During a recent government meeting, discussions centered around the development of recreational facilities, particularly tennis and pickleball courts, and the financial implications for both the school and town. John Mooney highlighted the potential for utilizing town-owned property, engineered by Steve, as a cost-effective option for the school to undertake the project rather than placing the financial burden solely on the town.

The school is currently in the process of constructing four new tennis courts, while the town previously had three courts at Memorial Field that fell into disrepair and were underutilized. Concerns were raised about the necessity of adding three additional tennis courts and six pickleball courts, especially given the investment already being made in the high school facilities.

A significant point of contention was the location of the proposed pickleball courts, situated near a low-income housing development. The noise generated by pickleball has led to disputes in other communities, with recommendations suggesting a distance of 500 to 1,000 feet between residential areas and the courts. This raised questions about the suitability of the current plan and its potential impact on local residents.

The discussion underscored the need for a thorough review of the project’s costs, with estimates suggesting that the ball field could exceed $3 million. There was a call for the school to be allocated some of its funds to manage the construction, which could lead to savings for the town.

The meeting concluded with a sense of urgency, as board members emphasized the critical nature of the decisions being made, indicating that the outcomes of this discussion would significantly influence future planning and community relations.