Proposed Pickleball Courts Could Cost Nearly $1.9M

Select Board Questions High Price Tag as Cost-Cutting Options Are Considered

Reading, MA – On Tuesday, Architect Joel Bargmann presented the Select Board with plans for the proposed pickleball courts adjacent to the Burbank Ice Arena off Range Road. The $1,894,000 plan would include seven courts made of post-tensioned concrete, which Bargmann explained has a longer lifespan than an asphalt surface and is less prone to cracking.

The plan also anticipates installing lighting and a connection to the rear parking lot at the Burbank Ice Arena, a sidewalk connector to the proposed Reading Center for Active Living (ReCAL), benches and other player waiting areas. Bargmann noted that the original plan was for eight courts, but a project of that size was deemed not to be feasible on the proposed site.

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Several board members expressed surprise at the price tag, with member Mark Dockser noting an expected cost of half of the proposed solution. “What happened?” Dockser asked.

Select Board member Christopher Haley shared a similar surprise at the expected cost. “We thought one thing, and this is another,” Haley added. Haley suggested that the cost estimate needed to be reduced by several hundred thousand dollars or Town Meeting would not approve the expense. Select Board member Karen Herrick questioned if the lights were needed given the late sunset hours in the summer months.

Both Bargmann and Assistant Town Manager Jayne Wellman suggested several ways to reduce the budget, including reducing the project to six courts and removing the lighting and benches. Bargmann also suggested a small savings if the ReCAL project passed, as both projects could use the same electrical transformer. Chair Carlo Bacci shared that the Reading Pickleball Association had raised around $200,000 that could be used for some of the extra expenses, while Haley asked about using the $400,000 in the Burbank Ice Arena Fund.

The board will wait for further details before possibly placing the warrant article item on the April Town Meeting warrant. It could also decide that an article for November Town Meeting would make more sense.

The board voted 5-0 to close the April Town Meeting warrant, removing article thirteen, Haven Street improvements, from the vote. After Haley recused himself, the board voted 4-0 to add article thirteen to the warrant. The board delayed a vote to support the ReCAL article in the Special Town Meeting, which will occur during April Town Meeting, until after the warrant for the Special Town Meeting is closed on April 1. Member Melissa Murphy suggested that a vote should also be taken in support of the Killam Elementary School project at that time to indicate the board’s unified support for both projects.

The board voted 5-0 to authorize $1,040,000 from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, $780,000 in a grant, and $260,000 in an interest-free loan. This funding will be used for the town’s sewer maintenance plan, phase fourteen. The board also voted 5-0 to renew an intermunicipal agreement with Wakefield for animal control.

Before adjourning to executive session, the board discussed the process of forming a committee to create a new master plan for the town. The previous master plan dates to 2005.

The Board adjourned to executive session at 9:40 pm.