The Lake Placid Town Council voted Nov. 10 to fund the Lake June Park pickleball project temporarily from town reserves with the understanding the town will be reimbursed by state (FIRDAP) and RPAC grants when the project is complete.

Staff presented two options for the roughly $699,274 project budget: (1) the town outlays the funds from reserves and accepts reimbursement on project completion (recommended by the finance director), or (2) the town obtains a bank loan or line of credit that could add up to ~$50,000 in financing costs if drawn. Council chose the reserve reimbursement route by roll call (3–2).

The meeting included extensive public comment. Opponents urged the council not to place courts in the waterfront park and asked for more alternatives, while supporters described pickleball’s rapid growth and local demand. Questions centered on scope (courts, paving, parking, lighting), whether paving included in the RPAC justification would be scaled back by the grant administrator, and the timing of reimbursements.

Separately, the council reviewed conceptual recommendations from Synergy Sports and Airstream Ventures for Lake June Park as a potential sports destination. After debate, the council approved a separate motion to allow scheduled lighting and pavilion upgrades to continue as planned and directed consultants to incorporate the pickleball project into updated conceptual renderings.

Council and staff said steps remain—stormwater permitting and final design work—and that grant funding is reimbursable and may be adjusted by the grant administrator. The town will move to piggyback or bid contracts for construction once permits and procurement steps are complete.