After months of legal concerns and procurement setbacks, Lake Placid’s pickleball project received a new path forward Monday night as the Town Council voted to restart the project through a formal competitive bidding process.
The decision comes after the Town’s previous strategy — relying on piggyback contracts from other agencies to accelerate construction — effectively collapsed under legal review earlier this year.
Under the motion approved Monday night, Town staff will first seek written verification from county/RPAC staff confirming that proposed changes to the parking component of the project will not require a formal amendment to the grant agreement. If that confirmation is received, the Town will proceed with publishing a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) for the project.
The project currently carries a reported estimated cost of approximately $699,274, including a roughly $299,000 RPAC grant, 200,000 FRDAP grant and the Town’s required match funding. During Monday’s meeting, staff stated approximately $60,000 in matching funds has already been spent on the project over the last three years.
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Discussion Monday focused heavily on rising costs, financing concerns, and uncertainty over how much additional town funding could ultimately be required.
Residents and former officials questioned whether the Town should continue pursuing the project at all given the possibility of needing to borrow money upfront before grant reimbursement is received. Concerns were also raised about other financial pressures facing the Town, including the ongoing police station project and uncertainty surrounding future property tax revenues.
At the same time, supporters argued the project should continue — particularly if the scope is scaled back.
The approved motion now shifts the project into a new phase: obtaining grant clarification, developing specifications, and formally rebidding the project after months of uncertainty surrounding the failed piggyback procurement approach.
Former Town Attorney Bert Harris urged the Council to eliminate the controversial paved parking component near the boat ramp and focus instead on constructing the courts themselves. Harris stated that removing portions of the parking could improve the project’s financial viability and reduce the likelihood of additional borrowing.
A separate motion proposing the Town abandon the project entirely failed after receiving no second.