Trail Camera Approved for Whately's New Pickleball Courts

WHATELY -- Town officials moved this week to protect new recreation infrastructure after reporting damage to the town's nearly finished pickleball courts.

TOWN -- The Select Board voted Oct. 19 to authorize installation of a solar-powered trail camera at the town's new pickleball courts, which officials said are "mostly ready" after construction began last week. The courts have transitioned out of the ball field location for now, with finishing landscaping work expected to continue for a couple of weeks before the project moves inside to the grammar school.

Officials said that shortly after the courts were painted, bicycle skid marks damaged the surface. A member of the recreation committee called the vandalism "really disappointing" and said a police report was filed; Police Chief Bates is expected to speak with neighbors in the area. The approved camera will capture images only, with no audio and no capture of adjacent school activity, and recordings will be reported to police as needed and otherwise promptly discarded.

Separately, board members discussed upcoming work on a fence at the ball field, expected to start soon, as well as a fence project at Veterans Park. Officials also said they are considering resurfacing the tennis courts and repairing a hole in front of the basketball courts, with possible funding through the town's Community Preservation Act committee, which was expected to meet Oct. 28.

Compiled from team and league reports, reader submissions, and local coverage.