ROCHESTER — Dexter Lane may soon be home to Rochester’s first pickleball courts next spring.

The Rochester Select Board voted to transfer $3,170 from the Recreation Beach Revolving Fund to the Park Commission to build the courts during a Dec. 5 meeting.

The Recreation Beach Revolving Fund currently has around $50,500, said Rochester Town Administrator Glenn Cannon.

According to Cannon, the town brings in about $14,000 each year to the fund. Around $6,000 is obligated to the town of Marion’s lifeguards and beaches, $10,000 is obligated to park commissioners and $2,500 was used for irrigation at Gifford Park.

“We are using a lot of reserves in one year,” said Select Board Member Bradford Morse, who added that this reserve is often used to balance town budgets. 

“I want everyone to be aware, we’re spending a lot more than we’re taking in,” said Morse. “It’s not a good habit to be in.”

According to Park Commission member David Hughes, this transfer will allow him to “lock in” the project’s $3,170 price tag. 

According to Hughes, the proposed pickleball courts will be painted on a basketball court on Dexter Lane. The courts will be equipped with portable nets which can be brought out to use.

“If a couple of people want to come play pickleball, there’ll be two courts to use,” said Hughes. “If someone wants to play basketball, they can use the other [court.]”

Hughes hopes to begin the project “at first thaw” in 2023. 

Pickleball is “coming up big,” said Hughes. “It’s very popular.”