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Earlier this year, I published a note discussing where we stand with several projects around Town including Shadow Pines, our Department of Public Works facility, and the Clark House. As I write this note a couple of months later, I am happy to report progress continues.
Most notably, we are moving ahead with an updated plan for pickleball courts and a recreation area at Shadow Pines. We’re also working on the design of a new DPW facility and plans to transform the Clark House into a public lodge.
Pickleball courts
Over the past few years, we’ve heard from those in our community who are very passionate about pickleball. We’ve also heard from those who value the importance of maintaining the natural beauty of Shadow Pines. As a Town Board, it’s our responsibility to listen to this valuable feedback and use it to put forth a plan that provides maximum benefit to everyone in our community.
At the Town Board meeting on Wednesday, September 6, we approved a resolution to allow engineering firm BME Associates to complete an updated site plan for pickleball courts and a recreation area. The new plan features 10 pickleball courts, two that are ADA accessible, along with a picnic area, open-air pavilion, inclusive playgrounds, and restrooms in the northeast corner of the property.
In this updated plan, care has been taken to reduce the footprint of the project and its impact on the property while at the same time providing new recreational opportunities for our community. I think this plan represents a compromise that considers all feedback we have received.
Once the updated site plan is completed by BME, the board will review it, and determine if we would like to put the project out for bid. We hope the review will take place later this fall. Ultimately, the sooner we get the project out for bid, the sooner we can begin construction.
DPW facility
For quite some time, we have also been discussing the need to improve our Department of Public Works facility. The current facility, which was first constructed in the 1950s, is far too small and lacks modern safety systems including fire suppression. A new facility is long overdue and will ensure we can continue to provide essential services effectively and efficiently.
MRB Group is currently completing a detailed design, and we hope to share design plans with you in the next few weeks.
To give our community an inside look at the DPW, we will be hosting an open house on Saturday, October 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We’ll be offering tours of the current facility to let residents get an up-close look at what challenges and limitations the facility has. You can get details on the open house event here.
Clark House
Finally, the Historic Board recently approved updated plans for the Clark House. This includes minor amendments to the layout to better utilize the space, and a change to the proposed exterior materials from fieldstone to lap wood siding to better match the original Clark House.
The plan remains to rehab the original portion of the Clark House and rebuild the remainder of the building to create an event venue accommodating roughly 150 people. In the next few weeks, the Town Board will be discussing the design. I am excited to get this project started because I know just how much it means to our community.
You can keep updated with each project by following the Projects of Community Interest page on our website.
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