New Pickleball Complex/Splash Pad Approved In Farmington

FARMINGTON, CT — Local residents will soon have a place to cool off with their families and, perhaps, work up a sweat playing a popular sport seemingly sweeping the country.

The Farmington Plan & Zoning Commission unanimously approved a town plan to build a splash pad and pickleball courts on 14 Westwoods Drive, which is also the site of the Westwoods Golf Course.

PZC approval came after a public hearing with minimal input on April 8.

Farmington Director of Public Works Russ Arnold presented the proposal before the local zoning board.

"It's going to be located at Westwoods Golf Course, in the field east of the parking lot and behind the firehouse," Arnold said.

According to the approved plans, the town will build four pickleball courts with space to build four more if demand is high.

Pickleball doesn't involve cucumbers, but it is the name of a tennis-like game featuring paddles and plastic balls played on a court much smaller than a tennis court.

In recent years, pickleball courts have sprouted up at indoor facilities and have, even, been built over tennis courts.

The splash pad, meanwhile, will feature all sorts of water accessories designed to allow children and families a place to cool off in the summer.

Arnold said the water features will be controlled by the guests using the facility and include such attractions a sprayers and sprinklers, among other splash pad items.

A seasonal attraction, the splash pad will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

The pickleball courts, meanwhile, will be open from 7 a.m. to sunset when weather permits play.

Serving the new attractions will be an additional 80 parking spaces along with added handicap spaces and sidewalks from the parking lot to the attractions.

Meanwhile, an accessory building will be erected on-site to serve as a changing area, bathroom facility, and office.

Council members expressed no concerns with the new attraction outside of technical aspects of the plan, such as drainage and water usage.

Only one person spoke about the proposal at the public hearing, Greencrest Drive resident Susan Helm, who opposed the plan, citing increased traffic concerns.

Two other residents offered questions via written correspondence, one concerning the use of trash receptacles and water use and the other wondering if other sites were considered.

Town officials said the Westwoods site was deemed the best one for the project.

Zoning board members did not discuss the project much and easily approved the project.

For the minutes of the April 9 Farmington Plan and Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.