Salem To Get 5 New Pickleball Courts After Selectmen Approve Plan

SALEM, NH — The Salem Board of Selectmen on Monday gave its stamp of approval for the town to move forward with its plan to build five pickleball courts at Michele Memorial Park for an estimated cost of $200,000.

The courts are expected to be built at the park adjacent to the existing tennis courts, which currently are used by the town's pickleball players. Town officials did not have a timetable on when new courts might be ready, though they hoped construction could begin in the spring.

Pickleball — which resembles tennis, but is played on a smaller court and with paddles — has been growing in popularity in recent years, especially among seniors.

In Salem, a pickleball league for seniors has over 80 participants, according to town officials. Yet, the players have been forced to share their existing Michele Memorial Park courts, located at 175-190 Lawrence Rd., with local high school tennis players and people taking tennis lessons.

Five months ago, Katie Duffey, Salem's community services director, was tasked by the Selectmen with developing a plan to build more courts, which are approximately 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, roughly a quarter of a tennis court.

"They charged me with finding out how much new courts would cost and where to put them and how many, all those fine details," Duffey told Patch.

Duffey said she worked closely with Glen Yergeau, a member of the Recreation Advisory Committee and an avid pickleball player, to get quotes for the project.

Funding for the new courts is expected to come from the American Rescue Plan Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 and Recreational Impact fees, which Duffey said are generated from businesses in town.

Duffey said her department currently is creating a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the project, and next will put the RFP out for bids.

Eventually, Salem's pickleball players will have courts to call their own.

"Obviously there was a need," Duffey said. "And we know that being outside and active is the best thing for anybody, but especially for seniors. We got a quote and honestly, with the federal funds we have and the Recreation Impact fees, we want to use them where they can have the biggest impact.

"We know we have a large group of people who will use these courts, and that number is only going to grow. I think it's almost a no-brainer."