Karen Long is pictured with the 10th Anniversary Award Medal she designed for the Pickleball Club.
Barbara Wellington
PebbleCreek resident Karen Long has a long list of lifetime accomplishments, which now includes the top designer for the PebbleCreek Pickleball Club’s 10th Anniversary Award Medal. When the call went out for a special design for a special event, designed by a resident, Karen decided she’d give it a try.
Karen’s a very involved citizen here in our community. As a retired nurse she remains dedicated to being involved with people, her high standards and a servant’s heart make her a pleasure to be around. With a big smile she’ll happily tell you that Jesus is the mastermind behind her life’s journey! She currently sits on the Softball Board and she manages a team in the Central League. She’d be playing softball and pickleball, but is recovering from reconstructive knee surgery.
As she and her husband, Terry, returned to their home in the Santa Cruz mountains this summer she utilized her creative side during her healing time. Thinking about the medal design, she knew she wanted to incorporate the beauty surrounding Goodyear. The nearby mountains, the cactus, and the sun—all essential elements. She began sketching out ideas until she ultimately came up with the ideal design.
It’s spectacular! The colors are beautiful and the lanyard is a real compliment to the medal. Also, it’s big, four inches in diameter. It’s a striking representation of a first class tournament in a first class community, PebbleCreek, Goodyear, Arizona!
The 10th Anniversary PebbleCreek Pickleball tournament will take place Feb. 25-27, 2026. Registration opened on Nov. 1, 2025, on pickleballbrackets.com.