West Newbury's new pickleball courts are on track to open to the public after the Planning Board signed off on the project, with town officials expecting to announce a ribbon-cutting date soon.

WEST NEWBURY --

TOWN -- The Planning Board voted July 21 that the town's pickleball courts are "complete and full" based on the approved site plan, clearing a key hurdle toward opening the courts to the public. Building Commissioner Sam Jocelyn had inspected the site and reported that construction appeared to meet the approved plan, and the board's vote followed review of a certificate of compliance submitted by project engineer Rich Williams. Board members had raised questions about whether signage was required at the existing parking area beyond handicap-parking signs already in place; Williams told the board he had misread an earlier plan version and confirmed the approved plans did not call for additional signage there. The courts have been closed off with plywood barriers while the board's review was pending.

At the July 23 Select Board meeting, officials said new signage has since been installed at the courts, including a QR code for an online reservation system. Reserving a court is optional, but a player who has reserved can bump someone using the court without a reservation. Players may reserve 30-minute increments, up to three in a row for a total of 90 minutes. The Select Board said it expects to announce a date for a ribbon-cutting event in the near future, once remaining installation work is finished, and plans to invite board members and town department staff to the event.

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