Parks & Rec hears plea for pickleball courts; accepts After-School Program fee schedule

KENT, Conn.—The Parks and Recreation Commission addressed the concerns of residents at both ends of the age spectrum when it met Tuesday night, July 7, discussing first the strong desire of older residents to have a dedicated pickleball facility and then turning its attention to a revised fee schedule for its troubled After School Program.

A contingent of older residents attended the meeting to make their case for the pickleball courts. Bruce Hoheb thanked the commission for allowing residents to use the existing tennis courts for pickleball, but said the situation creates “a real hodgepodge” for both tennis and pickleball players. 

“The lines are really confusing to everyone,” he said, adding that the growing popularity of the sport makes it difficult to find court time. Without a designated facility for pickleball, reported to be the fastest growing sport in the country, Kent residents often find themselves traveling to neighboring towns that have made provisions for the game.

He reported that Sherman just created four courts that are used by 500 people, while the Walnut Hill Community Church’s New Milford campus features three indoor, wood-floor pickleball courts that are open for four sessions a day, five days a week. Their $5 “court reserve” fee generates about $2,000 a week.

“That’s a heck of a lot of money to maintain a facility that is nothing more than two nets and a fence,” he argued. “If we were to put up two or three courts, I think the facility would be busy seven days a week.”

He said an informal survey of Kent’s pickleball fans showed they would be willing to pay $100 a year for membership cards giving them access to the courts. “It’s eminently doable financially,” he argued.

He added that the local group of enthusiasts has “grown substantially” in the last few months, with 104 persons engaged in the sport, “almost all of whom have to go to neighboring towns to find place to play.”

The group asked for the commission’s support in designating a portion of Kent Commons Park for the courts. “We understand that you have allocated $530,000 for Emory Park and what we are asking for is much less expensive and more beneficial to the town as a whole,” Hoheb contended. “It would give people a chance to exercise and to congregate. It would reduce health risks [by providing exercise for older residents] and won’t cost the town a heck of a lot of money.” 

The suggested site in Kent Commons is adjacent to the tennis courts and there was some question as to whether it is in the wetlands. The anticipated cost of the courts is $100,000 to $150,000, although there are different levels of cost depending on the amenities provided.

Library Director Sarah Marshall said the local pickleball group started as a library program two-and-a-half years ago. “It’s been interesting to see the program grow,” she observed. “As Kent ages, investing money in those of us who no longer have little children running around is something to consider.”

Others commented on the socialization provided by the game and the economic boost it gives to a town when players from neighboring towns come to play and then linger to eat and shop.

The commission has discussed the need in previous meetings and assured the contingent that it is a high priority. But Parks and Recreation Chairman Rufus deRham said there had been a “huge outcry” for upgrades to Emory Park, specifically for a local swimming area, and that money cannot be diverted from that. 

Still, he added, “It’s obvious we need to pay attention to pickleball.” He promised the commission would act as soon as it could find funding. “Hopefully we can get something going,” he concluded.

That “something” turned into a request for pre-funding the $80,000 currently included in the capital plan for 2031. The commission will seek bridge funding from the town’s Capital Reserve Fund to do the preliminary engineering and preparatory work needed for the pickleball courts and encumber the $80,000 in the Capital Plan to reimburse the money.

Approval of the advance funding would require positive recommendations from both the Board of Selectman and the Board of Finance before the issue could be presented to a public hearing and town meeting vote.

Commission members acknowledged that the $80,000 would not be enough to build the courts, but expressed the hope that the pickleball players will be able to do fundraising to offset the shortfall.

“We could go back to the pickleball group and say, ‘Look, here is what we have available, here’s what it will cost, if you will fill in the gap that will determine the timeline for getting it done,’ said commission Vice Chairman Kevin Frost.

After School Program

The commission turned its attention to the After School Program at Kent Center School, which is administered by Parks and Recreation. Last spring, Parks and Rec Director Matt Frasher suggested eliminating the program because of poor attendance levels and substantial financial losses.

A subcommittee was formed to determine if there is public support for the program and what models might be self-sustaining. Parks and Rec member Claire Love chairs the subcommittee and she returned to the full body Tuesday with pricing recommendations that she believes will eliminate the shortfall and sustain the program.

She said a survey circulated by the subcommittee had 35 respondents, which she termed a strong response considering the number of children in the demographic served by the program. Those parents appeared to be comfortable paying about $100 a week for a two-and-a-half-hour program, five days a week. 

Children who are not registered could drop-in for $25 a day. There is a $125 option that allows children access to Kent Curiosity Lab programs and discounts would be made available for multiple family members. The Kent Community Fund will help families with scholarships if they cannot afford the full fare.

The former weekly rate was $65.

Love said there is an expected “enrollment bubble,” but even if no additional children attend, the fee should cover the cost of labor to administer the program.

Because staffing has been an issue, she suggested a modest increase in wages, noting that the current wage scale is similar to that paid by Kent Community Nursery, but that KCN employees work longer hours making the salary more attractive.

Higher wages would help to retain staff members, she argued. She predicted the program would need two paid employees and one volunteer each day to operate successfully.

The commission approved the fee schedule with the addition of a $5 fee for every five minutes a parent is late in picking up their child. It did not address salaries Tuesday, deferring the discussion until its August meeting.

If the program does not have a healthy balance by the end of 2026, Love said outsourcing the program should be considered, using the model of Champions, the successful program run at the North Canaan Elementary School.