Smoothies in the Park: How a Simple Walk Sparked a New Idea

On Sunday, August 17, my husband Emil and I went out for our weekly weighted vest walk. I was feeling a little bored and still adjusting to having so much free time on the weekends. That’s when Emil turned to me and said, “I think Fun Programs By Stacy needs some new programs. How about pickleball?”

At first, I wasn’t so sure. But by Monday morning, the idea had grown on me so much that I jumped out of bed excited. I asked ChatGPT to find free local pickleball courts near me and discovered Van Dyck Park in Fairfax. When I drove over, I found picnic tables next to the courts and a large open field nearby. Instantly, ideas started swirling in my head—I knew this could be the perfect spot.

When I got home, I thought: I can’t just have pickleball… there needs to be something more. Something to eat and drink! For the past few years, I’ve hosted popular Smoothie and Sandwich Clinics, so I wondered—could I make smoothies without electricity? A quick search on Amazon gave me the answer: cordless, portable blenders! Suddenly, the vision was clear. I would host Smoothies in the Park—a fun day of smoothies, bagels, pickleball, tossing a football, and even coloring.

My sons have been teaching me how AI can support Fun Programs By Stacy, and I put it to work again. After it helped me find Van Dyck Park, I asked ChatGPT to design a coloring sheet of a pickle playing pickleball while holding a smoothie. The result was so funny and creative that I couldn’t wait to share it with everyone at the park.

Things were really coming together. I reached out to my friends at the Young Men’s Service League (YMSL), Great Falls chapter—a wonderful group where moms and their high school sons volunteer together. Even though my request was last-minute, two mom-and-son teams came out on Saturday. Their kindness, enthusiasm, and energy made all the difference, and they were truly key to the event’s success.

In closing, I want to thank my husband for sparking the pickleball idea, AI for helping me create a delightfully silly coloring sheet, the amazing volunteers from YMSL, and my wonderful friends who attended. Smoothies in the Park turned out to be a joyful blend of fun, friendship, and community—and I can’t wait to do it again.