The Barrington Town Council recently approved a bid that will pave the way for some major improvements at Chianese Park. 

At its meeting in early April, the Council voted 4-0 to approve a $249,750 bid to Hinding Tennis, LLC, of Branford, Conn. That money will pay for a renovated tennis court, basketball court, and four dedicated pickle ball courts at Chianese Park.

In addition to the court improvements, the bid will also cover the cost to install new chainlink fencing and concrete flat-work for the installation of benches. The town has been planning the Chianese Park court improvements for more than a year. 

A grant from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management will cover $80,000 of the project. The remainder will come from the town’s allotment of American Rescue Plan Act funding. According to a town memo, the Council previously approved $250,000 in ARPA funding for court resurfacing projects at Chianese and Kent Street.

Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey said the Chianese courts are in need of repair. He said officials are also excited about the opportunity to create the town’s first dedicated pickle ball courts. The Kent Street and Middle School courts are used for both pickle ball and tennis.

At the April Council meeting, Barrington resident Deb Nyser asked town officials if there are going to be any specific rules at the new pickle ball courts that would restrict the use of sidewalk chalk on the playing surface. The current courts have, at times, been marked (or covered altogether) with sidewalk chalk. Members of the Barrington Park and Recreation Commission have been contemplating different approaches to keep sidewalk chalk off the courts. Most recently, the Commission passed a motion to install a sign at the courts stating no chalking on the courts.

Nyser said the new courts will be beautiful, but she does not want to see them get ruined.

Barrington Town Council Vice President Rob Humm made the motion to approve the bid to the Connecticut-based company, and Annelise Conway seconded it. Carl Kustell and Braxton Cloutier voted in favor.