Following an updated cost analysis from the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) to the Town Council, the original plan of replacing the basketball court at Indian River Recreation Complex (IRRC) with pickleball courts is back on.

At the Town Council meeting on Nov. 15, PRC Chairman Joe Schettino and Parks and Recreation Department Director Robert Potter explained that in the course of doing the preliminary work on the new proposed site for the three pickleball courts, it was revealed that unexpected costs would make the project run above the $209,122 that citizens voted to allocate for pickleball at an Aug. 3 town meeting.

In the summer, the Town Council devised a revised pickleball plan, which called for building three courts at a spot of undeveloped land off the right field of the baseball field located at IRCC.

However, at the Town Council meeting on Nov. 15, Schettino said that in doing the preparation work on the proposed site, it was revealed that there were water and electrical conduits underground that would need to be encased in cement, adding a significant cost to the project that would have taken it above the money allocated for the courts. Beyond the cost of building the court, a service road and pavilion in the area would need to be moved. That option was projected at approximately $222,000.

While $202,000 was stated at the meeting for what was allocated for the courts, Town Manager Karl Kilduff confirmed that was a misstatement and that $209,122 was allocated for pickleball.

The two men presented other options that the PRC had considered.

A second option presented to the council called for the courts to be built closer to the wetlands and a retaining walk built in the river. Schettino and Potter pointed out that was not an attractive situation since it wasn’t clear if the Inland Wetlands Commission would approve the project due to the infringement on the wetlands. The cost for this option was approximately $215,000, still above the allocated amount.

A third option called for building only two courts instead of three to be built by the ball field. This option was considered less desirable as two counts wouldn’t adequately fix the demand for more courts. The project was estimated at approximately $124,000.

None of those three options included lights or walkways, which would include another $50,000 to $80,000 of investment down the road, nor would there be adequate parking when events at the ball fields were held.

On the other hand, the basketball court does have lights and parking near it. Converting the court to three pickleball courts was projected to cost approximately $157,000, well below the amount approved at the town meeting in the summer. Schettino told the council that even as the PRC looked into the other options following the public hearing in the summer, it never officially withdrew its recommendation for that being the best move.

In light of the new cost estimates, the council members agreed with the assessment from Potter and Schettino to move forward with the original plan of replacing the basketball court, the latest move in what has been a twisted saga.

Pickleball in Clinton

Pickleball is a racket sport that has exploded in interest over the last five or so years in Clinton, as well as the surrounding shoreline towns. It’s become popular among all ages, but it’s become particularly a hit with older people who wish to stay active with a fun game that is easy to pick up and learn. Because pickleball courts are half the size of a standard tennis court, they’re often overlaid on existing tennis courts or, in Clinton’s case, painted on the basketball court at the IRRC.

Other shoreline towns have built their own dedicated pickleball courts that do not need to share space with other sports, but Clinton has not yet done so

Early in 2023, a group of citizens spoke out about the lack of available pickleball courts. To alleviate that concern, in May, the PRC recommended that the town use a portion of the town’s COVID relief money to fully replace the basketball court at IRRC with pickleball courts.

A vocal contingent of the public was largely against that idea.

At a public hearing on June 21, a substantial crowd turned out to speak against the idea of taking away the basketball court, which speakers said was often used by kids, in favor of a use primarily geared toward adults. Immediately following the public hearing, the Town Council opted to cancel a town meeting originally scheduled for July 5, where residents were set to formally approve the next round of COVID relief projects so that the pickleball proposal could be tweaked to the baseball field proposal.

Speaking at the meeting on Nov. 15, Town Council chairman Chris Aniskovich said that the plan was changing back to the original proposal and another public hearing would not be held. While he noted the sentiment from the people at the public hearing, Aniskovich said the council had to take in the full picture.

“At the end of the day, the council is seated to make the best long-term decision for the town,” Aniskovich said.

Potter said converting the court to pickleball would be the best move for everyone. Despite what some speakers claimed at the public hearing, Potter said the basketball court at the complex is not a regulation-sized court, nor is it frequently used.

“It’s still used by some. I don’t want people to think nobody uses it, but it’s not every day like some people said,” Potter said.

“The area behind the baseball field and between the river and pavilion is really the only passive area in the park. It does get used by families and people who picnic and things, so it’s not like that is an unused area at all; you’d still be taking a use away from people,” Potter said.