Planning Board: Needham High Tennis Courts A Go
• The Planning Board unanimously approved the modified plans at its meeting Thursday.
After considerable input from abutters, tennis players and town officials on the proposal, the renovation and redevelopment of eight tennis courts at Needham High School will move forward.
Under the plan, the four existing tennis courts — which sit behind neighbors on Rosemary Street and Webster Street — will be replaced, and four additional courts adjacent to the parking lot will be constructed. All eight courts will be made of post-tension concrete, which has an expected lifespan of 25-50 years.
Residents initially voiced their overwhelming disapproval, citing concerns of discarded tennis balls on their property and, most notably, pickleball, the increasingly popular sport that is louder than tennis and played on half a tennis court.
During the public hearing process, Park and Recreation agreed to prohibit pickleball from the courts, along with a number of other requested changes: two of the four new courts will move six feet closer to the school and away from abutters’ backyards, new evergreen plantings will serve as a visual buffer and the fence behind Webster Street properties will be raised from 12 feet to 14 feet “to provide for greater shielding of abutting properties from errant tennis balls,” the decision states.
The courts will only be accessible from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and prominent signage will be displayed noting the court hours and no pickleball rule.
Some neighbors advocated for just six total courts instead of eight, but that was ultimately disregarded. Pickleball recently was prohibited from the current courts.
Members of the public did not comment on the decision, as the hearing closed last month, but board member Artie Crocker shared brief remarks.
“I’m happy to have this thing move forward,” Crocker said, “and I think the balance between the neighbors and the town — I think it worked out as best as it can.”
A $2.6 million project funding article was supposed to appear at the May Town Meeting, but it was pulled last minute. At the time, Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick indicated to the Select Board that the funding could come to a vote at the October Town Meeting instead, and construction on the courts would then start after the 2025 tennis season is over.
During Thursday’s meeting, the Planning Board also approved permitting for a new noodle shop on Great Plain Avenue and the expansion of restaurant Blue on Highland.
