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Richmond committee votes on court color and details plans for Brown's Court pickleball project
Summary
The committee set the pickleball court color to dark blue, heard that the contractor expects work mid-to-late summer, and discussed water access (town to cover labor; parts estimated at $2,527.10), tree-planting plans and grant opportunities including a $50,000 USA Pickleball grant.
Committee co-chair Denise Barard updated members on multiple logistical items for the Brown's Court pickleball project and the group took a formal vote on court color during the May 27 meeting.
Barard described contacts with the contractor and reported that the contractors office indicated the job could start "mid to late summer" after permits and that surfacing is a multi-step process requiring curing time between layers. She told members the surfacing phase can take six weeks to two months and that site work then paving and curing must be scheduled to avoid damaging new plantings.
Water access was a central operational concern. According to the committee, Steve Cody and town garage staff offered to provide labor at no charge; the parts for a locking water spigot were estimated at $2,527.10. Barard said town staff agreed to cover the spigot cost. Committee members considered temporary trucked water as a short-term backup if lead times delayed permanent hookups.
On May 27 the committee held a formal voice vote to adopt "dark blue" as the standard color for the courts. The chair called for a voice vote; the committee signaled unanimous approval.
Members discussed a planting plan to screen and shade the courts. Committee members estimated a tree application could request about $3,500 to pay for roughly 84 trees at about $100 each, and planned a volunteer day for planting and trenching to reduce costs.
The committee also reported applying for a $50,000 USA Pickleball grant (two $50,000 awards nationally) and discussed a separate Play It Forward equipment grant to open on Aug. 8. Members said they will seek Select Board approval as required before submitting certain grant applications.
On signage and hours, the committee discussed sample signs and proposed hours (suggested 8:00 a.m. to dusk), and agreed to circulate draft signage and seek neighbor input by email or a short neighborhood meeting before finalizing.
Next steps: staff to confirm contractor start windows, the volunteer grant subcommittee to refine grant submissions and the committee to post draft signage and proposed hours for neighborhood feedback in related files prior to the next meeting.
