Some pickle-ball players recently asked the town to close off the pickle-ball courts at Chianese Park to outside players during specific times each week. 

The request surfaced at the Barrington Park and Recreation Commission meeting on Thursday night, Sept. 26. 

Patty Winderman, an avid pickle-ball player in town, asked Commission members if the town could block off two hours of time on the new pickle-ball courts at Chianese Park on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday mornings. She said that window of time — from 9 to 11 a.m. — would be solely used for people who sign in on a specific app. 

Other people who have not signed onto the app and show up to play pickle-ball at Chianese during that time period would not be allowed to play, according to the request. Winderman said anyone can sign up on the app.

Commission member Cat Horn said a group of people asking for dedicated use of a town facility would need to fill out a land use application with the Barrington Recreation Department. Other Commission members said the group sounds very similar to a league.

Winderman said it would be different from other leagues in Barrington, and some other people who attended the Commission meeting said that there are similar set-ups in Bristol and Fall River, Mass. 

A Commission member said that other leagues that seek dedicated use of town courts and fields, even leagues that are quite informal (he referenced the church softball league in Barrington), need to fill out land use applications. 

Horn said she wanted to be consistent for all leagues using town facilities. 

Commission Chairman TR Rimoshytus suggested continuing the discussion until the next meeting. 

Meanwhile, Commission member Anthony Arico said it would be a good idea for the Commission to check with Fall River and Bristol officials to see how they handle their pickle-ball courts.