Pickleball Changes Lives
By Tracey Moro
Like a vast number of people across the country, Macomb County residents love playing pickleball. And those playing are not just seniors. All ages are playing pickleball locally, with children being the newest addition to the game.
Pickleball is a great sport for any age. Having the basis of tennis, badminton and table tennis, it was designed in 1965 to be a family game. However, pickleball didn’t gain popularity until after 2000, when retirement communities — especially those in the Sunbelt states — began adding courts. By 2021, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, pickleball had 4.8 million people playing, with each year since showing dramatic increases in popularity and expansion in court availability. It is projected to nationally have well over 16 million players by the end of 2026.
With the most recent indoor facility opening up in Clinton Township in 2025, Macomb County has embraced and welcomed the pickleball craze. Now, two private indoor facilities have joined the local municipalities, fitness clubs and a dozen local churches, creating a large selection of courts available both indoor and outdoor.
It would seem like there’s no shortage for courts, unless of course you’re a player and the saying goes – the more courts, the more people begin playing, meaning yet more courts are needed.
Our local parks and recreation departments have seen tremendous growth in pickleball, with many adding leagues, lessons and outdoor courts within the last decade. This year will bring the first city-funded court center, with the City of Sterling Heights opening a new pickleball facility on Van Dyke & 15 Mile Road near the MJR theatre.
Sterling Heights Parks and Recreation Director, Kyle Langlois, expects the building to be opening by late spring. “There will be nine pickleball courts and six table tennis tables,” said Langlois. “This will be a space for all ages and abilities. We will have various programs, including lessons, leagues and tournaments throughout the year. Like our other millage-funded amenities, drop-in play will be free for Sterling Heights residents. Non-residents will pay $5 per day.”
Beyond pickleball, the new facility will have a self-service cafe area, a zen room and a meeting/party room that can be rented for business meetings and can include the rental of courts alongside the room – perfect for holiday parties or team-building sessions.
Parks and Recreation departments are a great place to get introduced to pickleball, with all of them offering learn-to-play classes. Chip Fazio has been a racquet sports professional for almost two decades, with his company, First Serve, offering leagues, classes and tournaments within the parks departments of Roseville, Warren, Sterling Heights and soon-to-be St. Clair Shores. “I see huge growth potential locally and nationally. Pickleball really took hold with retirees. It has since been growing with young adults, 20-and 30-somethings. I think the next big area will be kids’ pickleball, classes, leagues and tournaments,” said Fazio.
Another local pickleball expert is Blair Cremeens. The Chesterfield resident has been playing pickleball for 10 years, currently playing about three to five times a week or about 15 hours a week. “I played in a tournament (years ago) and I became a USA Pickleball (formerly USAPA) Ambassador. I then moved to playing in Clinton Township and Sterling Heights. I eventually became a district ambassador for USAPA, became a certified teaching pro through PPR, and launched pickleball at Lifetime Fitness.”
He and his wife and pickleball partner, Morn, then created Jesters as their first league, which began at Peachtree Tennis Club in Clinton Township. The also founded Michigan Pickleball. He says, that’s when “life got better.”
“Pickleball has completely changed my life, I just wish I had heard about it when I was much younger. On the positive side it has provided regular exercise and a sport that I can play for many years to come. I was becoming less active, gaining weight and generally not healthy. Pickleball gave me an activity that was not too difficult to start but that always challenges me beyond what I am capable of, so there is always room to grow,” said Cremeens. “If you stay athletic, healthy and active your whole life it is easier to have a high-quality active life in your later years.”
He also sees the growth in younger players. “Over the last few years we have seen a significant increase in the 18 to 35 age bracket. In the last nine months the newest trend has been the beginning of a new juniors push, where kids 10 to 17 are coming into the sport,” said Cremeens. He recently joined the staff at the newest indoor pickleball facility, Metro Pickleball in Clinton Township. There he runs both his leagues along with lessons and special event tournaments.
Metro Pickleball offers 16 courts with a full pro shop, table tennis and lounging areas. In six months it has quickly filled its courts daily and the owners’ focus is on creating a space and environment for everyone. Metro has a few leagues, open play, lessons and even free learn-to-play time and courts are filling fast. “We have a pickleball 101 class for those in the community, they can come and they get to learn the rules of the sport with one of our coaches,” said Brayden Steimle, one of the owners. Co-owner Nick Bryant agreed their focus is on new players. “We keep adding more time for the free classes, they fill up.”
Owners, Steimle and Bryant are somewhat new to Macomb County, each having moved here from Utah in the last few years – not knowing each other. They met at church and found their love of ultimate frisbee and pickleball. When the trouble finding a court to play pickleball became a “thing” they took matters into their own hands.
“We both are entrepreneurial and owned small businesses before this,” said Bryant, adding he had experience in recreation management with a past job managing a rock climbing gym. Additionally, his wife has a degree in recreation management. Once they saw the old Kmart building on Garfield, they saw their vision unfold. “Location was ideal. We had seen several other spaces and this one provided a really clear vision of what we could do and how it could turn into something special for both Macomb County and Clinton Township,” said Steimle.
Metro’s owners can see the pickleball growth already in the community and look forward to how they can be a part of it. “We’ve been able to exceed projections in what we put forward but we also know we have a lot of room for growth and that’s exciting for us,” said Steimle, adding, “We feel very blessed. The community has really rallied behind us. We feel so grateful to have to met so many new people and have them come in and fall in love with the sport just like we did.”
The first indoor facility to open in Macomb County is the biggest yet, with 18 courts. Two brothers opened Bash Pickleball on Chicago Road in Warren in 2024 after seeing there was a major need for an indoor facility locally.
“My brother was introduced to the game by our cousin, and shortly after that, he introduced it to me. My brother Sam and I had already owned and operated another business together, so we were always thinking with an entrepreneurial mindset. As we became more involved in pickleball, we quickly saw a major need for a dedicated indoor facility in the area. That vision ultimately led us to open Bash — the first dedicated indoor pickleball facility in Metro Detroit,” said Kevin Brikho.
Having opened Bash two years ago this spring, Brikho says the response has been incredible. “The growth and demand have exceeded our expectations, from memberships and daily play to leagues, clinics, and tournaments. It’s been a fast-paced and rewarding experience, and the community support has been amazing.”
Bash offers structured open play for all skill levels, leagues, tournaments, clinics, private and group lessons. There’s also DUPR-rated events, and social mixers. “Our goal is to create an environment that welcomes beginners while also supporting high-level competitive play and player development,” said Brikho who claims he has players from age 12 to their 80s playing at Bash. “It’s rare to see a sport that genuinely connects that wide of an age range on the same courts.”
Creating something that truly serves the community, and not just one age group, is what the Brikho brothers were wanting to do in their own community. “Pickleball stands out because it brings people together. It’s social, competitive, welcoming, and accessible, all at the same time. Watching players build friendships, improve their health and grow their confidence on the court is what makes this sport — and Bash — so special,” said Brikho.
If you’re not on the pickleball bandwagon yet, you have plenty of time and plenty of courts to join in and learn the game. And when you do you’ll realize pickleball is a lifestyle. It creates a community and is nothing like golf or tennis. If you play causally for one full season, you will then learn that you don’t just play pickleball, but rather you are now part of a connected community and involved in an experience more so than a sport, and you have found something that could change your life.
