The Community Planning and Development Commission (CPDC) held a public hearing Monday evening to review the site plan, stormwater permit, and subdivision layout for the proposed Reading Center for Active Living (ReCAL). The two-story, all-electric community recreation facility is planned for 0 Haverhill Street, adjacent to Burbank Ice Arena, and will include indoor and outdoor amenities such as a gymnasium, fitness trail, and seven pickleball courts.
The hearing, which ran about 1.5 hours, featured presentations from the project’s design team, including representatives from Activitas, BH+A, and Brennan Consulting. Town officials and community members joined both in person and via Zoom to discuss the project’s scope, design, and operational plans.
Key Features of the ReCAL Project
- 28,000 sq. ft. building with solar-ready roofing and energy-efficient systems.
- 89 on-site parking spaces, including ADA and EV-accessible spots.
- Seven outdoor pickleball courts with LED lighting and accessible walkways.
- A quarter-mile fitness trail, boardwalk spurs for conservation access, and landscaped buffers.
- A shared-use agreement in development with Burbank Arena for overflow parking.
Parking and Accessibility Take Center Stage
While the commission praised the building’s design and sustainability features, concerns about parking capacity and accessibility dominated the discussion. The proposed facility falls five spaces short of the estimated parking requirement based on standard zoning formulas. Additionally, the pickleball courts—expected to draw significant use—currently rely on a gravel lot behind Burbank Arena for overflow parking, raising questions about ADA compliance and long-term capacity.
Commission members and residents emphasized the need for a formalized shared parking agreement with Burbank Arena, including provisions for accessible spaces and usage schedules.
“We need more than assumptions,” said CPDC Chair Heather Clish. “We need confidence that this facility can operate without creating overflow issues or relying on informal arrangements.”
Community Input and Operational Planning
Town staff and recreation officials outlined plans for a membership-based pickleball program, with open play hours and fee structures still under development. The ReCAL facility is expected to operate primarily during daytime hours, with evening programming and rentals extending until 8 p.m.
Jenna Wood, Director of Elder and Human Services, noted that peak usage would likely occur during seasonal events and holidays, with lower demand during evenings and weekends.
“We’re designing this to be flexible and inclusive,” she said. “But we’ll need to monitor and adjust based on actual community use.”
Next Steps
The CPDC voted to continue the hearing to September 8, requesting a final draft of the shared parking agreement and clarification on ADA access from the gravel lot. The Select Board briefly touched upon the parking agreement last night during the Town Manager report and future agendas. The commission also asked for additional details on signage, lighting, and traffic impacts.
As Reading prepares to invest in this major community asset, town officials and residents alike are focused on ensuring that ReCAL is not only well-designed but also functional, accessible, and sustainable for years to come.
