LA GRANDE — Physical therapist Shantay Mayes has opened Preseason Playground and Wellness, 712 18th St., La Grande, providing sports, activities and wellness programs for people of all ages.

Mayes is leasing the building from owners Jamie Challis and Jeff Robinson, who received a $75,000 Urban Renewal Grant in July 2024 to fund some restoration, remove the old stone facade, make some structural improvements, roofing and site improvements. The remodeling work to the 12,000-square-foot building brought it up to code and allowed Mayes to receive her occupancy certificate in November 2024.

As the sole owner of Preseason Playground and Wellness LLC, Mayes said her business ideas grew from her background and work experiences.

“I’ve been a physical therapist for about 18 years, and I have been working for the hospital part time for the past eight years,” she said. “I plan to keep my job with the hospital, and PPAW is my side business.”

She also is the manager of her husband’s dental office, Eli Mayes Dental, where she has worked with him for about 12 years.

“Those (work) experiences gave me the confidence to do this because I knew what it was like to run a business,” she said.

The large building she leases for PPAW has a main training area with four pickleball courts. In this area, the cement floor has been resurfaced with acrylic paint and rubber, and it has a slightly textured surface. It’s painted for pickleball courts and as an indoor soccer field.

“I have a youth soccer group playing there, but I eventually hope to offer some adult soccer play as well,” Mayes said.

She has training for the Union County Soccer Club, a youth club that uses that space to play soccer. She has also extended an invitation to the soccer coaches at La Grande High School to use the PPAW center.

Being in the world of fitness, activity and recreation, Mayes loves to encourage people to keep moving and participate in sports and be active, but she also has a family reason for opening PPAW.

“I have four kids, and my oldest son really loves soccer so I’ve had my eye out in the community for the past five years for a building that could accommodate some indoor soccer training,” she said.

She found that place, and she also found a facility where she could offer some sports-specific and wellness-style classes for the community.

“I have one class running now, working with the LHS track athletes for six weeks, offering an injury prevention and performance enhancement program before their season,” she said.

When she signed the lease agreement, she also heard the Union County Pickleball Association was looking for a bigger place to play, and she reached out to it as well.

As far as wellness classes, Mayes is scheduling three classes at the center. Each class is an hour long, two to three days a week for a total of six weeks.

The first class is scheduled April 8, and it’s called “Strong as a Mother,” a strength class for mothers who are at least 10 weeks postpartum ($135).

Children ages 10 weeks to 5 years are welcome to play at the indoor Little Paws Playground inflatable bouncy house or be with their mom during class. The playground area is for children ages 2-8, and it’s supervised by a PPAW employee or Mayes.

The second class, “65+ Strength and Balance” ($120), begins April 22 to help seniors build core strength and increase their balance for everyday living. Participants must be able to ambulate without an assistance device, such as cane or a walker. Mayes also will screen the interested person for falls or risks for falling.

“The class is very function-oriented and with strength and balance there’s a lot you can do without a lot of equipment,” she said.

The third class is “Preseason Fall Athlete” ($90), starting July 25. It is six to eight weeks long and for junior high and high school athletes to boost their preseason skills so that they are stronger and safer when they play.

“I plan to offer that throughout the year, and I also plan to offer a class for adult skiers in the fall,” Mayes said.

Mayes is limiting each class to a maximum of 12 people because she wants to focus on giving each person some tailored assistance. Anyone interested in registering may do so online. Questions may be directed to info@preseasonplayground.com.

The community may rent space at PPAW online and can advertise their business on the walls of the center. Visit preseasonplayground.com for details or stop by.