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Donor money prompts committee to study options for pickleball courts, clay‑court preservation and accessibility
Summary
Council referred a possible donor offer to fund new pickleball courts back to the Parks Committee. Committee members debated converting a clay court, keeping clay for tournament practice, and whether donor funds could instead pay for courts near the handball court; staff will return with cost estimates and accessibility analysis.
The committee discussed a council referral about a possible donation to build pickleball courts at Holbrook Palmer Park and whether that money would require converting the park’s clay tennis court.
At the May 7 meeting committee members said an interested donor has funds in a foundation and may be prepared to underwrite new court construction; staff and members said the donor must decide where to allocate the gift and that the town should quickly determine whether it can accommodate a preferred design. "She's got the money. It's in a foundation, and she's gotta spend it," one committee member said.
Opinions among committee members differed. Some members favored keeping the clay court because a small number of players use it to prepare for clay‑court tournaments. Others supported converting space for permanent pickleball courts, with one option placing two vertical (stacked) pickleball courts near the handball wall; that proposal could avoid removing existing tennis courts but may require moving a shed, regrading and new surfacing.
Accessibility and circulation emerged as additional constraints: the pathway to the proposed rear location (near the shed and Feltton/Felton Gables area) is not currently ADA accessible, and any conversion would likely require building accessible paths and possibly relocating structures. Committee members also noted potential neighborhood impacts, including proximity to homes and the need for sound‑attenuating screening around courts.
Staff said further investigatory work is required: measureable cost estimates, site dimensions and grading needs, whether the donor’s timeline suits town procurement, and whether the donor is willing to fund relocation or accessibility work. The committee asked staff to reach back to the donor with options and to return with estimates and feasibility analysis so the committee can develop a recommendation to council.
No formal decision was taken; the matter will return to committee pending staff follow‑up.
