Bocce Court Plans Finally Killed by Cost Estimate

A year after approving plans for a bocce court at Cabots Point Recreation Area, the Reston Association board of directors finally voted on Thursday to kill the idea.

It was not a quick task, as the idea of a 60-by-12 foot court on RA property off of South Lakes Drive was controversial from the start.

For months — and even as late as the public comment session at Thursday’s meeting — the board heard testimony and received written complaints from residents of South Bay and Cabots Point clusters, who were concerned about everything from parking to noise to garbage, public drinking and loss of green space for other activities.

There also was concern from some residents that the proposal was approved without any public input or notice.

Twice this year, the RA board voted down motions to rescind the approved plan and start over.

In the end, money was the deciding factor. The original estimate to build the court was $2,500, which would be paid for the Friends of Reston and not Reston Association.

However, an engineering firm estimate recently received by the board said the site review would cost $14,000.

“What should have been so simple is now so complex,” said South Lakes Director Richard Chew, who originally proposed the bocce plan, adding that he and former director Andy Sigle saw little downside in proposing the what they thought would be a “low-cost, high-benefit amenity for members.”

“RA is now estimating getting external estimates to be $14,000, bringing the total cost to $20,000,” said Chew. “It is clear to me spending $20,000 for a single bocce court is not in the cards nor should it be.”

The board on Thursday was set to vote on RA President Ken Knueven’s proposal to “direct staff, in light of the new cost information presented, to discontinue efforts in preparing a resubmission application to the Design Review Board for the installation of a bocce court and related accessible facilities at the Cabots Point Recreation Area.

However, Chew amended that motion to one that at least holds on to slim chance that bocce could someday come to Reston if the price and location is right.

Chew made a new motion to “move to rescind the board’s 2013 decision to authorize construction [of bocce at Cabots Point]. It is further moved to direct RA staff to explore more practical and more cost effective approaches to bring bocce to Reston.”

The motion passed unanimously.

Photo: Cabots Point Recreation Area/file photo