Bourne Courts To Shut Down Simultaneously For Resurfacing Project

The hardcourt repair project involves repairing and/or rehabilitating tennis and pickleball courts at Clarke Field in Sagamore Beach, Keith Field in South Sagamore, the Pocasset Recreation Area and the Cataumet Schoolhouse. Recreational areas with courts that are not within the scope of work of the project include Chester Park in Monument Beach, the Bourne Veterans Memorial Community Center and Bourne Town Hall. Residents approved a request for $330,000 in Community Preservation Act funds for the project from the recreation committee at Annual Town Meeting in May 2022.

Ms. Hartsgrove explained that a crew of four to six people will work on the project, doing repairs on all four targeted courts simultaneously. She said by using that approach, crews can shift work to a different site while another court is left alone after being treated.

“What we felt at the meeting was actually that would be kind of ideal, because then we’re not like ‘okay, this week you go here, next week you go there,’” she said.

She said working on all four at the same time will be less confusing to the community, too; residents can be told that while the work is underway, everything is shut down while the courts are being improved for better play.

Ms. Hartsgrove said the work is expected to take about three to four weeks to complete, with the crew working seven days a week. She said a site visit is scheduled for Monday, April 8, to examine all the courts “and get a reevaluation of any additional condition that needs to be included in the assessment and the work.”

She added that she and department of recreation director Kathryn Matthews will work together on communicating with the public about the project. She said communication will include news releases as well as banners, which are to be placed at the courts.

“Actual banners…saying ‘Coming Soon! Brand New Pickleball Courts! Get Ready!’” will be put up at each court, Ms. Hartsgrove said, to let residents know more about the project and that it was funded by the community preservation committee.

Committee member James Linsky pointed out for the record that the four areas to be worked on will be locked up and not available to the public; however, people will still be able to play on the courts in Monument Beach and at Chester Park while the work is underway, he said.

Committee member Lori B. Cooney suggested that any communication about the project also include mention that the application to the CPC was done in partnership with the commission on disabilities. Ms. Cooney said she had been approached by some people about accommodations within the project for disabled individuals.

Ms. Hartsgrove noted that this is phase one of the project and is limited to resurfacing. Compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, she said, is part of phase two, following the resurfacing.

Additional Rec Department Updates

During the recreation committee’s meeting in late February, members pondered the prospect of the town providing pickleball nets at five locations around town: Clarke Field, Keith Field, Chester Park, Pocasset and Cataumet Schoolhouse. Currently, residents who prefer pickleball over tennis at courts in town have to bring and use their own nets, in addition to their own paddles and balls.

On Tuesday, Ms. Matthews provided the committee with a cost estimate of $6,145 to purchase the nets and other needed equipment. In addition to the nets, the funds would pay for storage chests, padlocks, padlock keys, a cable chain for each box and a key storage lock box at each location.

Ms. Matthews also provided an update on recreation department staffing for the coming summer season, saying the department’s summer program has received 21 applications for counselor positions.

As for lifeguards, she said the department has received applications from six returning staffers, as well as 12 applications for lifeguard positions and one applicant for head lifeguard.