Portland Maine News

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) on June 6 announced a $492,137 National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant for a new outdoor recreation complex in Brunswick. The town of Brunswick’s Midcoast Athletic and Recreation Complex (MARC) will feature pickleball courts, a skatepark, and more to promote fitness and wellness in the Brunswick community. 

“It’s important that our towns embrace the positive health, social, and community impacts of outdoor sports like pickleball, which is the fastest growing sport in America,” said Pingree, who is a member of the Bipartisan Congressional Pickleball Caucus. “With the addition of the Town of Brunswick’s Midcoast Athletic and Recreation Complex, Brunswick Landing will truly be a hub of innovation and community growth.”

“The MARC is a game-changer for our community in every way,” said Sally Costello, the Director of Economic and Community Development for the Town of Brunswick. “The state-of-the-art municipal recreation complex will provide a variety of much-anticipated recreational uses that will have positive economic, health, and wellness impacts for the Brunswick community and Region.”  

The MARC is a redevelopment of the vacant 10-acre parcel adjacent to the Brunswick Recreation Center. Per the Town’s agreement with the U.S. Navy, this land must be used for recreational purposes. The Town’s goal is to turn this empty lot into a recreational sports and athletic complex that serves people of all ages and abilities from across the region. The LWCF grant award will fund the first phase (Tier 1A) of the MARC, which includes 8 pickleball courts, a skatepark, perimeter trail, and associated infrastructure. Click here to learn more about the project. 

Pingree is ranking member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the National Park Service.

Original source can be found here