By Mya Riley
What would you do if you had a great idea to improve your community, but you couldn’t afford the price tag?
When faced with this dilemma, many cities either set the project aside or scramble to find the funding needed to complete it. But in Van Buren, Maine, Town Manager Luke Dyer refused to accept either of those options.
Luke wanted to paint pickleball courts on an outdoor ice rink so people could use the space year-round. He was quoted over $100,000 for the job, an impossibly high price for a town of only 2,200 residents.
“I went to our recreation director,” Luke explained during a recent Bottom-Up Revolution appearance. “I said, ‘We’re gonna paint pickleball courts at the ice rink.’ He says, ‘Who’s we?’ I said, “Me and you, and anybody else that I can find that’s willing to help us, but we’re gonna do this.'”
Luke contacted a paint company and confirmed that they could apply the needed paint themselves. He asked a local foundation layer to lay out the lines needed for the court. Then he put out a call for volunteers. Just over $5,000 later, they had two functional pickleball courts. With the help of some volunteer pickleball coaches, the courts swiftly became one of the most active spaces in the whole town.
The successful project inspired residents and local businesses, allowing the town to raise $18,000 in a month for the rec department to continue its work. The volunteers who helped paint the courts stayed engaged as well, creating the Van Buren Revitalization Association, which has won multiple awards for its work in bringing the downtown back to life.
None of this would have happened if Luke had just dropped the project. And if the town had paid for someone else to complete it, residents might have gotten the courts — but at nearly 20 times the cost and without the experience of creating something together.
Instead of treating the original quote as the only possible version of the project, Luke separated the work that required specialized knowledge from the work his community could take on. That decision saved the town money and gave residents ownership of their place.
So the next time a steep price tag threatens a good idea, ask yourself the following questions:
Does the project have to be done this way?
What does the simplest version of this project require?
Are specialized materials absolutely necessary, or can we use cheaper alternatives?
Is there a special installation process, or could the work be completed by volunteers?
Who in my community has the skills to make this a success?
If specialized skills are required, do I know anyone with those skills?
How can I involve residents in this project, both during and after installation?
Can involving people in this project build momentum for the future?
Luke was a member of the 2025-26 Strong Towns Cohort. If you’re a local leader or advocate looking for support, practical ideas, and connections as you turn local challenges into action, apply to join the next Cohort. Applications close September 25.
Learn more about the Strong Town movement here.
Mya Riley is the Email & Lifecycle Lead at Strong Towns.