CLINTON

The Town Council has opted to cancel the town meeting scheduled for July 5 after residents pushed back on the town’s plan to replace a basketball court with pickleball courts at a public hearing on June 21.

At a regular Town Council meeting immediately following a packed public hearing where most speakers objected to the town’s plan to replace the basketball court at the Indian River Recreational Complex with pickleball courts, the council unanimously voted to cancel a town meeting originally scheduled for July 5.

Instead, the council will schedule a workshop to discuss further how to spend the town’s American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) money. A date for the workshop was not set.

Last year, it was announced that Clinton would receive $3.8 million in federal money from ARPA. In early 2022, residents approved using about $2 million of the APRA money to help with various projects to combat the virus’ negative effects.

At a workshop on May 4, the Town Council decided to move forward with new projects. Those projects include funding for pickleball courts, replacing the artificial turf at Indian River Recreational Complex, replacing bleachers at the Peters Complex, work at the beach bathhouse, continued nonprofit assistance, the public safety radio project, paving, and small public works projects, according to Town Manager Karl Kilduff.

The public hearing on June 21 was called so that members of the public could weigh in on the proposed projects, and then the money was to be formally approved by residents at a town meeting on July 5. Instead, one potential project, in particular, caused significant controversy with speakers.

The Hearing

The idea of using some of the ARPA money to make more room for pickleball was welcome news for some in town and a source of frustration for others.

Pickleball is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Each player uses a solid paddle to hit a plastic ball with holes in it back and forth across the net. Because the 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 Indian River Complex.

The sport has exploded in interest over the last five or so years among all ages, but it’s become particularly popular with older people who wish to stay active with a fun game that is easy to pick up and learn.

In February, the Town Council unanimously voted to use $10,000 of the ARPA funds to conduct a study to find suitable locations for pickleball courts after a vocal contingent of residents spoke up about the lack of available courts in town.

At a meeting in May, the Park and Recreation Commission recommended removing the basketball court entirely at the Indian River Complex to make more room for more pickleball courts. A total of $146,000 is proposed to be allocated for the project.

Parks and Recreation Department Director Robert Potter explained that the earlier study showed that there was only a handful of potential places to put pickleball courts in town and that several of those potential spaces would have higher cost estimates. Contrary to what some speakers said at the public hearing, Potter said the basketball court at Indian River is not a regulation-sized court.

While the news of more potential pickleball courts was welcome news to some, others were not pleased with the idea of taking away a basketball court to make room for pickleball.

About 15 people chose to speak publicly at the hearing, most in defense of keeping the basketball court.

Marten Brown told the council that he sees kids using the courts every day. “You have something already built for kids. Why take it away?” Brown asked to big applause.

In an unusual scene for most town functions, the hearing drew several recent Morgan School graduates in their early 20s who also were upset at the possibility of losing the basketball court.

Robbie Zirlis spoke of his fond memories of playing on the court, where he honed his skills that propelled him to high school and college basketball. “I would hope Clinton and Morgan would continue to have my back by not getting rid of the basketball court,” Zirlis said.

Several speakers said that while they did not want to see the basketball court go, they did understand the need and desire for more pickleball courts in Clinton and hoped the town could accommodate both requests.

Maureen Wellman told the council that Clinton is one of the only shoreline towns that does not have its own dedicated pickleball courts. Some Clinton residents go to other towns to play, but Wellman said she fears that other towns may restrict out-of-town guests as the sport gets more popular.

“This is our best chance to have what other shoreline towns have. The chance to play pickleball right here at home,” Wellman said to applause from the crowd.

Despite other potential projects to be considered, no other topic besides pickleball was discussed at the hearing.

Originally, the town was to host a meeting where residents would have voted on whether or not to approve the project funding. Instead, Town Council Chairman Chris Aniskovich said that the council would revisit the second round of ARPA funding at future council meetings.

An Intriguing Offer

One speaker, Tess Taft Edge, surprised attendees when she said she would be willing to donate her father’s old property to the town for use as pickleball courts. The property is two parcels located at 78 and 80 Airline Road.

“I feel like I got called to give up my dad’s land,” Taft Edge said.

While the offer sounds good, Kilduff explained that vetting would be required.

“The generous offer is appreciated, but it requires extensive thought compared to existing town property. Development costs need to be considered regardless of location. Embedding pickleball into a residential neighborhood may cause other concerns,” Kilduff said.