Yes, pickleball. The Lake Placid Town Council will be asked tonight to approve bid documents for the proposed eight-court pickleball complex at Lake June Park. Approval would allow the town to advertise the project and receive construction bids. The bid package includes eight lighted courts, fencing, parking, sidewalks, electrical work and drainage improvements. The proposed maximum construction bid is between $600,000 and $630,000, although the final amount has not yet been set.
The project is being funded with a $200,000 state recreation grant, $299,274 from the Highlands County Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee and town funds. Some of the town’s contribution has already been spent on engineering, legal work and other project expenses.
A major issue is the deadline attached to the RPAC grant from Highlands County. The RPAC funding is reimbursable, meaning the town must first pay eligible project expenses and then request reimbursement from the county. The agreement appears to expire in February 2027. Town staff met with RPAC representatives Friday to discuss extending the deadline and revising portions of the agreement. The results of this meeting will surely be disclosed tonight.
Without an extension, the town must complete the eligible work, pay the bills and submit the required documentation before the agreement expires. If that does not happen, the town could lose some or all of the $299,274 reimbursement and would have to cover those costs from another source. The proposed contract requires substantial completion by Jan. 31, 2027, or within 120 days after the notice to proceed, whichever comes first and includes large financial penalties if the contractor fails to finish on time. That deadline is intended to leave time for inspections, final paperwork and reimbursement requests.
The state grant has a separate completion deadline of April 30, 2027. According to the agenda packet, missing that deadline could place the entire $200,000 state grant at risk.
At the June 8 meeting, Council Member Joy Eberhardt moved to discontinue the project because of increasing costs, uncertain revenues and other town needs. Her motion failed for lack of a second. The council then voted 3-1 to prepare the bid documents. If approved tonight, the town plans to accept bids through Aug. 11 and bring them back to the council Aug. 17 for approval or rejection.
It would seem once and for all an answer may be coming. To build or not build, that is the question.
