Breaking News– MRC Breaking Ground on Expansion!
We will be breaking ground on April 7 on an ambitious plan to expand our facilities!
Our ongoing Campaign for a Healthy Future will enable us to build a dedicated indoor, 8-court pickleball facility; the outdoor, 4-court Eric Lee Memorial Outdoor Tennis Center; and to greatly improve our interior community spaces and external features (including parking and walkways!)
Expansion Timeline
Phase One: Flooring Demolition
April 7th-April 10th, 2025
Patron Impact:
• Facility will be OPEN. All programs will run as planned, and courts are available for booking. But please note that it will be very loud inside during this time, so if you are not comfortable with this, please cancel your reservations ASAP!
• Access to the building will be through the arena building
• Access to the tennis/pickleball courts will be through the arena building, up the stairs, across the upstairs balcony and tennis viewing area, then down the back (eastern) stairs into the tennis courts.
• No Elevator access
• Downstairs bathrooms will be closed - patrons are asked to use the bathrooms in the locker rooms upstairs, or in the arena
• A portion of the parking lot will be closed off for construction vehicles; for short periods of time, other areas of the parking lot will be blocked off as we dig a trench to the site of the future outdoor tennis courts
Areas Affected:
• Interior: Everything to the right (east) of the Concessions room. Including lobby, front desk, main stairs, lounge, tennis building entrance, downstairs bathrooms, Megunticook rowing, director’s office.
• Parking lot: a portion of the parking lot will be closed off for construction vehicles; for short periods of time, other areas of the parking lot will be blocked off as we dig a trench to the site of the future outdoor tennis courts
What Will Happen During This Time?
• Flooring demolition in all the areas east of the concession & main stairs.
Phase Two: Interior Renovation & Pickleball Building Construction
April 10, 2025 - September 2025
Patron Impact:
• Facility will be OPEN. All programs will run as planned.
• Access to the building will be through the main lobby, left side doors.
• Access to tennis courts: patrons will go through the left side doors of the main entrance, check in at the front desk, go up the main stairs, down the tennis viewing hallway, and down the back (eastern) stairs, which lead directly into the tennis courts.
• Downstairs bathrooms will be closed - patrons are asked to use the bathrooms in the locker rooms upstairs, or in the arena.
• Elevator access as needed: please let the front desk staff know if you need the elevator, the construction crew can let us through as needed
• No AC in the common areas; we will ensure golf bays and fitness center still have AC
• Parking lot: dynamic changes per week - we appreciate everyone’s flexibility
Areas Affected:
• Front lobby, main stairs, lounge, tennis building entrance, downstairs bathrooms, Megunticook rowing, director’s office, parking lot.
What Will Happen During This Time?
• Full interior renovation
• Pickleball building construction
Phase Three: Lobby Flooring
September 2025
Patron Impact:
• Facility will be OPEN. All programs will run as planned.
• For several weeks, access to the building will be through the arena building.
• Access to the tennis/pickleball courts will be through the arena building, up the stairs, across the upstairs balcony and tennis viewing area, then down the back (eastern) stairs into the tennis courts.
• Downstairs bathrooms will be closed - patrons are asked to use the bathrooms in the locker rooms upstairs, or in the arena.
• Elevator access as needed: please let the front desk staff know if you need the elevator, the construction crew can let us through as needed
• No AC in the common areas; we will ensure golf bays and fitness center still have AC
• Parking lot: dynamic changes per week - we appreciate everyone’s flexibility
Areas Affected:
• Interior: Everything to the right (east) of concessions area. Including lobby, front desk, main stairs, lounge, tennis building entrance, downstairs bathrooms, Megunticook rowing, director’s office.
What Will Happen During This Time?
• Replace flooring for the front lobby, front office, and main stairs
• Continued work on interior renovation and pickleball building
Phase Four: Finishing the Pickleball Building
September - December 2025
Patron Impact:
• Facility will be OPEN. All programs will run as planned.
• Different portions of the lobby area, lounge, hallways, and downstairs bathroom will start to open up throughout this period, with the Pickleball Building being the last portion to open.
• For a short period, the main stairs will be re-treaded and patrons will need to use the arena stairs to get upstairs.
Areas Affected:
• Interior: Everything to the right (east) of concessions area. Including lobby, front desk, main stairs, lounge, tennis building entrance, downstairs bathrooms, Megunticook rowing, director’s office.
What Will Happen During This Time?
• Build new reception desk, finalize main lounge, finalize downstairs bathrooms, finalize staff lounge, build out the interior of the pickleball building, re-tread the stairs, re-floor the front office.
Phase Five: Eric Lee Memorial Outdoor Courts & Exterior Upgrades
Spring 2026
Patron Impact:
• Facility will be OPEN. All programs will run as planned.
• Parking lot: dynamic changes per week - we appreciate everyone’s flexibility
Areas Affected:
• Exterior: parking lot, south woods
What Will Happen During This Time?
• Eric Lee Memorial Outdoor Tennis Center built & lights installed
• Outdoor walkway
• Additional parking
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FAQ
Q: Have you raised all the money you need for this project?
A: We are well on our way!. Our total capital campaign goal is $5.5M. We have raised $4M, and have a dollar-for-dollar match from a generous donor from now until we reach our goal. We are grateful for the generous contributions we’ve received from patrons, friends, businesses, and community funders so far!
Q: Why are you starting construction before you even have all the money? What if you don’t manage to raise the rest?
A: Thanks to our generous donors, we have raised enough funds to have the confidence we need to begin construction. We also don’t want to delay, as the current tennis facility is already at capacity, and we want the community to have more room to play as soon as possible! We believe that the community will help us reach our goal, and we will continue fundraising until we get there. If we cannot reach our goal, we will have to delay finishing some parts of the construction, and could, as a last resort, take on financing.
Q: Why don’t you do a public fundraising event now?
A: Despite already beginning construction, we are still in the process of connecting with many lead donors and funders who can make significant contributions to the campaign. These donors will help us get closer to our goal so that our public effort can be successful and celebratory! If you are interested in making a gift or know someone who might be interested, please reach out to Rebekah Strasburger (campaign manager, ospreystrategygroup@gmail.com) or Grace Chen (MRC Executive Director, grace.chen@midcoastrec.org).
Q: Will you do a public event to celebrate the expansion?
A: Of course! We want to celebrate with the whole community! Keep your eye out for a community event to celebrate the interior renovation & pickleball building towards the end of 2025 or early 2026. We will also have an event to celebrate the opening of the Eric Lee Memorial Outdoor Tennis Courts in summer 2026.
Q: How does this expansion support the ice rink and the hockey/skating community?
A: MRC is a facility that supports many sports and types of recreation. The arena has been, and will continue to be, a cornerstone of our organization. The goal of our expansion is not only to expand our offerings and participation, but also to be financially sustainable into the future. MRC is now 25 years old, and the arena is the most complex and expensive part of the facility, with large systems and pieces of equipment that will need to be replaced soon. This expansion allows us to generate the funds we need in order to continue to meet these capital needs.
Q: I heard something about solar panels…
MRC has solar panels on the roof that generate electricity. However those solar panels are owned by a different, private entity, who we pay for that generated electricity. Originally, the capital campaign included funds to purchase those solar panels in 2027 - when they will be available to purchase. However, after much thought, we have removed this from the scope of this capital campaign and will revisit the solar panel discussion in 2027.