Make the016.com a preferred choice with Google by clicking here
HOLDEN — In an unexpected twist in local sports, Holden police have been enlisted to keep an eye on the town's tennis courts to deter pickleball enthusiasts from sneaking onto the facilities currently receiving a facelift.
The Holden Recreation Department began refurbishing the tennis courts this week. The project calls for resurfacing and repainting all 4 courts, including pickelball lines alongside existing tennis court lines.
The upgrade was warmly welcomed by local athletes, offering them a chance to enjoy enhanced facilities. However, the joy was short-lived when it was discovered that some presumably overly eager pickleball players had bypassed locks and reinstalled their nets without permission.
"In light of this incident, and to ensure the smooth and timely completion of the project without any interruptions or defects, we please ask the community to adhere to the restricted access to the courts for the duration of the work," the town's Recreation Department wrote in a social media post.
The police have been tasked with monitoring the site to ensure that the renovations proceed without interruption from any pickleball pirates looking to jump the net.
"To safeguard the area and prevent any further disruptions," the department wrote, "we have enlisted the support of the Holden Police Department, who will be monitoring the site closely."
Residents have also been asked to respect the temporary restrictions and avoid using the courts at Mountview Middle School during school hours.
"We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time," the post reads.
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (:33). High of 58 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+5:00: Man killed in Worcester crash
+5:00: Developer buys site of planned Worcester hotel for $1.4 million
+5:00: "Exactly what we need": Worcester parishioners discuss Pope Leo's first year
+5:00: Revolutionary Reading 6 to 7:30 tonight at The Village
+Noon: Listen Up: Mowesby & the Northern Flicker shine on new album, "Wave"
+Noon: National Baseball Poetry Festival returns to Worcester
+Noon: Worcester Walks: Water, woodlands and wonders at Wells State Park
-Hear a loud boom lately? It may be this
-Developers of Worcester housing projects file for bankruptcy
-Worcester City Manager reverses on green building code, says policy will continue
-Radio Worcester (23:26): Khrystian King opposes pause of Worcester stretch code
-"Devastating blow": What comes next after Community Healthlink closes?
-Mike Benedetti: Worcester City Council agenda preview
-Worcester spent $10 million on winter storms, nearly doubling budget
-What is next for Anna Maria campus? Future of the site is up in the air
-Worcester School Committee wants review of maintenance at Foley Stadium
-Walmart stores in Mass. face remodeling. Is Worcester's one of them?
-Traffic stop in Worcester leads to gun charges for 50-year-old man
-Worcester man sentenced to 6 years for possessing loaded, stolen gun after prior conviction
-Worcester County Wonders: The legends of Lancaster's Blood Forest
-18 new condos on Elm Street are for sale. Take a look inside
>DINING OUT: The best prime rib in Mass. can be found at this charming local historic restaurant
-ICYMI: JetBlue flights from Worcester "absolutely full" during April vacation
-City Manager: Worcester police able to assist I.C.E. on criminal cases
-3 cars found on the bottom of Green Hill Pond
-Shuttered Worcester eatery gets new life
-Coffee shop to open in high-profile Canal District development
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): 122 Diner teases "exciting announcement"
-Longtime customer praises Lamoureux Ford (3:29)
-This week's road closures and traffic delays
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Person shot near Fitchburg State University
-Gardner man faces federal charges of fentanyl distribution
-Traveler Restaurant owners retire after 33+ years, closing one chapter along I-84
-Leominster man arrested after police find stored images showing sexual abuse of toddlers
-Webster man arrested for throwing trash can at girlfriend who upset him while he had a headache
-Southbridge fire budget, lieutenant promotion process head to Town Council
-Brookfield business faces lengthy process to sell prepackaged food
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Tuesday
-Jazzed Up Duo at Vue on Friday
>SHOWTIME: Worcester State prof Siri Colom part of Peabody Award-winning team for podcast
-Internationally acclaimed guitarist returns to Southbridge
-Mariah Carey has surprising reaction to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame snub
>OPINION: Tom Marino: Worcester council holds fewest meetings in 20 years in 2025
-Shaun Connolly: In Florida nobody's canceled
-WCCA-TV's The Mayor’s Forum No. 61 (28:29): Letter Carriers’ Food Drive (Second Saturday in May)
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (23:18): City Council reverses course
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (50:43): Chickens banned, housing struggles continue
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to lifelong Worcester resident who passed away at age 104
>SPORTS: Patriots’ draft class draws mostly solid reviews
-Updated Patriots depth chart with 2026 draft picks
-Red Sox beat Blue Jays, 5-0
-Former Holy Cross basketball standout and assistant coach RJ Evans named AIC coach
-Win WooSox tickets courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-Tailgating OK for Boston’s World Cup soccer games after all
-Worcester hockey alumni 2025-26 highlights, NHL Week 29
-WPI softball coach battles cancer, leads team to success
>NATIONAL: King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in U.S.
-Man charged with attempted assassination in White House correspondents’ dinner shooting
-Tragic: Ohio girl, 2, suffocated to death in "freak accident" after Hyundai S.U.V. seat folds down on her
>NEW ENGLAND: Mother accused of killing 2 children confessed: Records reveal (2:00)
-The real stakes in the fight over a 1% income tax cut
-Radio Worcester (15:41): Seth Moulton frames Senate race as “future of the Democratic Party”
>COLLEGES: Assumption honors and C.T.E.Q. students take spring break trip abroad
-Holy Cross names R.F. Kuang, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah to faculty roles
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Previewing Cape Cod's summer rental season (2:17). Article
>BUSINESS: Anna Maria College to lay off 150, close next month
-LPL Financial Research: American industrial renaissance: Fact or fiction?
-Anthropic's "Claude Mythos" model sparks fears of A.I. doomsday, wave of devastating hacks
>HOMES: Mass. hardware store shares tips on helping your lawn (3:40)
>HEALTH: Doctor explains powerful new street drug cychlorphine (2:42)
-C.D.C. warns of drug-resistant salmonella infections linked to backyard poultry
>FOOD: Mass. beverage company offers taste of Cape Cod in a can (1:51). Article
>TV/STREAMING: Trailer for "Pop Culture Jeopardy!" coming to Netflix (1:23)
>MOVIES: Sally Field refused this iconic role, reveals it was never her "cup of tea"
>CELEBRITY: Nicole Kidman hospitalized after filming pro-wrestling scene
-Rob Reiner's son described parents’ deaths as "living nightmare"
>ANIMALS: Obese Golden Retriever does infinite zoomies now (3:15)
>HISTORY: Worcester County Wonders: Setting the Revolution record straight
>GOOD NEWS: Oncology nurse gives her liver to save her father after harrowing diagnosis
-Meanwhile, Florida teen seen joyriding on lawn mower inside Target store
Latest obituaries | | Monday's Highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Quick Links: Personalize your news | | Browse members | | Advertise | | Blogs | | Invite friends | | Videos
Animals | | Boston Sports | | Business | | Cars | | Celebrity | | Colleges | | Commute & Travel | | Crime | | Faith | | Food | | Good News | | Health | | Help Wanted | History | | Homes | | Local Sports | | Lottery | | Movies | | National | | New England | | Politics | | Shopping & Deals | | SHOWTIME! | | TV & Streaming | | Weather