ll Actually Feel Good About

Posted on by Amber Fox

Spider Web Layered Bean Dip: A Spooktacular Snack You’ll Actually Feel Good About

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Halloween snacks don’t have to be sugar bombs or Pinterest nightmares. This Spider Web Bean Dip from YMCA Nutrition Expert Shawn Borup is the perfect combo of festive, filling, and secretly good for you, aka, that magical combo of fun to make, healthy to eat, and actually kid-friendly.

This weekend, Shawn will be bringing this ghoulishly good recipe to WFMZ-TV69’s Saturday Sunrise, where she’ll whip it up live and share how the Y helps families stay healthy, happy, and balanced long after the candy buckets are empty. During the segment, she’ll also highlight our Before and After School Care and School’s Out programs, the perfect solutions for busy parents looking for safe, engaging, and affordable care during school breaks and holidays.

Oh, and she’s also dropping a little teaser about our Black Friday specials… (Trust us, you’ll want to tune in for that one!)

So grab your spooky snacks and your favorite little goblins, because this one’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Halloween spider web bean dip layered with guacamole, salsa, and cheese on a round platter

Spider Web Bean Dip Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans refried beans

  • 1 cup guacamole

  • 1 cup salsa

  • ½–1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt

  • ⅓–½ cup cheddar cheese

  • Sliced olives and/or jalapeños (optional, but highly encouraged)

Shawn suggests going organic with your ingredients when you can, because better ingredients mean better fuel for your family’s fun (and fewer mystery chemicals in your cauldron).

Instructions:

  1. Spread refried beans on a round platter like you’re creating your edible canvas.

  2. Add a smooth layer of guacamole (the “green goo” of your dreams).

  3. Spread on salsa, sprinkle cheese, and toss on olives or jalapeños if you’re feeling spooky.

  4. Spoon sour cream or Greek yogurt into a small baggie, snip off the corner, and pipe your spider web design on top.

  5. Serve with cucumbers, zucchini, celery, or whole-grain chips or crackers.

  6. Pro tip: Cut the recipe in half if your crowd’s smaller, or double it if your neighbor’s kids “just happened to stop by.”

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Why We Love This Recipe (Besides It Being Delicious)

  • It’s easy enough for a weekday, festive enough for a Halloween party.

  • Kids can help “draw” the spider web (and probably eat half the cheese in the process).

  • You can make it ahead, refrigerate it, and pull it out right before the chaos begins.

  • It doubles as a stealthy veggie delivery system.

This snack isn’t just cute, it’s packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats to keep everyone’s energy steady. No sugar crashes, no candy-fueled chaos, just clean, tasty fun.

Don’t Miss It!

Catch Shawn Borup live on WFMZ-TV69’s Saturday Sunrise this weekend for the full cooking segment, plus tips for keeping your family healthy and happy this fall with the YMCA’s Before and After School and School’s Out Care programs.

And while you’re there, keep your eyes peeled for Shawn’s sneak peek at our Black Friday deals, because fitness, childcare, and fun family programs make the best gifts.

About the YMCA of Reading & Berks County

At the Y, we’re here to help families thrive, in and out of the kitchen. From nutritious recipes and youth programs to community events and healthy living initiatives, the Y is your home base for wellness, growth, and connection.

Recipe by: Shawn Borup, YMCA Nutrition Expert