One resident called those who play it “an invasive species” but the town council dispelled that idea and threw its support behind a new pickle ball initiative. 

In fact, the council voted unanimously at the meeting on Dec. 6 to endorse a grant application which, if approved, would help the town create four new pickle ball courts at Chianese Park. The council also voted to endorse a grant application for improvements to Haines Park. 

Members of the town’s Park and Recreation Commission have been discussing pickle ball courts and Haines Park improvements for months. In an effort to best position the town for securing the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management grants, officials bought the grant application proposals to the town council for an endorsement. 

But at least one resident opposed the pickle ball initiative. 

Bram Berkowitz, who lives near Chianese Park, said the people playing pickle ball in town are a demanding bunch and referred to them as “an invasive species.” He said they came in and demanded courts from the town, and they got courts. Then they demanded more courts, Mr. Berkowitz said, and they got more courts. Mr. Berkowitz said the pickle-ballers already have plenty of space.

Mr. Berkowitz said the group has, in the past, run others off the courts so they could use them for pickle ball. He said the pickle-ballers told some moms who had strollers on the courts that anything with wheels was not allowed on the courts. 

The group of pickle ball enthusiasts countered Mr. Berkowitz’s claims. 

Greg Knight, a resident who has spoken for the group in the past, challenged the “invasive species” description. He looked out at the audience members inside the council chambers and said the sport’s supporters were all Barrington residents. Mr. Knight said pickle ball is an inviting option for people of all ages and backgrounds.

I don’t know how many sports are that diverse, Mr. Knight said.

Another resident — a 68-year-old Barrington woman — said the pickle ball players have never demanded anything. She said there are just more and more people who want to play the sport in town. She said creating permanent courts will make it easier for more people to enjoy pickle ball, especially since they would not have to drag out nets each time they want to play.

We’re not demanding anything, she said. We’re just begging, she added. 

Mike Seward, the chairman of the town’s Park and Recreation Commission, told council members that the space identified for the new pickle ball courts at Chianese had previously been used for street hockey and futsol soccer. Mr. Seward said the commission worked with the hockey people to find them a new space at Legion Way. He said the futsol enthusiasts were also accommodated with a different space in town. Mr. Seward said the basketball courts at Chianese will still be used for basketball. 

Mr. Seward said use of the pickle ball courts at Chianese — the newly-proposed space is located on the eastern end of the courts, and more pickle ball can be played on the tennis courts to the west — would be first-come, first-served. He said if people are waiting to use the courts, there is an hour and a half time limit. 

People currently play pickle ball on the tennis courts at Kent Street, Chianese, and the middle school. Chianese would be the first permanent, dedicated pickle ball courts in town. 

Council support

The pickle-ballers had support on the town council. Rob Humm said he had lived in the neighborhood surrounding Chianese Park for about nine years, and in all that time he did not witness any problems with people using the courts for pickle ball. Mr. Humm also said he had reached out to other people living in that neighborhood and asked if they had any objections to the proposal, which would bring a total of four pickle ball courts to Chianese. 

They don’t have any objections, Mr. Humm said. 

He also said he spoke to people who use the tennis courts at Chianese to see if they were worried about new pickle ball courts being added.

They don’t have any concerns, Mr. Humm said, adding that he respects the advocacy of the “pickle people.”

Mr. Humm later made a motion to endorse the grant applications. The large grant totaling $400,000 would be used as part of the field upgrades at Haines Park; the local match is $100,000, and the estimated total cost of the project is $1.8 million. The smaller grant is for $80,000 with a local match of $20,000.

Council support for the pickle ball court initiative at Chianese would likely impact the future approval of the grant application. According to Phil Hervey, who was then serving as town planner, garnering council support would help significantly in the town’s effort to secure the grant money.