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Spring Lake Heights council approves three pickleball courts amid resident opposition
Summary
On March 17 the Borough Council approved a contract with ATT Sports, Inc. to install three pickleball courts at Joseph E. Robertson Park (R2025-81) by a 4‑1 vote despite resident objections about noise, removal of a tot lot and off‑leash dogs; council also approved routine consent items and budget transfers.
The Spring Lake Heights Borough Council approved a contract on March 17 with ATT Sports, Inc. to install three pickleball courts at Joseph E. Robertson Park (Resolution R2025-81). The contract passed on a 4‑1 vote: Ayes — Councilmen Leonard Capristo, John Casagrande, William Graetz and Christopher Willms; Nay — Councilwoman Sara King; Councilwoman Michele Degnan‑Spang was absent.
Council discussion and public comment focused on competing views of park use. Councilwoman Sara King said residents had previously raised concerns in October 2024 and argued the grant funding would have been better used for walking paths rather than additional courts. King expressed opposition to the project at the meeting. Councilman John Casagrande said demand for pickleball is "far exceeding the number of courts the Borough has" and supported moving forward while accounting for sound mitigation. Councilman Leonard Capristo said he had "never heard of pickleball courts being a detriment to a town, only added to quality of life," and emphasized that sound mitigation would be considered.
Residents who spoke at public comment opposed the project or sought clarifications: Anna Kuntz urged stronger enforcement of leash rules in parks and opposed the courts until a full timeline was provided; Joseph York said he opposed the courts, raised concerns that the tot lot would be removed and asked about sound mitigation; Courtney Shanley asked whether lighting would be included (the council and staff stated no lighting is included in the proposed project); and Susan Careatti expressed doubts that the courts would be well used and asked whether flooding impacts had been evaluated.
Project specifics stated in the meeting record: the installation is for three pickleball courts funded by a grant (grant amount not specified in the transcript), the contract awarded is with ATT Sports, Inc., and the project as presented does not include lighting. Borough Engineer Joseph E. May and council members said sound mitigation would be taken into account in planning, though no detailed mitigation plan or schedule was presented.
Votes at a glance (selected actions from the March 17 meeting): - R2025-81, Authorizing a contract with ATT Sports, Inc. for installation of pickleball courts at Joseph E. Robertson Park — Approved (Ayes: Capristo, Casagrande, Graetz, Willms; Nay: King; Absent: Degnan‑Spang). - R2025-82, Transfer of 2024 municipal budget appropriations — Approved unanimously. - R2025-83, Payment of itemized claims (March 14, 2025 bills list) — Approved unanimously. - R2025-74 — R2025-80, Consent agenda items (membership, refunds/adjustments, guarantees, grant application, court use) — Approved as a block. - R2025-84, Shared services with Wall Township inspections (Blk 1 Lot 1) — Approved unanimously.
Next steps: The contract award authorizes the borough to proceed with procurement of the courts; borough staff will work on design details, sound mitigation plans and implementation timing. The transcript does not specify a construction schedule or grant dollar amount.
