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Residents press for more pickleball courts as township waits on Revere rebuild and Memorial courts engineering results
Summary
Multiple residents urged Lower Makefield supervisors to add temporary pickleball capacity and fix pool‑area courts while the township considers a roughly $410,000 rebuild of Revere courts and awaits geotechnical test results for Memorial Park courts under litigation.
Residents urged the board July 15 to take low‑cost steps to ease pickleball demand while long‑term repairs remain pending.
Ellie Fisher, who identified herself as a township resident and member of an intermediate pickleball group, said the group is nearly 200 residents and asked the board to pursue temporary solutions such as repainting lines and adding portable nets to existing tennis courts, noting that many tennis courts sit empty while pickleball courts are oversubscribed.
"We are united by a sport we all love," Fisher said, and asked the board to consider lower‑cost fixes while awaiting a full rebuild of Revere courts.
A township official summarized the Revere assessment: engineering work is complete, the board had previously allocated $250,000, and a full reconstruction estimate now sits at about $410,000. The official said a phased approach (starting construction in fall and completing final coating in spring) or splitting the project over two years are options and offered to prepare two funding recommendation routes for the board's consideration.
Multiple residents raised related concerns: Lizanne Wilkinson flagged incorrect signage and the lack of lighting on pool‑adjacent courts and urged paint and portable nets as cheaper alternatives; Rick Heeslip provided usage numbers showing high demand at Memorial courts and argued the community benefit of expanded pickleball access.
The solicitor and staff also updated the board on Memorial Park pickleball courts, which remain the subject of litigation. The township retained ELA Group for a structural assessment and Kleinfelder for geotechnical borings done in mid‑June; results are pending. The solicitor said the town is preserving evidence and awaiting the engineering analysis before deciding on repairs or legal steps.
What happens next: Public works will present funding options for Revere courts (two recommended routes), staff will follow up on signage and temporary striping options and the township will await geotechnical results before moving on Memorial Park repairs.
