Day 129: From Rain Delays to Roof Raises: This Week's Epic Construction Update

Last Week Was Absolutely Amazing!

Wow, what a week it's been! I'm still buzzing from everything that happened, and I had to share the incredible updates with you all.

Founding Memberships Are Flying Off the Shelves!

First things first – the response to our Founding Memberships has been absolutely unreal! We started offering them to our followers last week, and my inbox has been completely flooded with inquiries. I'm still working through emails to make sure every single question gets answered (if you're waiting to hear back from me, I promise I'll get to you!).

As I'm writing this, we have 87 Founding Members who have already made their commitment. Can you believe that? We're talking about a club that won't even open for another 3-4 months, and we're already close to selling out our first wave of 150 founding memberships. The support has been overwhelming in the best possible way! If you are on the edge, now it is the time to join!

Construction Updates: Racing Against Mother Nature

Now for the second equally important update – construction progress. New England weather has been... well, let's just say we've been "blessed" with plenty of rain these past couple of weeks. But here's the thing about my construction team – they're as motivated as I am to get this project done, so they're out there working every single second that our beautiful (and unpredictable) weather allows.

Building Progress

Despite all the rain and gusty winds, the team managed to install and insulate about half the roof and started on the wall insulation. Watching this building come together, even in challenging conditions, has been incredible.

Courts Taking Shape

Finally! The final grading is done, and we've got the first layer of asphalt installed on both the courts and the driveway. I probably drove the asphalt team a little crazy with my constant reminders about specifications – but when it comes to court quality, absolute flatness, and proper drainage pitch (because nobody wants bird baths on their pickleball courts), I don't mess around.

The driveway transformation has been amazing too. What was basically a muddy construction entrance just days ago now looks like, well, an actual driveway!

Stormwater Management System Complete

After about a month of working on what I can only describe as a humongous Cultec system designed to prevent flooding even during apocalyptical storms, my site team finally completed this massive undertaking. Now it looks like an innocent field, but we know the beast that lies beneath! This system is going to keep us dry no matter what New England throws at us.

The Next Big Challenge: Parking and Outdoor Padel Courts

Here's where things get really interesting (and a bit nerve-wracking, if I'm being honest). Our next major project is preparing the parking lot and the space for our outdoor padel courts. Sounds simple enough, right?

Well, here's the catch – all of this will be installed over a massive existing commercial leaching field that's literally the size of a football field! This means my crew has to work with surgical precision to avoid cracking any of the underlying pipes.

Fortunately, we're working under the supervision of Mass DEP and consulting with Ray Willis, who actually designed and built this leach field about 8 years ago. Having the original architect involved gives me confidence we can get this done with the utmost care it requires.

Racing Against the Clock

The real pressure is timing. We've got only a few weeks to get this space ready for the parking lot asphalt and outdoor padel court concrete. Why the rush? Because once the first frost hits, asphalt plants shut down for the season, and pouring concrete in freezing temperatures becomes significantly more expensive. No pressure, right?

Our Next Two Weeks: The Sprint

Here's what we're tackling in the coming two weeks:

• Complete the building shell with roof and insulation

• Prepare the building floor for the concrete slab

• Strip topsoil above the leaching field and grade for the parking lot and outdoor padel courts

It's going to be intense, but I have complete faith in this team.

Padel and Pickleball Adventures

On a fun note, two weeks ago I made a trip to NYC to witness the finals of the Pro Padel League – what an incredible experience! The level of play was absolutely mind-blowing.

This week, I'm heading to Dallas to meet with my sponsors and check out the highest level of pickleball at the 2025 Pickleball World Championship. If you're planning to be there too, definitely reach out – I'd love to connect!

Thank You!

I can't wrap this up without saying a massive thank you to everyone who's been following this journey, asking questions, sharing excitement, and especially to those 87 brave souls who've already committed as Founding Members. You're not just buying a membership – you're helping build something special from the ground up.

The energy and support from this community has been the fuel that keeps me going through every construction challenge, every weather delay, and every unexpected boulder we've had to blast through (yes, that actually happened!).

Stay tuned for more updates – this adventure is just getting started!

Yev