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Thomaston approves $846,000 for Reeves Field parking overhaul, including pickleball courts
Summary
Town meeting voted 26–1 to appropriate $846,000 to rebuild and reconfigure the parking area adjacent to Reeves Field, adding stormwater controls, energy-efficient lighting, a pedestrian walkway, landscaping and two pickleball courts; the town will finance up to $169,200 via bonds or notes as the required 20% match for a STEP grant.
Thomaston voters at a special town meeting Feb. 19 approved a $846,000 appropriation to reconstruct and reconfigure the parking area adjacent to Reeves Field, including repaving and striping, a stormwater-management feature, energy-efficient lighting, a pedestrian walkway, landscaping and construction of two pickleball courts. The measure passed 26–1.
Meeting Moderator Ed Mone told attendees the town must commit $169,200, or 20% of the project cost, to qualify for a STEP grant that would cover the remaining $676,800. "The town needs to approve $169,200.00 which is 20% of total cost in order to seek a STEP grant of $676,800.00 for the remainder," Mone said.
The resolution authorizes the town to finance the appropriation by issuing bonds, notes or temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $169,200; it also authorizes the First Selectman and Treasurer to issue the bonds or notes, permits actions required by Internal Revenue Service regulations to allow tax-exempt financing, and authorizes the First Selectman to execute agreements and other actions necessary to complete the project.
During a brief public-comment period, residents raised questions about project scope and impacts. Tim Farrell asked whether surveillance cameras would be included; Mone replied, "Yes." Sue Halloway asked whether the plan includes two pickleball courts; Mone said "Yes," and confirmed that pickleball lines are not currently painted on the Nystrom tennis courts. Joe Aniki, the town's Recreation Director, told the meeting that the Nystrom tennis courts are used "often," adding context for the need to expand facilities rather than rely solely on existing courts.
A question about coordination of parking with Adams Supermarket drew Mone's response that the issue had been considered in the past but store owners "chose not to change." Residents also asked about noise and time limits for play; Mone said the Recreation Department will consider those factors as it develops plans. When asked whether the project will include lighting, Tim Scatena received a response from Mone that lighting is "uncertain" at this stage.
Earlier in the meeting, attendees approved procedural motions to elect Sandra Daddona as meeting clerk and to elect Ed Mone as meeting moderator. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
The appropriation moves forward with authorization for the town to issue debt up to the specified town-share amount and to pursue necessary grant and tax-exempt financing steps; project design and implementation details, including final decisions on lighting, noise mitigation and scheduling, were left to the Recreation Department and town officials to develop.
