View from the Court: Pickleball in Midcoast Maine

Dot Logan teaches campers pickleball basics at Brunswick's MARC courts

The Midcoast pickleball scene didn't pop up overnight. It's been built - court by court, volunteer by volunteer - by people who actually pick up paddles. Brunswick sits at the center; MMP and HNPEA orbit close. Play here long enough and you stop feeling like a visitor.

Brunswick Rec Center / MARC: The Hub

Brunswick's Midcoast Athletic & Recreation Complex (MARC) is the anchor. In June 2024, the town opened eight dedicated outdoor pickleball courts at MARC, open daily from dawn to dusk and available for reservation and programming.

David Coffill, the rec center's program director, quietly insists that pickleball not be an afterthought. He's scheduling open play, clinics, tournaments (including the September 26 tournament SALT is sponsoring), youth camps, and more.

MARC is doing what very few local places can: scale, visibility, and legitimacy. Whether you're sneaking in midday drills or stepping onto the courts for your first tournament, this is where things converge.

Midcoast Maine Pickleball's open play at the Pegasus court complex in Brunswick

Midcoast Maine Pickleball (MMP): Structure + Muscle

MMP is the organizational backbone. They maintain the Pegasus and Neptune courts at Brunswick Landing, coordinate most open play and clinics, and rent MARC court time directly (e.g. weekday blocks).

MMP has several amazing initiatives that are advancing pickleball, and introducing the sport to new folks. One such program is their work with Maine State Prison. Through this initiative, they visit MSP each month to play pickleball with prison residents that are interested in learning about the sport.

Another fantastic MMP outlet is their emphasis on youth programs. They partnered with Brunswick Rec for youth summer camps, made possible in part by a lead donation in memory of Pat Savolt. The Savolt fund ensures youth access to quality programming, and provides an avenue to introduce pickleball to kids as young as 8 years old.

The trick MMP juggles: balancing open play time, skill-level group sessions, tournaments, and cooperative scheduling so no one feels locked out. If MARC is the platform, MMP is the operator and diplomatic negotiator.

View of the new HNPEA pickleball court complex, enhanced by a beautiful Josh Landry chainsaw sculpture

HNPEA (Harpswell Neck Physical Education Association): Local Spirit + New Courts

HNPEA isn't large in staff or budget, but it's rich in backbone. Its summer camp (grades K–6) has run for over 60 years under the stewardship of volunteers like Tony and Deb Cornish.

After years of fundraising (about $183,240 in total), HNPEA rebuilt courts at Fulle Field, converting older tennis surfaces into two pickleball + one tennis court layout, with benches, landscaping, and public access outside camp hours. To make the new courts even cooler, HNPEA added some artistic flavor to the project. With the help of a sizable anonymous donation, HNPEA was also able to commission a local craftsman to add that unique Maine-touch that Pottery Barn's always trying to copy. As icing on the cake, HNPEA got renowned Maine artist, Josh Landry to adorn the court complex with a custom installation that pays homage to Harpswell's backbone - it's working waterfront. Landry is a professional chainsaw sculptor, and yes, the custom piece he crafted for the HNPEA courts (pictured above) was done entirely with a CHAINSAW. The grand opening was July 19, 2025.

The new facility will remain free for public use (outside camp / church times) and embraces character; benches bearing names, Landry's gorgeous installation, and the quiet pride that says: 'We built this ourselves.'

Why the Midcoast Scene Works

• Court density & diversity: MARC, Pegasus, Neptune, and HNPEA provide multiple access points (municipal, club, volunteer).

• Paths in: Clinics, round robins, youth camps - all entry points that don't require instant mastery.

• Institution + grassroots balance: A strong municipal anchor (Brunswick), a coordinating club (MMP), and a rural beacon (HNPEA).

• Rhythm & momentum: You always see something happening - youth events, open play, scheduled clinics, tournaments.

The Takeaway

In Midcoast Maine, pickleball is more than courts and nets. Brunswick's MARC is the stage. MMP provides the choreography. HNPEA brings that rural heart. All of it is growing, messy, intentional, and most importantly - real.

Gear, Context, and What Passes the Test

When your community is building courts and organizing clinics, it’s fair to ask: what gear actually holds up in that environment? We design paddles for real use, not showroom fluff.

Our P-1 is now listed among USA Pickleball’s approved paddles, meaning it meets the rigorous specs required for sanctioned play. What matters: you can show up to the Brunswick round robin or a MMP event knowing your paddle isn’t going to get disqualified at registration.

What’s SmartWeight? It’s our custom edge-weight system that lets you shift the balance point toward power or control without sacrificing stability or hitting feel. Think of it as giving you options - as varied as the local courts you rotate through.

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We'll follow this with deeper posts: MARC's build story, MMP's grounding, and HNPEA's growth. With our P-1 now officially USA Pickleball approved, we're thrilled to be part of this scene - on court, in camps, and at tournaments. Midcoast isn't just growing - it's in full...swing (sorry).