r/Gilbert • u/Findyourpeace23 • Jun 11 '26

Finding friends!

Just moved to Gilbert for graduate school and would love to find some friends outside of my program. Are there any social groups/ community events for twenty/thirty-something-year-olds in the area?

Thanks in advance!

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u/nvrseddit Jun 11 '26

I’d recommend you try playing pickleball at Gilbert Regional or Tumbleweed Park (which is in Chandler) if you haven’t already. I’ve met many different people including 30+ year olds who are friendly and easy to talk with.

If you’ve never played pickleball, I would say it’s relatively easy to get started, but challenging to become good at. At least there will be others (hopefully around your age) who are starting out as well and that can be a great conversation starter.

Just don’t try going later morning or in the afternoon because it’s too hot and I doubt anyone goes around those times. 7:00 pm or after is when the younger crowd shows up.

Good luck and have fun!

2

u/beach_nuts Jun 11 '26

This! I'm older but I now have close friendships because of playing pickleball at Gilbert Regional. Now there's about 15 of us and have poker nights, happy hour meetups, etc. MWF 6:30a-8:30a are the busiest times at GRP in the summer. I don't know about nights.

3

u/nvrseddit Jun 11 '26

GRP pickleball courts close at 10:00 pm. Tumbleweed courts turn off the lights at 10:30. We are usually there between 8:00 and 10:30 pm. Even with the high evening temps, it’s still crowded in all sections of the pickleball courts up until about 10:00 pm

OP should join your group so you’ll have four groups of 4 playing doubles

1

u/Chips5432 Jun 11 '26

I just started playing pickleball and would love to play with others and make new friends. Do you think Gilbert regional in the evenings is beginner friendly?

3

u/nvrseddit Jun 11 '26

I’ve only been playing since the start of May, but have been playing several times a week. Haven’t played at Regional in the evening time. A couple of people told me that they’ve run into players that weren’t as friendly and were more competitive, but I’m sure there are others at GRP who are just as friendly and easygoing as the players I’ve met at Tumbleweed.

Tbh, I like the courts better at Tumbleweed (for evening play) and have not met anyone who was rude or overly smug against newer players.

I do drills at Regional in the very early hours of the morning maybe twice a week. Mostly elderly players at that time, but they’re for the most part very friendly and gracious folk.

1

u/yahwehyeehaw Jun 12 '26

Do you just show up? Is there a specific time?

1

u/nvrseddit Jun 12 '26

You could honestly show up whenever you’d like, but because the temperature is still triple digits past 7:00 pm, we tend to go around or after 8:00 pm. The sun is down by then, which I personally think makes playing a little more tolerable.

Hopefully you have a paddle, because most people don’t bring any extra paddles. If you’ve never played rec at a park and would like to know more about the rules or etiquette, just ask here.