Last summer, we introduced a personal project in one of our blogs showing our plans to start creating three natural tiers in our backyard. We originally planned for a multi-game sports court, a putting green, and an in-ground pool with a slide. Click here to check out our initial brainstorm.
Fast forward to Summer 2024, we’re very excited to share our most recent update!
Project Update: Sports Court
The yard is one of the biggest projects we’re still working on. Our lot is naturally tiered into three levels, and together makes up half an acre. As a result of the odd layout, we made sure to carefully plan what we wanted on each tier.
Fast forward to Summer 2024, and we’re ecstatic to have worked with Sport Court of Massachusetts, who installed a fantastic multi-sport court on the top tier of our yard! They worked with us to design a custom sport court that catered to everything on our wishlist. It features a half basketball and full pickle-ball court, and it also freezes over in the winter and turns into an ice rink!
Our boys are over the moon, and it’s become their go-to hangout spot. It’s been wonderful seeing them choose to put down the screens and spend time outside more often, enjoying good old-fashioned fun with their friends. The next phase of this project: completing the top tier.
The Next Phase: Completing The Top Tier
Now that the sport court is in place, we’re turning our attention toward the finishing touches on the top tier. Given the slope of our backyard, we decided on a maintenance-free ground covering, opting for pea stone and stepping stones. This combination not only looks great but also requires minimal upkeep, which is perfect for our busy family. The biggest addition we’re working on to complete this space is a clubhouse for the boys. We’re planning a 16×12 structure that will have storage for sports equipment, a hangout area, and a covered patio to give them a place to get out of the elements when they are using the sports court. The design process is still ongoing, but we’re aiming to have it finished by the end of the summer. This clubhouse will be the perfect retreat for our boys, offering them a space to relax and play with their friends.
Below: a reminder of our original plan for the backyard (a very rough sketch) featured in our Phase 1 blog post.
As we move forward with our backyard transformation, we’re excited about watching it all come together. The sports court has already brought so much joy to the kids, and the upcoming garden will add another layer of beauty and functionality to our outdoor space. Stay tuned for more updates as we work on finishing this level of our backyard and move on to the second tier. We have exciting plans in store, and I can’t wait to share them with you!
