Nantucket Land Bank Votes to Study Indoor Recreation Facility Feasibility

NANTUCKET — June 24, 2026 — Nantucket Land Bank Commission unanimously authorizes staff to research whether conservation law permits an indoor recreation facility on Land Bank property. The vote came after six members of the public spoke in support at the June 24 meeting, including Nikki Drew, co-chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, who said elderly and disabled residents cannot access outdoor trails in poor weather, and Carolyn Balzer, a clinical psychologist who cited the loss of community gathering places for long-time natives. Executive Director Rachel Tremblay told the commission she needed authority to examine constraints under Article 97, the Public Lands Protection Act, and the Land Bank Act before any proposal could advance. The commission also approved a capital funds transfer of $82,644.15 and heard project updates including a Lily Pond restoration nearing $740,000 spent with construction delayed to February 2026, a bike park capped at $2 million that commissioners asked to be fast-tracked from its current July 2026 construction start, and a $1.7 million bid for a pickleball and padel expansion at the Nantucket Racket Sports Association facility that will be formally presented at the July 8 meeting.