Our History

Paradise Gymnastics, formerly named Walpole Gymnastics, has been known as “The Fun Place to Keep Fit".

Inez and Billy May, a husband and wife team, both raised in Walpole, were High School sweethearts and have been married for 28 years with 2 children. Walpole Gymnastics started in the Foundry building in Walpole in 3,200 sq. ft. as a home for gymnasts and dancers. Before that time, the spot had been a dance school run by Connie Waldron for over 50 years. Not long after the Mays took over the business, it became an establishment focused entirely on gymnastics. "We moved away from dance because gymnastics is our passion."

Since that time, the passion has shown through. After 5 years, they had grown and moved to Norfolk Street, which had 8,000 sq. ft. In it’s 10th year, they built a gym specifically designed for gymnastics. Walpole Gymnastics has produced more than 30 gymnasts who won individual state championships titles, several team state championship titles and 4 individuals that have won regionally (best in 7 States). As competition is important to some, it is not everything. While the success of many schools is based on how many championships or high-level athletes it may have, the success of Walpole/Paradise Gymnastics is based upon how much fun gymnastics is while learning the basic precepts of doing the sport. At the end of each year they put on a very elaborate recital. All kids who wish to participate feel like a champion before it is all over. Each child performs a group routine that is so much fun. The gym was built specifically for this sport. For the recitals and also for the kid’s night, the gym has an array of colored overhead lighting and spotlights to make any athlete feel special.

All gymnastics schools are different. Some gyms are very recreational and some very competitive. Some are very strict and some very lax. We are right in the middle. We provide a program that promotes quality for children, beginner through advanced, while at the same time incorporates lots of fun. We believe that the best reward of teaching gymnastics is seeing the kids each day and how happy they are. We truly enjoy seeing the confidence it builds in them all. We are so proud that we are able to build a successful business by doing what we love. It pleases us that we can be such a big part of children’s lives.

Paradise Gymnastics is also active in fundraising for children in need. The gym has been raising money for the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital since the time it has opened the doors; the coaches and children of the gym have raised thousands of dollars annually.