After a great deal of public input, the Boothbay Harbor board of selectmen has decided to create a town gateway at the location of the old tennis courts along Townsend Avenue and Emery Lane.

This gateway will include basketball courts, a trolley stop, landscaped green space, and possibly some parking along Emery Lane.

The selectmen authorized Town Manager Tom Woodin to contact Danielle Betts, a civil engineer for the Knickerbocker Group, with the hope she can create a concept drawing for the gateway. Betts created the former plan, which originally created more parking in the area by extending the current lot and adding a drop-off loop.

The courts were torn down about two weeks ago. There has been a great deal of public comment on what the space should be used for, both at selectmen's meetings and via emails and phone calls to the selectmen.

The Boothbay Register ran an unscientific poll at www.boothbayregister.com over the last month. A total of 528 votes were cast, with the following results: 30 percent voted basketball courts, 17 percent voted community garden, 14 percent voted dog park, 10 percent voted more parking, 4 percent voted volleyball courts, 17 percent voted outdoor pool and 8 percent voted that selectmen do nothing with the space.