It has captured the interest of people young and old and is sweeping the country with a growing wave of popularity. I am talking about pickleball, a sport that is permeating all demographics and sports enthusiasts. Heck, it even has its own professional tours and leagues.

Pickleball is a paddle sport akin to tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It employs a paddle and plastic ball with holes much like a whiffle ball. The game can be played by all ages and skill levels and the rules are relatively easy to learn. As with any sport, there are differing levels of play and skill in competitors.

In Methuen, Recreation Director Steve Angelo has commandeered an effort to quench the thirst of local pickleball fanatics with the construction of new pickleball and tennis courts on the campus of Methuen High School. He talks about the current progress.

“The pickleball and tennis courts are scheduled to be finished at the beginning of November,” says Angelo. “It is a project that started over two years ago and involved the complete removal of the existing tennis courts and the installation of a multi-section tennis court and pickleball complex.

“With the new layout, there will be seven brand-new tennis courts and six pickleball courts. There will be an official grand opening in the spring of 2025.”

So, why have Methuen and other communities embraced pickleball as an offering to citizens? It comes down to the numbers. In January of 2024, USA Pickleball released some amazing figures on the growth of the game.

There are now nearly 12,000 places to play the game in the country, up by 1,000 over 2023. There are also over 50,000 courts with nearly 80,000 member players. USA Pickleball sanctioned 195 tournaments in 2023 including National Championships and National Indoor Championships.

Over the past year, over 1,000 new paddles and nearly 100 new pickleballs have been approved, and over $300 million has been invested in new facilities. Angelo recognizes the raging popularity of the sport.

“Since I started working in Methuen, I have received phone calls or e-mails almost every week asking if Methuen had pickleball courts. With pickleball being the fastest growing sport in the world, the demand to have courts available in the city was undeniable.

“With the need to renovate the tennis courts already, we made it a priority to provide our community with premier pickleball courts as part of the project.”

Indeed, Angelo says that there has been a clamor to address the conditions of the tennis courts for several years. They had not been refinished since the early 1990s and were well past their life expectancy.

Says Angelo, “In 2022, we were able to secure American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to start the process of a complete design and remodel of the complex. Through the design phase, we spoke with residents and community stakeholders about the wants and needs of the facility.

“The input included the need to reconfigure the direction of the courts to accommodate the impact of the sun, need for spectator seating, and improved accessibility to the complex.”

While the courts will be completed this month, there will be additional work done  including the construction of a permanent outfield fence for the high school baseball fields and the installation of a picnic pavilion between the basketball courts. Landscaping will also be enhanced for the spring 2025 Grand Opening event.

So, what about pickleball leagues for adults and youngsters in Methuen? Angelo responds, “This fall, we actually offered pickleball leagues for kids at the gym on Branch Street on Saturday mornings. 

“In the spring, we will definitely be offering pickleball leagues for the both adults and children on the new outdoor courts. There will also be an online reservation system for courts to help to coordinate usage when the courts are not being used by the high school.”

Angelo hopes to expand the indoor programming to include adult pickleball as well, but the current demand for gym space is high. Pickleball is not the only item on Angelo’s agenda. He also provides an update on the Veterans Park on Milk Street hockey rink demolition.

“Because of the location of the Milk Street hockey rink, it is a more complex process than just demolishing the structure,” Angelo relates.

“The structure currently sits within a wetlands area, and there are filings with the state and approvals with the Conservation Commission that need to be completed.

“Methuen Conservation Officer Joe Giarrusso has been a huge help with the process and in guiding us to how to best address the weathered structure. We are currently working with an engineering firm to survey the area to begin the demolition process and plan to develop new structures without impacting the wetlands.”

Once the current rink is removed, Angelo has big plans for the space. He states, “The City has received a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts to assist with purchasing and installing a state-of-the-art outdoor fitness court which is a perfect fit around the walking track of the park. This court will also offer virtual classes to navigate users through different workouts offered. Though the rink is being removed, developing another outdoor hockey rink may be in future plans at another location in the city.”

Angelo already has some spring sports improvements in the works as well: “We just entered into a contract with J.J. Phelan & Son to develop the varsity softball field at Francis Morse Park on Burnham Road. This much needed renovation will provide a completely new playing surface, new bullpen areas, spectator seating, and improved grading and drainage to decrease flooding. This is the second investment the city has made to the facility, after installing all new LED lighting last year.”

So, ease up on the upcoming holiday treats, Methuen. From pickleball to tennis to fitness, hockey and softball, the action and activities are just beginning.

John Molori is an author, columnist, and a 2011 inductee into the Methuen Athletic Hall of Fame. Facebook: John Molori, Twitter @MoloriMedia. Email molorimedia@gmail.com.