BRUNSWICK, Maine — It's been more than four years since pickleball skyrocketed in popularity across the U.S., and players in Maine say the sport is still going strong.
"I haven't been active in sports in. ... Well, until I started doing this," Midcoast Maine Pickleball Vice President Rick Powell said, catching himself.
The club was first formed back in 2018 after a few members decided to refurbish an abandoned tennis court. Since then, the sport has spread, not just in Brunswick but across Maine.
The Midcoast Maine Pickleball club now manages and maintains several courts in Brunswick and allows anyone to join, even if they are just visiting Maine from out of state.
"We've been growing like crazy ever since," Powell added.
Even after a hard stop during the initial stages of the coronavirus pandemic, membership has grown by 300 percent since 2020, according to club members.
Recently, the town of Brunswick finished phase one of a new complex development, named the Midcoast Athletic and Recreation Complex, which features eight new pickleball courts.
The 10-acre parcel of land was offered by the U.S. Navy and sits adjacent to the current Brunswick Recreation Center.
"In this first phase, it was about $1.67 million," Brunswick Parks and Recreation Director Tom Farrell said. "And we did that all without any appropriation from our town's general fund."
A second phase of the project will also feature basketball courts, tennis courts, and an outdoor pool.
For those who are all-in on the racket sport, players say a big draw is the accessibility, no matter what age, athletic ability, or skill set.
"You can play and really challenge yourself, or you can just come out and have a good time," player Joel Smith said. "Also, the social aspect is really fun because everyone rotates around with different players."
Smith and Powell said anyone who is willing should try the sport.