Last week, their dreams became a reality.
The City of Brentwood debuted three pickleball courts overlaid on the Creekside Park basketball court last Friday, drawing more than 40 players during a three-hour drop-in session.
The sport - which incorporates elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong - is played with a small wooden or composite paddle and a whiffle-like ball on a surface the size of a doubles badminton court. The net is smaller than a tennis-court net.
"I am totally excited," said pickleball player Trisha Meikle, a Summerset resident. "I play it over (at Summerset) too, but now it will be easy for my friends and family to come play. It's opened up my life to whole new people, and I have my grandchildren playing."
At the request of a large group of area pickleball players, the overlay idea was pushed forward to the Brentwood Park and Recreation Commission, which approved the plans to paint three pickleball courts on the Creekside Park basketball court at a cost of $1,963. That also included the portable nets, game balls and a fence to be used free of charge by the community during drop-in hours.
The mobile game components are stored in a locked box on-site during off hours, allowing the continued use of the basketball hoops and court.
There are an estimated 200 pickleball players in the area, including a 70-member group in the Brentwood Summerset community and a 60-person group in Discovery Bay, said Brentwood resident Monte Winterhalter, a United States Pickleball Association ambassador.
"We are off to a great start," Winterhalter said, as the sound of paddles hitting balls filled the air.
Brentwood resident David Smookler agreed. Smookler had been holding free drop-in pickleball sessions on city tennis courts for about two years but was prohibited from altering the surfaces, forcing him to put down rubber markers that would often move when stepped on.
Until now, the only other option for players wanting to play in Brentwood was to haul around all the necessities, including a mobile net and special tape to mark lines.
"At times I got a little frustrated, but then I said that is the easy way out," Smookler said. "(I thought), 'Just stick with it, and over time (improved playing conditions) will happen.' Anything that is good in the world is spread by other people."
Since sprouting up over 20 years ago, the game has caught fire and is now considered one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation. There are currently 2.5 million players around the U.S., and the number could jump to 8 million in the next five years.
"(Courts) are everywhere except Brentwood," said player Ramon Young, as he finished up a game last week. "We have to have courts. The game is great. The court is smaller, and it's easier for people to reach the ball."
Winterhalter said he and fellow players will keep track of how many folks frequent the city courts in hopes of persuading city officials to one day build courts.
"I think in maybe six months we can say we had maybe 3,000 people paying pickleball," Winterhalter, said. "We can go make a presentation to the city council to show we have the interest - it's out there."
The city is in the process of updating its Parks, Trails and Recreation Master Plan which will involve evaluating the need for dedicated courts, said city officials. For now, however, Winterhalter and many in attendance during the debut of the courts last week are just pleased to have an easy place to play.
"It's a huge improvement; we don't need to mess with tape, the courts are here and we have good nets," Winterhalter said. "That is all you need, right?"
Drop-in sessions are held at the Creekside pickleball courts on Sunday, Monday and Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon; and on Thursday, from 3 to 6 p.m. The park is located at 1010 Claremont Drive. For more information, call Smookler at 925-354-2015.