Quick answer: The Hingham pickleball courts are a $2.04 million, eight-court public complex on Bare Cove Park Drive, across from the Carlson Field Athletic Complex. Demolition of an old building on the site is scheduled for October and November, construction is expected to start around December or January, and the town expects the courts to open by summer 2027. They will be free and open to non-residents.
The 30-second version
- What: eight post-tension concrete pickleball courts, cut from the 12 Town Meeting approved.
- Cost: $2.04 million, from $758,640 in Community Preservation Act money and $1.278 million from the town’s unassigned fund balance.
- Noise: a 15-foot fence with a sound barrier, after two sound studies.
- When: demolition in October and November, construction around December or January, open by summer 2027.
- Who can play: anyone. The recreation director says the courts will not be limited to Hingham residents.
What is happening with the Hingham pickleball courts?
The Hingham pickleball courts project has moved from planning to a signed demolition contract. The town hired a contractor to tear down the abandoned Building 12 on Bare Cove Park Drive to clear the site, the Hingham Anchor reported. The board also approved the project scope, including sound mitigation.
- Demolition contractor: Pasquazzi Bros., Inc. of Cranston, Rhode Island, the lower of two bids at $390,000. The other bid was $588,000.
- Demolition timing: early October to November, asbestos removal included.
- Next step: the construction job goes out to bid, followed by a Select Board vote on that contract.
Why did Hingham cut the plan from 12 courts to 8?
Conservation restrictions on the site, according to Hingham Recreation Director Mark Thorell. Voters at the 2025 Annual Town Meeting passed the Recreation Commission’s new pickleball courts article (the town’s results page lists it as “Passed”), and the spending Town Meeting approved was for 12 courts.
Thorell said the cost should drop with four fewer courts, but not by how much. At the current $2.04 million estimate, that works out to about $255,000 per court.
For comparison, Wallingford, Connecticut, spent about $60,000 in 2022 to convert three tennis courts into eight pickleball courts (see our Wallingford guide). New construction with parking, shade and a sound wall is a different budget. See also our guide to pickleball court grants.
What will the Hingham courts include?
The Hingham courts will include eight post-tension concrete courts, seating, shade shelters, a parking lot, a 15-foot fence with a sound barrier and screens, and full ADA access, according to the Anchor.
How is Hingham handling pickleball noise?
Hingham is building noise control in from the start. After abutters raised concerns, the Recreation Department presented a sound study in January 2025, ran a supplemental study, and the Recreation Commission voted to add sound mitigation.
Resident Anita Ryan asked the board to review the courts a year after opening to make sure neighbors “can still enjoy their back yards.” Board chair Liz Klein replied that sound mitigation “is a concern of ours, and we have done our due diligence.”
Other towns learned this later. Smithfield, Rhode Island, brought in a sound engineer and a new fence after its courts opened (our Smithfield noise story), and Salem, New Hampshire, turned to quieter paddles (our Salem story). Players can help too, with quiet pickleball balls.
Who will be able to play on the Hingham pickleball courts?
Anyone. Thorell said the courts will be first come, first served and will not be restricted to Hingham residents. They will be run like the public tennis courts, “accessible to the public at all times of the day.”
Until summer 2027, Hingham players can use our guides to Quincy, Marshfield and Plymouth, or browse the Massachusetts pickleball hub.
Frequently asked questions
Where will the Hingham pickleball courts be?
On Bare Cove Park Drive, across from the Carlson Field Athletic Complex, on the site of the abandoned Building 12.
When will the Hingham pickleball courts open?
The town expects them to open by summer 2027. Construction should start around December or January, after demolition and a Select Board vote on the contract.
How much do the Hingham pickleball courts cost?
About $2.04 million: $758,640 from Community Preservation Act funds and $1.278 million from the town’s unassigned fund balance.
How many courts will Hingham build?
Eight. Town Meeting funded 12, but conservation restrictions on the site cut the plan to eight.
Can non-residents play on the Hingham courts?
Yes. The recreation director says the courts will be first come, first served, open to the public, and not restricted to Hingham residents.
Sources: Carol Britton Meyer, “Pickleball Courts Construction To Begin Around December; Grand Opening Expected Next Summer,” Hingham Anchor, September 30, 2026; Town of Hingham, 2025 Town Meeting Results. Read October 18, 2026; dates and costs may change.
