Snow Hill Commissioners Approve Funding to Complete Park Pickleball Courts Amid Cost Updates
If the contractor receives the green light soon, construction could wrap up as early as the first or second week of May.
Derek Burress
Apr 05, 2026
The Snow Hill Board of Commissioners held a special meeting on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, to review and address updated costs for the town’s Splash[ad project, focusing on the construction of pickleball courts and related expenses.
Updated Project Costs
Town Administrator April Vinson explained that the original quote for the pickleball courts was obtained more than a year earlier, and costs had increased in the interim. The initial quote totaled $63,516.25. After shifting to work directly with the subcontractor, the price dropped to $50,000. The contractor confirmed in writing that similar courts typically cost between $56,000 and $60,000, but he offered the lower rate to give back to his home county.
Vinson emphasized that the age of the original quote was the primary factor in the price adjustment. Delays in reaching the construction phase stemmed from drainage issues and other project complexities, not from any missteps by the town.
The picnic shelter from the same project phase has already been erected and paid for. However, the concrete pad beneath it was not included in the original quote. Bill Ellis had quoted $5,712 for this work, but Snow Hill subcontractor Tony Williams provided a quote of $3,500, a savings of $2,212.
Vinson also reported an outstanding invoice of $4,094 for picnic tables placed along the path and two benches. The invoice dated back to around the time the splash pad opened and had not previously been charged to the town.
Financial Overview
Vinson provided a detailed breakdown of project expenditures against the original $200,000 budget (which included donated funds: $80,000 from Ronald Bowen and $10,000 from the Rouse Foundation). Total spending to date stands at $227,432.34.
This includes:
Picnic shelter: $61,000
Site engineering: $1,500
Fencing and sod from Peak Branch: $24,056.55
Drainage work: $70,060
Two site concepts for the fitness center (including the concrete pad): $66,000
Some expenses from the prior fiscal year were paid in the current one, contributing to the budget appearing $27,434.92 over.
Incoming donations improve the picture significantly: $25,000 already received from Leo Green (as of the previous Friday), with another $25,000 expected within 30 days. Accounting for these funds, the town holds an approximate $22,565.08 positive position before remaining project costs.
Remaining costs total $57,594:
Pickleball courts: $50,000
Concrete pad under picnic shelter: $3,500
Picnic tables and benches: $4,094
After applying the available balance, the town faces a shortfall of approximately $35,029 to finish the project.
Fund Balance and Budget Options
Vinson outlined two options for covering the shortfall: drawing from the general fund balance (with documentation, to be replenished by year-end revenue overages) or approving a budget amendment to increase the capital outlay line.
She noted that, as of the end of March, the general fund is running approximately $33,375 over projected revenues, with three months left in the fiscal year. This figure reflects only revenue overages and does not yet account for unspent expenditures, so the actual surplus could be higher. In the prior fiscal year, the town returned $91,339 to the general fund, showing a pattern of replenishing rather than depleting balances.
The board voted to approve transferring $35,029 from the general fund to complete the project.
Construction Timeline and Next Steps
Once authorized, the contractor will pour the concrete, which must cure for 30 days before further work. The contractor will not disturb the concrete during this period to prevent cracking. Payment will be split: $25,000 upon pouring the concrete and the remaining $25,000 upon full completion.
The completed pickleball courts will include four inches of base stone, four inches of 4,000 PSI concrete, netting, and a surrounding fence, with a combined footprint of approximately 60 by 68 feet.
Benches already purchased are in storage and will be installed strategically around the courts and other park areas upon completion.
Vinson acknowledged that donor recognition plaques for major contributors like Ronald Bowen and the Rouse Foundation have been discussed previously, but are not yet budgeted in this phase. She suggested adding signage as a line item in the upcoming fiscal year budget.
If the contractor receives the green light soon, construction could wrap up as early as the first or second week of May.
