LOWER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — America’s fastest-growing sport is making its way to Lower Saucon Township.
Township Council on Wednesday unanimously voted to spend up to $115,000 to install four pickleball courts at Polk Valley Park.
- Lower Saucon Township plans to spend six figures to install pickleball courts and improve a parking lot at Polk Valley Park
- The site would feature four courts and an improved parking lot for 10-12 cars close by
- The amenity could be ready for action come fall, but weather conditions could push it to spring
Township Manager Mark Hudson said Lower Saucon is looking to put up the new courts during the fall. He said the court’s paint needs to sit for a month, and the completion could be pushed to the spring if the cold weather hits too hard.
The $115,000 costs are estimated to involve the following:
- Site preparation: $7,500
- Stone and asphalt: $40,000
- Posts and nets: $4,000
- Court paint: $14,000
- Fencing: $25,000
- Benches: $4,000
The courts would sit in an open area behind a nearby stone parking lot.
Hudson said 10-12 cars would be able to use that lot. Officials also plan to spend $12,500 to pave it.
Township staff is looking to handle the site preparations, earth moving, court paving, post and net installation, and would work with a local company to get the courts painted, according to a July 20 memo.
An outside contractor would be brought in to complete the court’s fencing.
Possible pickleball powerhouse
Council President Jason Banonis brought up the potential for building more courts at some point, on the off chance Lower Saucon becomes a “pickleball powerhouse.”
Hudson said if that happened, the township would have to find another area in the park for additional courts.
“This area is pretty small and was supposed to be for a rec center, I think at one time, which I think would be terribly small for a rec center. It does fit four pickleball courts very nicely, but it would not leave us much room for expansion.”Mark Hudson, Lower Saucon Township manager
“This area is pretty small and was supposed to be for a rec center, I think at one time, which I think would be terribly small for a rec center,” Hudson responded.
“It does fit four pickleball courts very nicely, but it would not leave us much room for expansion.”
Councilman Thomas Carocci said windy conditions at the park could make it hard to play. Banonis then suggested amending the motion to include the cost of a windscreen to be placed over the court’s side facing the nearby trail.
“We’ve been talking about this for a while, so this is nice to come up with a plan."Mark Inglis, Lower Saucon Township Council vice president
Council Vice President Mark Inglis said the proposed area should work nicely for the new amenity, considering its “fairly flat” landscape, adding it’s nice to get the ball rolling on the project.
“We’ve been talking about this for a while, so this is nice to come up with a plan,” Inglis said.
Officials also took the noise of pickleball into consideration when deciding which park could feature the courts.
