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Hazlet seeks county funding to convert tennis court to pickleball courts, upgrade Leocadia Park
Summary
At a June 23 Hazlet Township Committee hearing, Township Engineer Andrew Denbigh outlined a concept to rehabilitate Leocadia Park courts — converting a tennis court to four pickleball courts, resurfacing basketball courts and replacing sports lighting — and said the town would request $300,000 from the Monmouth County Open Space Trust Fund toward an estimated $600,000 project.
On June 23, 2026, the Hazlet Township Committee held a public hearing on an application to the Monmouth County Open Space Trust Fund to fund improvements at Leocadia Park, including converting one tennis court into four pickleball courts, resurfacing two basketball courts and replacing or updating LED sports lighting.
Township Engineer Andrew W. Denbigh, PE, CME, CFM, CPWM, presented the concept plan and cost estimate. "I am estimating approximately $600,000 for this whole project as shown," Denbigh said, and added that the township "is going to request $300,000 from Monmouth County." He explained the county program is a matching grant up to $500,000 — meaning a $1 million project could receive the full $500,000 — and said county staff recommended narrowing the scope and phasing improvements to improve the application’s competitiveness.
Denbigh described site details that would be part of the work: removal of one tennis court to construct four pickleball courts, restriping an existing tennis court, installing a 10-foot chain-link perimeter fence around pickleball/tennis courts and a 6-foot divider fence between courts, adding flush curb around courts to reduce edge deterioration, resurface courses with base and surface course, and two benches for the basketball courts and two for the pickleball courts. He said existing LED fixtures mounted on poles may not be operational and the plan shows replacement with updated LED sports lighting. Denbigh also said the county advised investigating acoustic wraps around fence perimeters because the courts are closer to nearby residences than other municipal facilities.
Committee members asked about scope and cost. Committeeman Terranova asked if the project would affect softball fields; Denbigh said earlier meetings had pitched larger improvements but the county recommended narrowing to court rehabilitation and phasing the project. Asked about price volatility, Denbigh said construction costs are influenced by oil and diesel prices and reiterated the $600,000 estimate includes contingencies. Deputy Mayor Preston asked whether the $600,000 was the total cost or the town’s share; Denbigh replied it is the total cost and the township would request $300,000 from the county.
A motion to close the hearing was offered by Deputy Mayor Preston, seconded by Committeeman Terranova, and approved by voice vote.
If the county awards the grant this fall, Denbigh said the terms would allow 30 months from the award date to spend the funds. The town’s next steps are to finalize the grant application and respond to any county requests for additional information.
