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Park & Rec seeks $300,000 in design funds for Claxton action-sports park and pickleball courts
Summary
The Park and Recreation Department asked the CPC for $300,000 for design of an action-sports (skate/pump) park and pickleball courts at Claxton Field; feasibility study recommended Claxton and proponents said construction funding would be requested separately when design is complete.
Needham Park and Recreation presented March 5 a $300,000 CPC request for design funding to develop an action-sports park (a pump/skate area) and pickleball courts at Claxton Field.
Lauren Spinney, the CPC administrative coordinator, said the design request stems from recommendations of the town’s Active Recreation Assets Working Group. Engineering firm CHA produced a feasibility study that evaluated multiple potential locations and recommended Claxton Field’s quarry area for the action park and a location along Central Avenue near the transfer station for pickleball courts.
Park & Rec representatives said the total estimated project cost for construction is about $3.3 million; design funding would allow the department to select an engineering firm this summer and return to the CPC in October of FY26 to request construction funds. The department said the skate-park design is a specialty service with few qualified national firms and that permitting (wetlands and DEP coordination) and a sound study are expected cost drivers.
Design plans will include parking assessments: the department said weekend and high-use parking will be a challenge at times and that the design will examine options for increasing parking capacity and scheduling considerations. Park & Rec noted the action-sports area (quarry) is bedrock and was not expected to require soil remediation; the department said the field renovation work currently underway at Claxton is a separate project that would not be disturbed by the proposed action-sports/pickleball construction.
Park & Rec said the two elements could be constructed separately but combining them under a single contractor produces construction cost savings; the department will evaluate that trade-off during design.
