The most pressing topic was the proposal to build four new tennis courts at the middle school site, intended to replace the demolished Town Hall courts. This plan includes converting the high school courts into pickleball courts, accommodating both school teams and community members. The project has encountered financial hurdles, with the revised cost estimate rising to $1,340,000, higher than the original $734,000 budget approved in May. The increased costs are attributed to unforeseen architectural adjustments and additional site work.

The Department of Parks and Recreation representatives highlighted that the funding would come from the Community Preservation Committee’s recreation budget, supplemented by a $200,000 contribution from the Light and Water Department, originating from a property sale. Additionally, recent grant applications have resulted in conditional approval for $55,000 from the United States Tennis Association and another pending $25,000 from the League Baseball Youth Development Foundation. However, these grants are contingent on the project’s completion and adherence to specific criteria.

Financial discussions extended to the Wickham baseball field, which is slated for upgrades including fencing, dugouts, and mounds. The field’s rehabilitation is seen as crucial due to its current unusability following a sewer project, with the intent to relocate the high school baseball field to improve space utilization for district athletics. The representatives emphasized the importance of these renovations, as they address long-standing requests from local sports organizations and reflect the community’s growing interest in youth sports.

Committee members debated the rescinding of the previously approved $734,000 article to facilitate the new proposal, with an emphasis on careful financial planning to ensure the project’s feasibility within the new budget. The conversation also touched on potential cost-saving collaborations with the Department of Public Works, as well as exploring naming rights and sponsorship opportunities to offset expenses.

Another point of discussion was the transfer of $18,350 to the Community Preservation Committee Recreation fund, intended as a placeholder for future borrowing related to the tennis court project. With approximately $1.3 million in total recreation funds and $700,000 in an undesignated account, the town aims to leverage available funds to minimize debt. Members expressed concerns about the borrowing strategy, emphasizing the need for a larger reserve for future projects.

Additionally, the meeting addressed the resurfacing and repainting of existing tennis courts, with a recent $45,000 investment restoring them to a “brand new state.” The addition of pickleball lines was noted as a valuable enhancement. The funding for these improvements sparked a conversation about the reallocation of undesignated funds, questioning whether these funds should support the tennis court replacement project as part of broader recreational developments.

Long-term planning for the health of local lakes, particularly Long Lake, was also on the agenda. The committee acknowledged the challenges posed by invasive species and the importance of maintaining these water bodies for recreational use. Discussions included potential funding sources and the implementation of user fees to support lake maintenance efforts, with a focus on finding sustainable solutions to manage nuisance plant growth.