HomeMy WebLinkAboutLexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
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Lexington Battle Green Area
Draft Master Plan
Town of Lexington, Massachusetts
Prepared by:
Lucinda A. Brockway
Past Designs LLC
Draft: December 6, 2010
53 High Street
Kennebunk ME 04043
cindy @pastdesigns.com
Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Table of Contents
Tableof Contents .................................................................................
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2
ExecutiveSummary .............................................................................
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3
Introduction..........................................................................................
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5
Boundaries...........................................................................................
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8
HistoricBackground ..........................................................................
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10
Character Defining Features
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22
GuidingPrinciples .............................................................................
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26
Issues for the Master Plan ..................................................................
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27
Recommendation 91:
Comprehensive Planning and Advisory Council
Recommendation #2:
Comprehensive Interpretation and Signage Program
Recommendation 93:
Linking the Battle Green
Recommendation #4:
Statue and Monument Preservation
Recommendation #5:
Accommodating Multiple Uses
Rules and Regulations
Recommendation #6:
Unified Design Standards
Paving
Site Furnishings
Lighting
Vegetation
Focal Points and
Views
Recommendation #7:
Parking, Traffic Calming and Safe Pedestrian Access
Recommendation #8:
Funding
Budget
Funding Sources
Master Plan (Graphic)
Conclusion.........................................................................................
...............................
75
Bibliography......................................................................................
...............................
80
Appendices.........................................................................................
...............................
84
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Executive Summary
The Battle Green area is a complex landscape fabric of open space, buildings, graves,
monuments, signs, streets, site furnishings, vegetation and archaeological resources
shaped by our cultural values over three centuries. It serves as town Common and
National Landmark, and as such, responds to the daily lives of Lexingtonians and the
singular visits of people from around the world. The goal of this Master Plan is to
provide the next important step in comprehensive planning for the Battle Green area.
Based on the recommendations of previous reports and the data compiled from public
hearings and citizen surveys, this report offers recommendations for defining the Battle
Green area, unifying its design standards, and providing guidelines for its long -term
stewardship.
The boundaries of the Battle Green Area go beyond the street edges that define the Green
itself. The Battle Green area boundaries encompass the town owned properties and
historic sites that surround the Battle Green, including Belfry Hill, Ye Olde Burying
Ground, the Buckman Tavern, Lexington Visitor Center and the streets and streetscapes
that enframe the Green. The plan recognizes the importance of the Battle Green
gateways — those intersections where you catch your first glimpse the Battle Green.
Most importantly, this plan seeks to understand the tools and techniques which can
enhance the Battle Green as a special, hallowed ground, distinct and unique from all other
public open spaces in Lexington.
The historic overview includes images and photographs which inform the landscape
vocabulary of the Battle Green area and offer site - specific historic references to inform
our choices for design standards. From this historic overview, character - defining features
are identified that help us to understand the features which are static (remain unchanged)
and variable (could be changed) within the Battle Green area. Guiding principles define
today's cultural values that shape the plan's recommendations.
To ensure comprehensive oversight of the Battle Green area, a Battle Green Area
Advisory Committee is proposed whose charge is to facilitate communication and help to
inform the Board of Selectmen on their decisions related to the Battle Green area. It is
this Advisory Committee that will take the recommendations and action items identified
in this report and move them forward, including the continued support of ongoing efforts
such as the interpretation and signage program.
The Plan analyzes the opportunities for linking the Battle Green to its surrounding
historic resources and to its larger role within the Town of Lexington and the Battle Road
corridor. Finally, the Plan analyzes existing site conditions, including paving materials,
the condition of monuments and memorials, vegetation, site furnishings and signage.
With an understanding of its past appearance and its evolution of landscape treatments,
the Plan establishes design standards for these elements and the budgetary requirements
for their implementation. Opportunities for linking private and public funding sources
follow to support these implementation efforts follow.
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Though many recommendations for specific changes within the Battle Green area are
identified, the issue of parking, traffic calming and safe pedestrian access requires further
study, and should be the next step in preservation planning for the Battle Green area.
This study is crucial in creating a safe, accessible blending of people and vehicles in this
busy village center.
Accommodating multiple uses within a landscape that functions both as Lexington's
town common and a national shrine is a complex weaving of people and place. The Plan
reviews the existing Rules and Regulations governing activities on the Battle Green and
makes recommendations for revising these rules to recognize the expanded definition of
the Battle Green area and to offer changes that clarify appropriate uses and their
enforcement.
All of the recommendations in this Master Plan will require the approval of the Board of
Selectmen, the citizens of Lexington (through its adoption at Town Meeting), and the
design approval of the Historic Districts Commission. By enhancing the beauty and
meaning of this sacred space, reinforcing its symbolic and spiritual values, unifying its
vocabulary, and enforcing its appropriate use, the Battle Green area can claim its rightful
place as one of our most important national shrines where American ideals and our
definition of freedom were created.
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Introduction
Located at the physical and spiritual heart of Lexington, the Battle Green serves as both
town common and national shrine. Events in 1775 transformed this meeting house green
from commonly held pasture and muster ground to battleground and graveyard,
catapulting its importance from a physical space to a national shrine. This green space is
more than a public park, it is a landscape imbued with symbols of patriotism and the
national ideals that were born here. As such, it is a sacred and spiritual space, reflecting
the cultural values that shaped a nation.
Residents of Lexington understand the special significance of the Battle Green. Each
community member can relate the moment when they were moved by the symbolism of
what happened here. Yet their daily lives move in and around this special space as
casually as in any other Massachusetts community. The Battle Green continues its role
as a town common, though its significance requires a higher standard of care and scrutiny
to ensure respect for the events that occurred here.
Lexington is founded on a call to community action. As such, its long tradition of an
individual's right to express opinion and vote on town affairs has created a community
that cares deeply about its public spaces, and the rights of individuals to shape its policies
and standards. To this end, this master plan has been developed as a product of its
citizenry and their opinions about both the physical appearance of the Battle Green and
its long -term governance.
Today the Battle Green is a compilation of walks, plantings, greensward and monuments,
blended in a complicated web of buildings and streets that define Lexington center.
Monuments and memorial markers from 1799 to the present spring up through the
greensward. The surrounding buildings serve as house museums, visitor center, family
homes, local churches, town library and public hall. Tourist buses and visitor cars pulse
along the streets which edge the Battle Green, slowing frustrated citizens driving the
course of their daily lives. It is this ebb and flow of daily life in Lexington which
remains consistent throughout its history, though its pace has quickened with its rising
population. This was a New England community founded on farming, family and church
not unlike other Massachusetts towns when the events of 1775 changed the course of
history and brought Lexington from obscurity to national focus.
As part of a state -wide town commons grant initiative, Walter Cudnohufsky Associates
(2001) prepared a series of recommendations based on a charrette designed to gather and
focus citizen opinions about the Battle Green. In the years that followed, citizen -led
interest groups continued the process of developing a Master Plan for the Battle Green.
New signs were proposed for the Battle Green and many extraneous street and safety
signs were removed. Monuments in Ye Olde Burying Ground have been conserved, and
conservation of monuments on the Battle Green is proposed for 2011. In 2009 and 2010
a citizen -led working group created a survey and gathered data and comments at multiple
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public hearings held throughout the community. This data shaped the decisions
presented in this Master Plan.
Town meeting of 2010 voted to have the Tourism Committee hire a consultant to
formalize the Master Planning process. Specifically, the Town voted to:
1. Create a Master Plan with immediate, intermediate and long -term visions based
on broad community input.
a. Define the Battle Green Area, what it should look like in 50 years and
what uses should be allowed
b. Develop guidelines for making informed decisions for design standards,
traffic flow, and parking
c. Update Rules and Regulations for approval
2. Put in place a stewardship structure /oversight committee to ensure the plan is
followed.
3. Identify a public - private funding strategy to implement the plan
4. Develop an annotated bibliography of all prior reports /resources on the Battle
Green
The recommendations that follow were designed to create a unified vision for the Battle
Green for the next 5 -10 years and provide the framework for what the area should look
like in 50 years. Its successful implementation, however, will require the approval of the
Selectmen, Town Meeting, and the Historic Districts Commission, the funding support of
its citizenry, and its implementation by Lexington's staff.
There are numerous town committees responsible for discreet aspects of the Battle Green.
The Board of Selectman governs its use, and enforces its rules and regulations. The
Historic Districts Commission is responsible for maintaining its historic integrity. The
Tourism Committee is responsible for managing and promoting its visitation. The Cary
Memorial Library and the Town Clerk's office house its archives. The Tree Committee
works with the Superintendent of Grounds to manage the tree program. Other town
committees serve their individual roles. The Chamber of Commerce runs the Visitor
Center. The Lexington Historical Society manages Buckman Tavern though a long -term
care arrangement with the Town of Lexington. The Town staff is responsible for design,
installation and maintenance of its landscape, its roads, and its infrastructure. Managed
by committee, with policies shaped by its citizenry, this national shrine is a complex
piece of real estate whose governance is almost as complicated as its physical features
and its use.
The Battle Green and its surrounding historic properties is a very special place, different
from all other public parks and recreational fields in Lexington. As such, some activities
and events might not be appropriate here. Building a cohesive and coordinated design
standard for this area, based on its historic landscape vocabulary, can help to visually
define this area and set it apart from other parks. Enforcing its rules and regulations will
enforce its proper use and respect.
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This document is intended to serve as the next milestone in planning and stewardship of
the Battle Green as the town looks to celebrate its 300th anniversary. Based on the
Cudnohufsky report and its subsequent citizen input, the report seeks to take its citizen -
directed findings and turn them into a plan of action that can appropriately guide the
management and governance of the Battle Green into the next decades. The plan seeks to
create an effective vehicle for change, and for consistency in its stewardship, that
recognizes that the Battle Green needs to continue to evolve to meet the needs of both its
citizenry and its visitors while protecting its significance as a national landmark. Rather
than creating a static preservation plan, this document is intended as a blueprint for
stewardship that is as dynamic as its subject and as impassioned as its overseers.
The chapters which follow guide the coordinated stewardship of this important resource,
and the area that surrounds it, identifying specific improvements to sensitively furnish,
interpret and protect the Battle Green and its users. Included are specific
recommendations for site improvements, including proposed treatments for lighting,
interpretation, path surfaces, parking, pedestrian access, monument preservation and
vegetation management designed to meet the needs of the Battle Green area for the near
future. This Master Plan is the first step in this comprehensive planning process, and will
require additional study and recommendations in some areas as identified in this report
(such as traffic and parking studies).
Fence, Ye Olde Burying Ground, Lexington
To retain its vibrancy and its relevance over
the long term, the chapters that follow also
provide guidance for governance, and
propose changes to the rules and regulations
that correct inconsistencies and clarify rules
and enforcement. This document is only a
blueprint for change; its effectiveness will
be measured by its implementation and its
acceptance by the citizens of Lexington.
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Boundaries
One of the first tasks given to the Working Group was to define the limits and scope of
the area to be covered by the Battle Green Master Plan. The Battle Green and the
adjacent historic properties that contribute to its enhancement need protection. The
Battle Green has been defined by several different boundaries in the past. The National
Landmark designation (1962) included only the land found within the boundaries of
Bedford Street, Massachusetts Avenue and Harrington Road. The Lexington Battle
Green National Register District (1976) expanded the Landmark boundaries to include
the properties immediately adjacent to the Battle Green, and did not include Belfry Hill.
By 2008, the Town of Lexington Historic Districts had expanded the Battle Green
Historic District to include properties from Worthen Road to Winthrop Road along the
spine of Massachusetts Avenue and extending a short distance down Hancock Street,
Bedford Road, and other adjacent streets, including Belfry Hill. Other historic districts
were designated along Massachusetts Avenue, extending the historic district designations
east to the vicinity of Hillside Avenue.
Today visitors are encouraged to explore the Battle Green area from the Visitor Center to
Ye Olde Burying Ground to Belfry Hill, to tour the property with the Battle Green Guides
and with the Liberty Ride® and to visit the three historic houses operated by the
Lexington Historical Society: Buckman Tavern, the Hancock- Clarke House (36 Hancock
Street) and nearby Munroe Tavern (1332 Massachusetts Avenue). (Buckman Tavern is
owned by the Town of Lexington and operated by the Lexington Historical Society; the
other two properties are owned and operated by the Lexington Historical Society).
Citizens of Lexington re -enact the April 19, 1775 Battle and hold other appropriate
ceremonies and events here, all carefully monitored by the Selectmen to ensure respect
for its national significance. As land held for the common good, the Battle Green
continues to serve as the site where members of the community can voice their opinions
about government policies and regulations, a sacred spot where the voice of the people is
carried to those in charge. Today the Battle Green is a complex blend of history, sanctity
and public voice.
After careful deliberation and public comment, the boundaries of the Battle Green Area
Master Plan are defined by historic context and visitor experience. Starting at the corner
of Clarke Street and Massachusetts Avenue, the boundaries run as follows:
• Southwest down Clarke Street to the property boundary of Belfry Hill
• Encircling all of Belfry Hill, following the property line from Clarke Street back
to its intersection with Massachusetts Avenue
• Northwest along the residential side of Massachusetts Avenue, including the
street, sidewalk and right of way along Massachusetts Avenue
• Crossing Massachusetts Avenue and following the street, sidewalk and right of
way at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Harrington Road
• Turning down the lane to Ye Olde Burying Ground
• Encircling all of Ye Olde Burying Ground, following the property line around the
entire property and returning up the entrance lane to Harrington Road
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• Northeast along the residential side of Harrington Road including the street,
sidewalk and right of way along Harrington Road
• Crossing Bedford Street and Hancock Street, including the street, sidewalk and
right of way at the intersection of Harrington Road, Bedford Street and Hancock
Street
• Turning southeast off Hancock Street and following the western edge of the
Bicycle Path from Hancock Street to Meriam Street, including all of the town -
owned land between the Bicycle Path and Bedford Street
• Turning southwest along the Visitor Center side of Meriam Street to its
intersection with Massachusetts Avenue and across Massachusetts Avenue to the
corner of Clarke Street at the place of beginning
These boundaries include the Battle Green itself, the roads bordering the Battle Green
(Harrington Road, Bedford Street and Massachusetts Avenue), Belfry Hill, Ye Olde
Burying Ground and the land located between the bike path, and Bedford, Hancock and
Meriam Streets including Buckman Tavern and the Visitor Center. The Battle Green
Area boundaries do not include the private properties, but do include all town -owned
property adjacent to the Battle Green. The boundaries were carefully drawn to include
the intersections which mark the gateways to the Battle Green (Harrington Rd/
Massachusetts Ave; Harrington Rd/ Bedford Street; Massachusetts Ave/ Bedford Street).
Master Plan Boundaries, Lexington Battle Green, 2010
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Historic Background
Land and Buildings
Lexington was settled in the mid 1660's by Cambridge, Massachusetts residents hoping
to farm the land known as "Cambridge Farms." When residents became frustrated with
the long trip to Concord for Sunday meeting, the community petitioned the General Court
for their own parish. A small meeting house was built at the junction of the roads to
Bedford and Concord (on the present Battle Green) in 1692 and the Town of Lexington
was incorporated in 1713. As the town grew, common land was purchased adjacent to
the meeting house (1.5 acres in 1711, and 1 acre in 1722) to expand the building which
served as public meeting house and worship space, to construct a school, and to use the
Common for public purposes.
In 1773 the Lexington Pledge was adopted in this expanded, "second" meeting house
stating: "...We shall be ready to sacrifice our estates and everything dear in life, yea, and
life itself in support of the common cause." Near the Common, the parson's house, a
tavern, burial ground, and residential houses began to shape the town center. On April
19, 1775 the Common became the site of conflict between British soldiers and colonial
militia, launching the Revolutionary War. Throughout the 19th century land subdivision
and residential and commercial development continued around the common, creating a
dense, compact town center.
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Artist's rendition, Battle of Lexington, from an early 20`" century postcard
A belfry was constructed on nearby Belfry Hill in 1761 and moved to a spot near the
church in 1768 where it summoned the militia to the Common on April 19, 1775. In
1794 a new belfry was added to the church, and the entire building was destroyed by fire
in 1846. The new church, constructed in 1847, was located on a new site overlooking the
Common (First Parish Church). On April 18, 1891 a belfry was reconstructed on Belfry
Hill, destroyed in a windstorm in 1909, and rebuilt the following year. In 1913 the Town
purchased Belfry Hill and created a park -like space on its hilly terrain. As the town
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evolved, other religious institutions were established here. Today five churches are
visible from the Common and Belfry Hill.
Throughout much of the 19th century the battle site continued to function as a New
England traditional town common — an ill- organized public space of casual paths and
pasture. In the early nineteenth century, it is described with a hollow oak stump in its
center. On November 6, 1820 the town committee reported that "it is 66 t/2 roads [1,097
feet] around the Common, and that a fence will cost $99.75."
Lexington Common, c. 1875 (Lexington Historical Society)
In 1806 a new road to Bedford was laid out, separating a triangular piece of land off the
Common to form a grassy island where the present Bedford Street and Hancock Street
intersect.
In January, 1840, the town voted to fence the Common with stone posts and wooden rails
at a cost of $350. In 1847, when the First Parish Society built their new church and
vacated the Common, the town voted to "fence, level and otherwise ornament the
Common." Historic images from the eighteenth and nineteenth century illustrate the
Common as a tree -edged open pasture ringed by stone post and wooden rail fence. At the
end of the century, the Common reverted from pasture to hayfield; the hay was auctioned
off each year to a lucky town resident.
The first photograph for the Common, an image dated 1865, shows the haying operation;
the Common continued to be ringed by its granite post and wooden two -rail fence.
Massive elms shaded the streets along the edge of the Common.
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Lexington Town Common, c. 1865 (Lexington Historical Society
Sarah Gould, whose family moved to Lexington in 1847, remembered the two -rail fence
and "where the fountain is now there were thirteen stone posts and we used to jump from
one to another." She described the two -rail fence around the Common, and remembered
the cellar hole of the meeting house where she and her siblings "played on the steps going
into it" before it was regraded. (The c. 1875 image on page 9 illustrates these features).
Lexington's "town common" took on new meaning after 1875 when the significance of
the April 19a' battle was celebrated as part of the country's Centennial. The hundreds of
spectators that came to see President Grant and other dignitaries recognized the
hundredth anniversary of the Battle catapulted the Common into a new era of sacred park
space. Monuments and memorials sprang up throughout the Common, beginning with
the Parker Boulder, dedicated in 1884. The fence was removed, the grass manicured, and
the massive American elms continued to ring the greensward, now shading the village
green instead of the Common pasture.
The popularization of the name "Battle Green" did not occur until sometime after World
War I. The first documented date for this term is April 9, 1925 when an article in the
Christian Science Monitor described the events surrounding the 1501h anniversary of the
Battle. The intent of the Battle Green as a commemorative space rather than a pasture,
however, was transformed fifty years earlier by the 1875 Centennial celebration and the
installation of the commemorative monuments that followed.
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—Ob
Lexington Common, late 1880's (Lexington Historical Society
In 1905 Boston architect Willard Thomas Sears (1837 -1920) visited the Lexington
Common, took several photographs of the site, and developed a simple layout plan for the
Common, but it is unclear for what purpose. The plan clearly indicates the layout of trees
on the Common and its adjacent roads, and notes the location of flagpole, cannon and the
sidewalk arrangement with its narrow tree belt along both sides of Massachusetts Avenue
and Bedford Street.
Sears took a series of photographs at the time he prepared this plan (pages 12 -14). His
photographs, offer substantial documentation for the landscape details on the Common
during its formative years as a memorialized space. His interest in Lexington's Common
is significant in that Sears was the architect for the Pilgrim's Monument in Provincetown
as well as other significant turn-of -the- century monuments and memorials in addition to
his designs for some of Boston's best -known late nineteenth century buildings.
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12/6/2010
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Lexington Common, plan by Thomas Willard Sears, 1905
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Lexington Common, 1905 (Thomas Willard Sears)
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Lexington Common, 1905 (Thomas Willard Sears)
Lexington Common, Aerial, 1905 (Thomas Willard Sears)
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The photographs illustrate the park -like quality of the Common with its broad dirt streets
rutted with streetcar rails and no visible traffic. A double row of American elms ring the
Common. A green belt separates the sidewalks from the adjacent roadways. The Minute
Man Statue, the flagpole, one iron cannon, the Battle Monument, Meeting House
Monument and the Parker Boulder with its accompanying bench are the only furnishings.
Recognizing the significance of the Common, in 1917 land- owners on Massachusetts
Avenue and Elm Avenue (Harrington Road) adjacent to the Common accepted voluntary
restrictions on their properties. Each homeowner and the two churches agreed to the
dimensional frontages approved in the document, and agreed to neither subdivide nor
build any other buildings on the lots surrounding the Common. They also agreed to a
20' setback for any buildings which might have to replace a building destroyed by fire.
These restrictions formed the basis for later protective measures, including the Historic
District which currently regulates architectural changes within the Battle Green Historic
District.
Roads and Traffic
The roads to Bedford and Concord (now Bedford Street and Massachusetts Avenue)
linked Lexington to its neighboring communities throughout the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries. Harrington Road (formerly Elm Street), a private road, was
constructed before 1794 and framed the northwest side of the Common. In 1807 the
`Swamp Road' was constructed (present Bedford Street) as a more direct route to
Bedford to replace the more circuitous route down (present) Hancock Street.
In 1888, the Town voted to widen Massachusetts Avenue. In 1914 -15, Bedford Street
was widened. The road widening reduced the dimensions of the Common and, with
Harrington Road, began to separate the Common from its surrounding structures.
Continued subdivision and development created smaller roads off Bedford Street and
Concord Road which all fed into Lexington's main highways. By the mid - nineteenth
century Lexington was connected to Boston by a train rail that paralleled Bedford Street
behind the town center. A station was constructed a short distance from the Common
adding to the traffic congestion. As Lexington continued to suburbanize in the twentieth
century, and a major connection to Route 128 was built off Bedford Road by mid
century, the Common sat at the hub of Lexington's major transportation networks. In the
late twentieth century the out -of- service rail line was converted into a public bike path,
forming its own recreational link between the town center and its surrounding residential
neighborhoods.
Traffic congestion and circulation around the Battle Green is chaotic at best. Cross walks
and traffic islands attempt to protect Battle Green visitors from the bustle of busy
roadways. In the 1990's, two `temporary' traffic islands and a series of pedestrian bump -
outs were installed to protect visitors photographing the Minute Man Statue and crossing
the roadways. These temporary measures are still in situ, awaiting a more thorough
traffic and parking study and subsequent recommendations.
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Harrington Road has been closed to traffic for periods of time and made one -way for
through traffic at others in an effort to safely manage traffic and people at key
intersections surrounding the Battle Green. Parking spaces for tour buses and family
cars, which currently surround the Battle Green, are a continued source of discussion. It
is the significance of the Battle Green which has created the popular tourist destination
and its demand for public parking. How that parking is managed in a manner that meets
demand and respects the significance of the Battle Green is a critical next step in the
planning process.
The maps that follow illustrate Lexington's transition from hamlet to bustling village in
the 19th century.
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Monuments and Memorials
The Revolutionary War Monument (also known as the Battle Monument and the Obelisk)
was erected in 1799 in memory of the Lexington men who fought and died in the Battle
in 1775. This is the oldest war memorial in the country. When the remains of the slain
were transferred from a common grave in Ye Olde Burying Ground to a tomb at the rear
of the monument in 1835, the Common began its transition from common land to
consecrated ground. The simple iron fence surrounding the monument was constructed
at the same time (1835). The Battle Monument continued as the sole monument on the
Battle Green until the turn of the twentieth century, when commemorative monuments
and plaques erupted on the Battle Green, each memorializing some significant aspect of
the Battle.
In 1884, the Town appropriated $1500 to erect a series of monuments commemorating
the Battle, including the Line of Battle boulder (also known as the Parker Boulder),
which paid tribute to the undocumented quote by Captain Parker inspiring the militia to
"Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war let it
begin here." The rough granite stone was hauled from nearby Lexington woods and set
on a firmly based concrete foundation. The Meetinghouses Marker was erected in 1884
as part of this same appropriation, commemorating the three meeting houses and their
pastors. This marker was designed in the shape of a reading desk with a closed book
upon it out of a single block of Jonesboro granite and set on a block of Fox Island granite.
In 1898 -1900, Boston sculptor H.H. Kitson created a bronze statue tribute to Capt. John
Parker atop a fieldstone watering trough/fountain "for men, horses, cattle and dogs," later
known as the Hayes Memorial Fountain. The fountain and statue were funded by a
bequest from Francis B. Hayes.
Nearby, a flagpole was erected mid -way down the Common. A flagpole was in place by
1906 when the Sears photographs were taken. In 1965, a U.S. Congressional Act was
signed allowing the flag to fly under illumination 24 hours a day — one of only eleven in
the country so honored. The wooden flagpole was struck by lightning and burned in the
early 1970's. A new metal flagpole with its own lighting system was installed in 1976.
Plaques at the base of the flagpole were added in the 1960's which commemorate the
National Historic Landmark designation (1962), the U.S. Congressional act to fly the flag
twenty -four hours a day (1965), and the flagpole as a memorial to the American
Bicentennial (1976).
In 1910 the Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated the monument marking the
site of the old Belfry that rang to warn the militia of the approaching British. After 1919,
trees were planted around the Battle Green and marked with plaques honoring the
memory of fallen World War I soldiers.
Every war and every centennial celebration marked another opportunity to commemorate
Lexington's lost heroes and significant anniversary celebrations of the Battle. In 1949 a
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large stone memorial was erected across Bedford Street in tribute to the Lexington
Minute Men, designed by artist Bashka Paef£ Nearby other monuments were erected in
the late twentieth century: The World War II Monument pays tribute to those who served
and the U.S.S. Lexington Memorial (1988) is dedicated to the five ships named after
Lexington and those who served on board.
In addition to these memorials, Ye Olde Burying Ground is filled with gravestones
marking the burial site of Lexington's earliest citizens, from 1690 to the present,
including a recently installed memorial garden behind First Parish Church dedicated to
the memory of church members, some of whose ashes are buried in the garden.
Name
An April 9, 1925 article in the Christian Science Monitor describing the 150th anniversary
celebration of the Battle is the first documented date found thus far for the term "Battle
Green." The name transition is significant, and the term "Battle Green" is still in use
today as the preferred nomenclature for the property. As Battle Green, this acreage is
first and foremost recognized for its role in the American Revolution, elevating its
significance far above its role as Lexington's Town Common. This distinction is a
crucial element of this Master Plan. Town residents hope that any physical changes made
to the Battle Green will reinforce its differences to other park spaces in Lexington. As
the Battle Green, active recreation is inappropriate. As the Battle Green, the Selectmen
carefully monitor activities and events, including demonstrations, to ensure that they
respect the significance of this national shrine. The Battle Green IS a national shrine. As
such, its appearance, its level of maintenance, and its stewardship program need to
collectively set this property apart and above other public open spaces in Lexington.
Symbolism
Today the Battle Green includes busy roadways, on- street parking, historic structures,
monuments, memorials, graves, vegetation, a variety of walkways, open lawns, rustic,
ledge - strewn hilltops, fire hydrants, trash cans, flagpoles, interpretive signs, electrical
boxes, underground sprinklers, and, most importantly, people. From the broadest sweep
of lawn to the minutest of site furnishings, the Battle Green is a physical space that
represents a national ideal — the right for every individual to take a stand for what they
believe is right. This gateway to freedom, however, is more than an important battlefield.
It still serves as common ground for the citizens of Lexington. Balancing visitor and
resident use is a delicate balance with Battle Green as its fulcrum. Developing a plan
which provides appropriate stewardship for the landscape and its furnishings must respect
the spirit of April 19, 1775 and the ideal that the battle represents.
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Connections to Other Historic Sites
Responsible planning is the first step in responsible stewardship. Though it is easy to
focus solely on the Battle Green, we must recognize that this important space is linked to
a larger area of adjacent historic buildings and sites, included within the boundaries of the
Battle Green Area. This comprehensive planning effort can hopefully serve as a model,
reaching beyond its boundaries to inform decisions concerning design standards and
stewardship of Lexington's other historic sites and its busy downtown district.
The Town of Lexington is taking a lead role in planning for the corridor of historic
interpretation that runs from Boston to Arlington, Lexington, Concord and Lincoln. In
2010 the Battle Road Scenic Byway Working Group was formed to create a larger,
regional plan for tourism, land use and transportation recommendations, creating a scenic
byway to preserve and promote the historic route marched by the British in 1775. This
"Road to Revolutions" is developing corridor management recommendations. Work
proposed for the Battle Green area will work in concert with these regional design
standards. As both efforts move forward, effective leadership by the Town of Lexington
will help to guide both local and regional efforts toward a more cohesive goal.
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Character Defining Features
The Battle Green has two periods of significant change: the day of the Battle (April 19,
1775), and the early 20th century movement to memorialize that historic day (1898- 1949).
Change can be dramatic, or consist of a slowly evolving series of little decisions.
Surrounding these two key periods, the Battle Green has seen other changes as daily life
within the community has evolved, but these two periods shaped the significance and the
current appearance of the Battle Green more dramatically than other, smaller changes.
Within these two periods, there are features or events that define their significance. These
features can help us to identify the elements which should be preserved and those
elements that might be altered — the `static' and the `variable' elements within the
landscape.
Character defining elements are treated differently than features which may change their
location, their design standards, and even their existence on the Battle Green. Character
defining elements are those features that, if they were missing, would dramatically alter
the significance of the Battle Green. In other words, "What elements define the Battle
Green and are an integral part of its history ?" Understanding these features allows us to
put them in context, and to develop stewardship strategies that support their role within
the larger landscape. This process also identifies those elements (that are not "character
defining ") that can be changed, removed or altered without affecting the integrity of the
Battle Green.
Cultural values give meaning and significance to the Battle Green far beyond its physical
appearance. They give meaning to the Battle Green not simply as a `place' but as an
`ideal' —a definable space that is symbolic of a larger principle. These cultural values
inform our decisions about appropriate or inappropriate uses for the Battle Green, and
shape the `spirit of place' or the `genus loci' that define the Battle Green as a national
shrine. We can creatively inspire or reinforce this meaning in some of our planning
choices. For instance, casting light on the Minute Man Statue, the flag, and the church
steeple at night emphasize these elements as representative or symbolic of a larger ideal.
The juxtaposition of these elements creates context and deeper meaning, linking disparate
themes into a more thought - provoking experience.
The following paragraphs attempt to categorize the Battle Green's individual features,
and begin to identify those elements which offer opportunities for change, and those
elements which offer opportunities for enhancement. More than simply an exercise in
planning, this list can help us to identify the static and the variable in our choices for the
Battle Green.
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Character Defining Features, April 19, 1775:
• The Common space shaped by the merging of Bedford Street and Concord Road
(Massachusetts Avenue)
• Bedford Street
• Concord Road (Massachusetts Avenue)
• Harrington Road (originally a private way)
• `Witness' houses
• Buckman Tavern
• Ye Olde Burying Ground
• (Some) lot subdivisions
• (Some) streets laid out by 1775
• Revolutionary War Battle Monument (though this was erected in 1799 it is the
first and oldest monument to the Battle and its victims)
• Topography
• Open space (this was not woodland at the time of the Battle)
• Archaeological (underground) remains
• The presence of a meeting house or public gathering space (though the meeting
house is no longer extant, the role of church and family at the time of the Battle is
still a theme represented by the houses and churches currently present on the
Battle Green)
• Purpose — place of assembly
• Purpose — common land
Character Defining Features, 1884 -1949:
• Memorial trees with plaques
• Trees defining perimeter of Battle Green
• Mown lawn
• Post and rail fence (1847- 1890's)
• Minute Man Statue and Hayes Memorial Fountain
• Belfry Boulder
• Old Belfry and Belfry Hill
• Parker Boulder
• Meeting Houses Memorial
• Lexington Minute Man Memorial
• Churches and 19th century houses surrounding Battle Green
• (Some) lot subdivisions
• Voluntary property restrictions
• Normal School
• Rail line
• Fences surrounding some monuments
• (Some) paths
• Flagpole & Flag
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
• View — Minute Man Statue across Battle Green to Battle Monument and First
Parish Church
• View - Minute Man Statue down Massachusetts Avenue
• View - Belfry Hill overlook to Battle Green, and surrounding community
Other Character - Defining Features (post 1949)
•
U.S. S. Lexington Memorial
• World War 11 Memorial
• Metal Flagpole and 24 -hour light flag
Features that could potentially be altered or changed:
• Width of Massachusetts Avenue and Bedford Street (but do not encroach any
further into common)
• Height of lawns and frequency of mowing
• Species and number of trees surrounding the Battle Green (as long as Battle
Green is predominantly open space in center)
• Shrubberies, annual plantings and other ornamental or decorative plantings
• Light fixtures
• Trash cans
• Benches
• Sidewalks and Paths (material, width, locations)
• Curbs and street edges
• Fencing
• (some) memorials or markers
• Interpretive signage
• Drinking fountain
• Directional signage
• Crosswalks
• Parking
• Re- opening of Hayes Fountain
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Guiding Principles
As part of the citizen input phase in developing this Master Plan, citizens were asked
their view of the Battle Green. Most citizens saw the Battle Green as a singularly
important historic site on par with Williamsburg, Valley Forge and Gettysburg. The
responses were overwhelming in favor of:
• Recognizing the Battle Green as a town common that accommodates layers of
history
• Recognizing that the Battle Green is a sacred place significant for the events of
April 19, 1775.
• Governing the Battle Green as a space used for limited (appropriate) purposes
• Expanding the definition of the Battle Green area to include Ye Olde Burying
Ground, Belfry Hill, Buckman Tavern, the Visitor Center, and the buildings, land
and right of ways immediately adjacent to the Battle Green
• Managing parking and traffic, but not diverting traffic away from the Battle Green
• Retaining the current size and configuration of the Battle Green
• Continuing the use of memorial trees for war veterans only
• Maintaining the current number of monuments and memorials
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Issues for the Master Plan
The 2001 Cudnohufsky report recognized that the Battle Green was suffering from a lack
of an overall, cohesive plan which addressed the preservation, management and
maintenance of the site. The consulting team also recommended that though there were
many committees and individuals responsible for specific aspects of the property, there
was not an overall group which the community could entrust with stewarding a cohesive
vision for the property. "Until there is one group held responsible for the Battle Green in
whom the larger community trusts, the character - defining features of the site will
continue to deteriorate, the educational experience will be thwarted, and the impact of
tourism will continue to erode the site."
The consulting team identified a series of key issues and strategies which might help to
resolve these issues and begin the process of building that collective vision. In summary,
their recommendations were:
1. Create a comprehensive planning effort, including one oversight committee with
the authority to coordinate all decisions, integrate community viewpoints, and
develop a broad - based, coordinated stewardship of the Battle Green.
2. Develop an interpretive program that enforces the message about the Battle
Green, including its history and its symbolism, including a comprehensive
thematic logo, appropriate signage, and expanded interpretive program that does
not obscure the key features of the Battle Green.
3. Link the Battle Green to surrounding historic resources and support the integrity
of all the historic resources surrounding the Battle Green (and perhaps even
within the larger historic district(s)).
4. Create an overall plan for the Minute Man Statue, including a safe plan for visitor
photography, and standards and guidelines for plantings and /or preservation of the
statue that are appropriate and fit within the historic context.
5. Work with a conservator to restore and maintain the burial site and its monument.
6. Develop a policy and program for the site to accommodate multiple uses by
residents which respects the Battle Green as a national shrine, including
guidelines for appropriate use.
7. Unify design of site furnishings to develop a coherent standard for benches,
lighting and other features.
8. Design paving for walks to accommodate heavy use in an historically appropriate
manner.
9. Locate off -site parking for buses and create an expanded tour for the Battle Green
area including Belfry Hill, Ye Olde Burying Ground, and the historic buildings
and visitor center.
10. Develop a plan for car parking on the streets surrounding the Battle Green.
11. Create safe pedestrian access between the Battle Green and its surrounding
historic elements.
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Since the publication of the report, some recommendations have been enacted:
• Monuments in the Burying Ground have been conserved.
• CPA fund appropriation has been requested to conserve the Minute Man Statue
and other Battle Green monuments in 2011.
• A thematic logo and sign standard were developed to identify historic sites and
buildings open to the public. The signage program is underway.
• The Selectmen appointed the Tourism Committee to work with all interested staff,
committees and citizens to integrate community viewpoints into a comprehensive
plan for the Battle Green area and its stewardship, including identifying an
oversight committee responsible for the "big picture" of the Battle Green area.
Efforts to continue these projects and to address the other recommendations are outlined
in the pages that follow. The suggestions recommended in these pages attempt to form a
collective vision for the future and create a blueprint for change in the Battle Green area.
Design standards and other recommendations in this report will still require formal
review, public hearings, and final approvals by the appropriate governing bodies. This
Master Plan, if approved by the Selectmen and Town Meeting, provides the template
against which future approvals should be measured. Continued consistency in building a
unified vision will require careful oversight of each decision and its role within the `big
picture' presented in the Master Plan — a big picture constructed from small details.
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Recommendation #1: Comprehensive Planning and Advisory Council
The ultimate authority for the Battle Green rests with the Town Selectmen. There was
strong support for keeping the final authority for oversight with the Board of Selectmen
for several reasons, but most importantly because the Battle Green belongs to the citizens
of Lexington and the Selectmen are accountable to the citizens. Because their meetings
are televised and well publicized, issues and decisions regarding the Battle Green will
have the benefit of full disclosure and maximum exposure to the public. However, since
the Board of Selectmen has little time to pro - actively plan for the Battle Green, the
appointment of a Battle Green Area Advisory Council is recommended.
A small council (5 -7 members) will be appointed by the Selectmen who will be
responsible for furthering the goals of this Master Plan and communicating information
to all boards, committees and staff that holds some authority for aspects of the Battle
Green area. All recommendations or decisions made by the Battle Green Area Advisory
Council will be brought to the Board of Selectmen for public hearing and discussion prior
to any action. The preliminary list (in alphabetical order) of committees and staff that
hold some stake in aspects of the Battle Green area includes:
Staff /Departments:
• Cary Memorial Library
• Planning
• Police
• Public Works
• Town Manager
Town Boards and Committees:
•
Design Advisory Committee
•
Historic District Commission
•
Lexington Center Committee
•
Planning Board
•
Selectmen
•
Sidewalk Committee
•
Town Celebrations Committee
•
Tourism Committee
•
Traffic Safety Advisory Committee
•
Tree Committee
Community Associations:
• Battle Road Scenic Byway Committee
• Belfry Hill Association
• Chamber of Commerce
• First Parish Church
• Hancock Congregational Church
• Lexington Field and Garden Club
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
• Lexington Historical Society
• Lexington Retailers Association
• Meriam Hill Association
The Battle Green Area Advisory Council will meet a minimum of four (4) times per year.
The Advisory Council will support the role and authority of each of its member
committees, but will be responsible for coordination and oversight to ensure that
implementation of comprehensive plan for the Battle Green area is well coordinated and
unified. Nothing should be allowed to change on a temporary or permanent basis without
being first vetted by the Advisory Council in consultation with the Selectmen. The
council will serve as an information- sharing committee with the charge to make
recommendations to the Board of Selectmen. Proposals and issues which impact the
appearance, use or stewardship of features in the Battle Green area will come before the
Council for endorsement before going to the Board of Selectmen. The Advisory Council
will make funding recommendations to the Selectmen in the fall of each year for private
and tax payer funding. A draft description of this committee, its charge, and its
membership follows.
Action Items•
1. Gather potential participant groups and individuals.
2. Review the draft description and finalize the details of the council's charge,
structure, communication and reporting processes.
3. Selectmen approve council structure, charge and membership.
4. Council meets to review recommendations in this master plan and to frame a
phased implementation program.
5. Council oversees implementation program, making sure the proper votes and
approvals required by other boards and committees are obtained.
6. Council meets regularly to review work of other town committees as it relates to
the Battle Green and to coordinate all efforts.
7. Council makes recommendations to the Board of Selectmen before any vote
regarding the Battle Green.
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
(draft description of the committee and its charge — subject to further approvals)
Battle Green Area Advisory Committee (BGAAC)
Members: 6 full members and 4 associates
Appointed by: Board of Seletmen
Length of Term: 5 years (members and associates)
Appointments made: September 30
Meeting Times: Four times per year (January, April, July, October)
Description: The purpose of the Battle Green Area Advisory Council is to assist the
Board of Selectmen in providing comprehensive, unified planning and stewardship for
the Battle Green area. The council will serve as an information- sharing committee with
the charge to make recommendations to the Board of Selectmen. Proposals and issues
which impact the appearance, use or stewardship of features in the Battle Green area will
come before the Council for endorsement before going to the Board of Selectmen. The
Advisory Council will make funding recommendations to the Selectmen in the fall of
each year for private and tax payer funding. All changes, temporary and permanent, will
be first vetted by the Advisory Council in consultation with the Selectmen.
Criteria for Membership: Members should be selected from each town committee, board
and community association that has responsibility for some aspect of the Battle Green
Area. One full member will be selected from each of the following areas: one Lexington
center business representative, one Tourism Committee representative, one Lexington
Historical Society representative, one traffic safety representative, one representative
with knowledge of arboriculture or horticulture, one individual who is an abutter or a
neighborhood association representative. The committee will be supported by a
Lexington staff member of the Lexington Police Department and the Department of
Public Works (Superintendent of Grounds).
Ref:
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Recommendation #2: Comprehensive Interpretation and Signau
Program
Interpretation
Enhancing the tourist experience by guiding visitors to the Visitor Center, and offering a
coordinated and cohesive interpretive program flexible enough to meet varied schedules
is the charge of the Tourism Committee. The interpretive program was of great interest
to the participants in the public hearings and in the public surveys. All of these ideas
have been referred to the Tourism Committee. The proposed Battle Green Area Advisory
Committee, once established, will support the work of the Tourism Committee to
facilitate linkages in building a comprehensive interpretive program.
Today's visitors to the Battle Green can experience a guided tour, use a self - guided
brochure, read the interpretive sign panels throughout the Battle Green, listen to a multi-
media presentation at the Minute Man National Historical Park Visitor Center (Route 2A
in Concord), or visit the dioramas at the Lexington Chamber of Commerce Visitor
Center. New place markers have been installed which identify historic sites and
buildings using an attractive red and white logo approved by the Historic Districts
Commission. The Tourism Committee has just published a brochure -style guide to
Lexington that links historic sites to restaurants, museums and retail shops of interest to
visitors. A three -panel interpretive sign is being designed which combines a graphic
illustration of the view the British soldiers saw at the start of the Battle with wording that
relates the progress of events and the significance and symbolism of the Battle Green
today. With additional grant funding, the entire interpretive program can continue to be
enhanced in a manner that does not obscure its key features.
Many interpretive panels exist throughout the Battle Green and the surrounding
neighborhoods that were part of three walking tours developed for Lexington as part of
the Bicentennial celebration. These panels are no longer situated in locations frequented
by visitors, and should be removed or relocated as part of this more comprehensive
interpretive program.
As the plan for the comprehensive interpretive program unfolds, all of the signage
(informational, identification and safety) will conform to the same standards and create a
comprehensive "look" that is consistent throughout the Battle Green. The design of the
newest signs (top left — following page) offers a good model from which to build this
comprehensive sign program and has already been approved by the HDC as part of the
signage program.
Other Signs
The Battle Green is located in the heart of busy downtown Lexington, at the confluence
of several major roadways. As such, directional and safety signage, in additional to road
signs, are an important necessity within the Battle Green area. Carefully monitoring the
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
number, purpose, size and location of these signs can eliminate clutter without
compromising safety.
Event signs and temporary signs installed for a few days also contribute to the clutter of
information. Limiting the size, location and quantity of these signs (or perhaps
prohibiting them from the Battle Green area and locating them elsewhere) is an important
aspect of management and oversight. The message that the Battle Green is different from
other park spaces in Lexington needs to be reinforced in every aspect of the Battle
Green's stewardship program.
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Signage in the Battle Green includes a
diversity of styles and materials. The newest
signs (red with white border) offer the best
graphic integrity for a comprehensive
sgnage program.
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Recommendations
Use interpretive material to convey both historic and contemporary information.
Develop an interpretive program that uses a variety of media.
Integrate interpretive markers with other furnishings, such as groupings of benches or
adjacent to monuments.
Limit the number and purpose of all traffic signs, safety signs, and directional
information to only those that are necessary.
Develop rules and regulations for all temporary signs and event sign programs.
Artinn itPmc-
1. Continue to fund comprehensive interpretation and signage program plan
already approved.
2. Support ongoing work of Tourism Committee around interpretation.
3. Monitor quantity and placement of safety and traffic signs.
4. Develop and enforce rules for event and temporary signage.
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Recommendation #3: Linking the Battle Green Area
The recognition that the Battle Green is part of a broader area puts in context the
requirement for comprehensive treatment for connecting elements including the Visitor
Center, Buckman Tavern, Belfry Hill, the other historic house museums, and Ye Olde
Burying Ground to the monuments and memorials on the Battle Green. These
connections include safe pedestrian cross walks, unified path surfaces, a unified signage
program and other elements that collectively define the Battle Green area.
Links which make connections between the historic Battle and today's living are
important as well. History used to be experienced by going to a specific place that was
generally fenced in and separated from contemporary life. Opening the door to a historic
house museum encouraged the visitor to step back into history, but disconnected history
from his or her own daily life. Today's history movement seeks to create links between
the past and the present — to create an unbroken chain joining contemporary life with the
past and the future. The Battle Green offers untold opportunities for creating these links
— links that connect statements of personal freedom, of standing up for what is right,
defining freedom of speech and the power of opinion - all philosophical links that can be
made directly to the Battle Green area. These links are critical in reinforcing the special
place the Battle Green area holds in defining our national ideals. When successful, every
individual should understand the spiritual or symbolic significance of the Battle Green as
a space set apart from others in Lexington and therefore requiring different and
appropriate activities on this hallowed ground.
Each historic feature plays its own important role in the visitor experience, relaying
historic information, inspirational symbolism, and experiential exploration. Whether the
visitor is led or is allowed to explore the Battle Green area and its features, each visitor
deserves a well orchestrated, well presented experience, including the opportunity to sit,
reflect, rest or observe daily life as a link in a long chain of history on the Common.
Linking resources involves physical connections and emotive or intellectual connections.
Some of these linkages can be made with a unified paving program, unified signage, and
subtle consistent details in lighting, traffic calming and site furnishings. Creating a
simple footpath system like Boston's Freedom Trail might offer a subtle means of linking
features for personal exploration, or simple at -grade brass markers can link options for
interpreting each feature.
The map on page 34 illustrates the elements within the Battle Green which can be linked,
both physically and intellectually, into a comprehensive experience.
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Action Items•
1. Support efforts to provide linkages including a marker system number or other
identification system to link features within the Battle Green.
2. Investigate options for other linkages, including historic homes and sites
outside the Battle Green area.
3. Explore creative ways of reinforcing the significance of the Battle Green to all
residents and visitors.
4. Install markers and link to interpretation programs for all sites.
Options for linking features might
include a paved or painted line
(such as the Boston Freedom
Trail (above), a brass marker
with a number linking the feature
to an interpretive brochure or
cell phone number (top right), or
at -grade informational markers
such as those used in Louisville,
KY (bottom right)
Ar �,
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Connecting Features
* Battle Green
1 Lexington Visitors Center
2 Minute Man Statue
3 Belfry Hill
4 Meeting House Monument & Belfry Monument
5 Flagpole
6 Revolutionary War Monument (Obelisk)
7 First Parish Church
8 Ye Olde Burying Ground
9 Parker Boulder
10 Normal School
11 Minute Man Monument
12 Buckman Tavern
13 World War II Monument
14 USS Lexington Monument
A Depot
B Cary Memorial Library
C Hancock - Clarke House
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Recommendation #4: Statue and Monument Preservation
The Battle Green monuments and memorials represent an impressive collection of public
art. From the Minute Man Statue to the oldest gravestone in Ye Olde Burying Ground,
each of these pieces deserves careful conservation, including a regular routine for
cleaning and maintenance. The variety of materials and placement of each piece requires
a knowledgeable conservator to oversee appropriate curatorial care. The 2001
Cudnohufsky report included an evaluation of the Battle Monument and the Minute Man
Statue with detailed recommendations for cleaning and conservation of both monuments.
Recently, many of the grave markers in Ye Olde Burying Ground have undergone
cleaning and preservation under the guidance of a monument conservator. The FY 2012
CPA appropriation request includes funds to conserve the Minute Man Statue and the
Revolutionary War Monument (also known as the Obelisk), and to evaluate and conserve
the other monuments in the Battle Green. Based on this comprehensive evaluation, an
ongoing program for curating all of these features should continue. Regular, systematic
and consistent care will ensure their appropriate preservation.
Preservation of every Battle Green monument should not be limited to the monument
itself, but should include the assessment and treatment of its setting and surrounds. Each
of the monument sites show the impact of heavy foot traffic as visitors stand and admire
each feature. The Revolutionary War Monument, for example is protected by an iron
picket fence and surrounded by a simple asphalt path. Two granite steps ascend the hilly
terrain to the monument. Soil erosion, damage to fences, suitable path surfaces, and
appropriate links to the larger Battle Green area and its walkway system should be
considered in concert with the conservation plan for each monument.
The Minute Man Statue was designed to sit atop a watering trough "for men, horses,
cattle and dogs." Funds for the Statue and its base were provided by the Hayes family, so
the watering trough soon became known as the Hayes Fountain. When the Hayes
Fountain stopped working, its cavities were filled with seasonal plant displays. Options
for restoring the watering trough should be investigated. Thought should be given to
removing or relocating the plantings within the Fountain to areas where they can
highlight important features which are currently less visible to visitors (such as the
Lexington Visitor Center and Belfry Park).
The following list identifies all of the Battle Green's monuments and memorials and
offers a preliminary glimpse into the variety of types, sizes, ages and materials and
settings for these features. The comprehensive conservation plan will prioritize care of
these features based on their current condition assessment and establish a plan for
conservation, cleaning and regular maintenance, including their landscaped settings.
Some markers, which are not critical to the Battle Green experience, might be considered
for relocation or removal. The plaques at the base of the Flagpole, for instance, might be
better suited for removal or relocation to another spot, or amended with other interpretive
signage which relates a greater depth of information to the visitor.
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Image
Name
Date
Materials
Setting and Associated Features
77 .y
U.S.S.
1988
Granite with
Low iron picket fence; shrubbery
Lexington
bronze
backdrop; flagpole & flags; trees
Monument
plaques
World War II
1945
Granite
Granite stone marker set at edge of
Monument
path in lawn
Lexington
1948
Granite and
Capped iron picket fence; crushed
Minute Men
Bronze
stone path encircles fenced area with
of 1775
crushed stone path connection to
Memorial
sidewalk
Revolutionary
1799;
Granite with
Sword - topped iron picket fence;
War
1835
marble tablet
bluestone marker at base;
Monument;
groundcover within fenced area;
_
the Obelisk
bituminous asphalt walk surrounding
`
'
fenced area and connecting to
d
Massachusetts Avenue sidewalk;
granite steps
Belfry Site
1910
Granite
Crushed stone path surround; lawn
Marker
fieldstone
boulder with
bronze
plaque
Meeting
1884
Red
Crushed stone surround
Houses
Jonesboro
Monument
granite on
Fox Island
granite base
^'
Battle Line
1884
Granite
Crushed stone surround; bench
Monument
fieldstone
boulder with
carved face
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Image
Name
Date
Materials
Setting and Associated Features
Minute Man
1900
Granite
Positioned at junction of
Statue and
fieldstone;
Massachusetts Avenue & Bedford
Hayes
brass statue
Street facing direction of British
Memorial
soldiers; originally working fountain
G ' "
Fountain
now seasonal plantings; shrub
massing at base; crushed stone and
stamped asphalt paving at base
Memorial
C.
Concrete with
Set at base of deciduous trees along
_
Trees
1919
brass plaque
perimeter of Battle Green
W7W
Lit Flag and
By
Metal: (prior
Metal flagpole with dedicated
Flagpole
1905;
flagpole
lighting; 3 Bronze plaques at base;
w
1976
wooden)
crushed stone
Bicentennial
1976
Concrete with
Set at base of flagpole; crushed stone
Plaque
Bronze
surround; placed with 2 other
plaque
markers
Congressional
1965
Concrete with
Set at base of flagpole; crushed stone
Act Plaque
Bronze
surround; placed with 2 other
plaque
markers
National
1962
Concrete with
Set at base of flagpole; crushed stone
Historic
Bronze
surround; placed with 2 other
Landmark
plaque
markers
°
Plaque
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Image
Name
Date
Materials
Setting and Associated Features
Belfry
1910
Wood
Iron picket fence with simple top set
on granite fieldstone wall and ledge;
ledge outcrop atop Belfry Hill; rustic
fieldstone steps; naturalistic plantings
(trees and shrubs)
Gravestones
1690-
Brick;
Granite post and rail fence surround;
I
Bluestone;
lawn; scatted deciduous trees;
sandstone,
asphalt entry drive; grass and stone
marble,
paths within burying yard
granite,
others
Art-inn itPmc-
1. Prepare comprehensive evaluation of all monuments, memorials and markers
including prioritized conservation recommendations and maintenance program
including their landscaped settings
2. Consider removal of any markers or monuments not critical to the Battle Green
which might be located in other areas or removed
3. Conserve all monuments and memorials working with professional conservator
(underway)
4. Continue regular program of conservation, cleaning and routine maintenance
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Recommendation #5: Accommodating Multiple Uses
The Battle Green's role as town common is equally as important to its role as tourist
destination. The 2010 resident's survey and public hearings indicated that the Battle
Green should evoke the significance of the April 19, 1775 Battle, but should respect other
layers of Lexington history. One resident commented that the Battle Green area should
be "evocative of 1775 but not stagnate." Another member of the public hearing felt that
respect for those that died during the Battle might determine appropriate and
inappropriate uses on the Battle Green and recognized that some activities might be more
appropriate "across the street" (i.e. in the vicinity of the Visitor Center). Those
completing the survey felt that the Battle Green area should support multiple purposes,
including historical tours, picnicking, meetings, and political rallies. Most felt that traffic
did not need to be diverted away from the Battle Green and car parking was suitable
along the roadsides, but that bus parking should be diverted to another, more appropriate,
location. Recognizing that the Common's size has been reduced with road widening,
most felt that its original size did not need to be restored, but that these changes
recognized its historic layering. Memorial trees in honor of veterans were considered an
appropriate feature of the Common, with appropriate plaques recognizing the honorees.
Currently the number of monuments on the Battle Green represents "just the right
amount."
Balancing the needs for tourists and residents is both delicate and powerful. Many
discussed the spiritual and symbolic aspects of the Battle Green and felt that it is these
ideals which should guide the governance of activities on the Battle Green. Light
picnicking and other forms of passive activities were felt to be appropriate and respectful
of the Battle Green's role as town common. Active games such as Frisbee, ball games
and other more active forms of recreation were considered inappropriate and that there
were nearby town parks and recreation fields for those purposes.
Reinforcing the importance of the Revolutionary War Monument (the "Obelisk ") as a
grave site, which is carefully tended and treated with respect could reinforce the
significance of this aspect of the Battle Green. Other activities are carefully monitored by
the Board of Selectmen, which allows the flexibility to appropriately govern rallies, town
gatherings and other events and their locations on the Battle Green or across the street on
the lawn of the Visitor Center. This plan includes a review of these rules and regulations,
and suggests appropriate revisions to this document for Selectmen's approval. An
ongoing evaluation of this governance is part of the charge given to the Battle Green
Advisory Council.
Understanding the rules for the use of the Battle Green area, tending the monument sites
with respect, reinforcing the symbolism of the Battle Green, developing unified design
standards, designing appropriate and adequate historic interpretation, establishing
appropriate parking policies and safe pedestrian access to all areas of the Battle Green,
and establishing coordinated oversight and communication can support the Battle Green
area's role as town common and appropriately accommodate its continuing role as a
space for other historic events to take place.
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Action Items•
1. Review suggested changes (next page) to the Rules and Regulations for the Battle
Green area. Submit revised Rules and Regulations to the Board of Selectmen for
approval
2. Make recommendations for use of the open lawns near the Visitor Center,
Buckman Tavern or on Belfry Hill which might be different than those allowed
on the Battle Green
3. Review the policies for enforcement of the Rules and Regulations and make
necessary changes to ensure uniform enforcement of all policies, rules and
regulations
4. Make recommendations for enforcement policies and submit for Board of
Selectmen approval
5. Regularly review the Rules and Regulations document and the enforcement
policies and their effectiveness; make necessary recommendations and changes as
required
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Rules and Regulations
The following is a copy of the current Rules and Regulations for the Battle Green
(Proposed changes will be presented in red; for purposes of the draft document, this is a
copy of the existing rules and regulations — proposed changes are still under review)
1. Definitions
a. "Audio device" means any radio, television set, musical instrument or other
device that produces noise
b. "Disorderly conduct" means any action intended to cause inconvenience,
annoyance, or alarm, or which recklessly creates a risk thereof, fighting,
threatening or violent behavior; unreasonable noise; abusive language directed
toward any person present; wrestling in vicinity of others; throwing of breakable
objects; malicious throwing of dangerous objects or stones; open fires, burning
objects or spitting.
c. "Powerless flight" means any device used to carry persons or objects through the
air; for example, sailplanes, gliders, balloons, body kites, hang gliders.
d. "Public use limit" means the maximum number of people or the amount, size, or
type of equipment permitted on the Battle Green at one time, as established by the
Board of Selectmen
"Special event" means demonstrating, picketing, speechmaking marching,
holding of vigils, and all other similar forms of conduct which involve the active
communication or expression of opinions or grievances, engaged in by one or
more persons, the conduct of which has the effect, intent, or propensity to draw a
crowd or onlookers.
f. "Compromised turf' shall mean any natural condition that would make the Battle
Green vulnerable to excessive damage by heavy war or use; for example, heavy
rains, reseeding, and drought conditions
g. "Non- permit activities" shall mean activities that may be engaged in without a
permit issued by the Board of Selectmen.
2. Non - Permit Activities
Subject to the restrictions in these rules and regulations, permits shall not be required for:
a. Conduct that does not cause public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm
b. Picnicking restricted to groups of no more than seven people. Picnicking on the
Battle Green by bus tours or similar groups is forbidden.
c. The gathering of groups on the Battle Green for the sole purpose of exploring and
enjoying its history, and which do not remain for more than four hours.
d. Playing of audio devices at a reasonable volume.
e. The playing of games that do not:
i. Exceed three players; or
ii. Damage the Battle Green's physical condition; or
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
iii. Disturb or inconvenience those visiting the Battle Green for historic
interests; or
iv. Constitute any type of disorderly conduct.
3. Permit Required Activities
a. The purpose for requiring permits for certain activities is to promote the use of the
Battle Green in a manner consistent with its nature and history; to protect the
Battle Green from harm; to ensure adequate notice of the event so that
arrangements can be made to protect the public health and safety and to minimize
interference with the event by the public.
b. Permits are required for any of the following activities, singly or in combination:
i. Any group activity reasonably likely to exceed the public use limit
established by the Board of Selectmen
ii. Special events, public meetings, assemblies, gatherings, demonstrations,
parades, and other active public expressions of interest, not to exceed eight
hours in duration.
iii. Pageants, reenactments, regattas, entertainments, or other as public
spectator attractions.
iv. Displays of a ceremonial nature in connection with special events and
limited in duration to the period required for such events.
V. Use of public address systems, electrical lighting, or other electrical
devices.
vi. Distribution of non - commercial printed matter
vii. Possession of firearms if unloaded or packed in such a way as to prevent
their use
viii. Possession of explosives, as long as individuals or groups conform to
Federal, State and local laws governing such possession.
ix. Use or possession of fireworks or firecrackers.
4. Impermissible Activities
a. Any group activity that exceeds the public use limit established by the Board of
Selectmen for the Battle Green.
b. Possession, destruction, injury, defacement, removal, or disturbance of any
building, sign, equipment, monument, statue, marker, animal or plant
c. Distribution or display of commercial advertising; or soliciting of business; or any
other commercial transactions.
d. Remaining on the Battle Green for more than four hours.
e. Abandonment of any vehicle or personal property.
f. Unreasonably loud operation of audio devices
g. Delivery of any person or thing by parachute or helicopter.
h. Powerless flight activities.
i. Begging.
j . Disorderly conduct.
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
k. Use of firearms.
1. Use of metal detecting devices.
m. Gambling of any form or operation of gambling devices.
n. Picnicking except at provided above in 2b
o. Consumption of alcoholic beverages or use of unlawful substances.
p. Use of roller skates and skateboards
q. Placement on the Battle Green of any unattended structure or planting of any
trees /plants by a private party.
5. Permit Process
a. Application for permits to conduct activities on the Battle Green, specified in 3,
above, shall be filed no later than two weeks prior to the requested date. Late
and /or incomplete applications will be considered at the discretion of the Board of
Selectmen.
b. Permit applications shall include the following information:
i. Name and phone number of responsible contact.
ii. Date and time of event
iii. Nature of event.
iv. Expected number of participants, spectators, and vehicles.
V. Duration of event
vi. Statement of equipment and facilities to be used
vii. Section of the Battle Green desired.
c. The responsible party is to keep the permit, which must be available for
inspection upon request. The responsible party may be required by the Board of
Selectmen, as a condition of issuing the permit, to pay for detail police officers if
the Board determines that such officers are necessary for public safety
d. Permits are issued upon express condition that the Battle Green is to be left in an
orderly fashion.
e. Permits are non - transferable; and are only valid for date and time specified. For
cause the Police Chief or his designee may extend a permit for up to 2 hours.
f A permit shall be revoked if a sanctioned event engages in impermissible
activities and may be revoked if the permit group engages in activities that are not
within the specifications of the permit.
g. The Board of Selectmen may alter a request by setting reasonable conditions and
restrictions as to duration and area occupied, as are necessary for protection of the
area and public use thereof.
h. Compromised turf conditions may supersede the use of a granted permit at the
discretion of the Board of Selectmen to protect the condition of the Battle Green.
6. Grounds for Denial of Permit Request
Application creates a scheduling conflict with a previously filed application by
another person or group.
b. Event presents a clear and present danger to public health or safety
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Event is of such nature or duration that it cannot reasonably be accommodated in
the area applied for; or the expected number of participants exceeds the public
use limit.
d. Event will, in the opinion of the Board of Selectmen, cause unacceptable
interference with use and enjoyment of the Battle Green by the general public
e. Event is requested for a date that conflicts with official celebrations of the Town
f. Event is more appropriately held at other available Town Facilities, such as
recreational facilities.
7. Patriots Day Weekend
On Patriot's Day weekend, Friday through Monday, only Town- sponsored activity is
permitted. Private usage, otherwise permitted, is prohibited throughout this period.
8. Penalties
Penalties for violations of these regulations shall be in accordance with Chapter 10 -4 and
10 -6 of the Code of the Town of Lexington.
Approved by the Board of Selectmen July 15, 1986
Amended July 24, 2000
Amended December 21, 2009
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Recommendation #6: Unified Design Standards
"Evoking the Battle of 1775" is easy to say but complicated to execute. The Battle Green
is not just a battlefield; it is also a public common. As a historic site, we might have the
option of letting the grass grow to pasture and re- establishing its appearance on April 19,
1775. Certainly that is the approach used by the Minute Man National Historical Park for
the farms and fields along Concord's Route 2A. But the Battle Green is much more — its
continued role in the history of Lexington, its commemorative monuments and
memorials, and its significance as the town's Common require that this space not only
evoke the Battle event, but support its role as public open space in the center of a bustling
village. As such, muddy dirt paths fall short of our expectations for this national shrine.
Instead, developing unified design standards that can enhance the symbolism and
interpretation of historic events, show proper respect for its national significance, and
purposefully fulfill its role as town common. These standards will allow the Battle Green
area to continue to play an important role in the daily life of Lexington.
One of the first charges for the Battle Green Advisory Council will be to review and
implement the proposed design standards that are recommended in this document,
including any additional approvals required by the Historic Districts Commission. The
paragraphs that follow identify the current materials, design, concerns and suitability of
current site furnishings and site issues and makes recommendations for standardized,
comprehensive treatment. Where appropriate, a single design from existing design
choices has been selected. In other cases, recommendations have been derived from
public comment received during the master planning process or from other community
examples. All recommendations will require further comment and approval (by the
appropriate Lexington committees) before they can be implemented.
1. Paving
There are several paving types used with the Battle Green area, some have proven more
successful than others. Installation costs, durability, ADA compliancy, and maintenance
costs are all factors that determine their success. In addition to materials already found in
the Battle Green area, there are a number of other materials which have proven successful
at other sites. The first table that follows identifies those materials which are already in
use within the Battle Green area, their benefits, problems, and frequency of use. The
second table identifies other materials that have proven successful in other historic sites.
Following the tables are recommendations for design standards for paving within the
Battle Green.
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Existing Paving Options
Image
Location
Material
Benefits
Problems
Surrounding
Crushed
Historic
Irregular edges
most
stone
appearance
give messy
monuments;
Permeable;
appearance;
Paths
ADA
Tendency to
through
compliant
get muddy;
center of
when
Material tracks
lawns;
properly
into historic
Path to
installed
buildings and
Belfry Hill
damages the
flooring
Ends of cross
Stamped
Cost effective
Fake historic
walks; street
Asphalt
Durable
appearance
intersections
(originally
Withstands
Difficult to
.
installed
heavy traffic;
repair unless
'^
as
ADA
redo entire
f -
temporary
compliant
piece;
"
solutions)
Impermeable;
°;•
Some
Asphalt
Cost effective
Contemporary
sidewalks;
Durable
appearance;
Paths around
Withstands
Impermeable;
some
heavy traffic;
Considered
monuments
ADA
not as
_
compliant
historically
appropriate as
other
materials
Some
Concrete
Durable;
Impermeable;
sidewalks
Withstands
Contemporary
heavy traffic;
appearance
ADA
compliant;
N
..
Neat, trim
appearance;
longer
lifespan than
other
materials
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Image
Location
Material
Benefits
Problems
& Cost
(per s .
f
Sidewalks
Brick
Durable;
Requires
into
withstands
appropriate
Buckman
heavy traffic;
edging and
Tavern and
ADA
good base
Lexington
compliant
preparation
r ' r
Visitor
when properly
to withstand
_C:.
y
Center
installed; neat,
frost; may
trim; historic
allow weeds
appearance
to grow
between
+
joints if not
properly
installed;
Path to
Granite
Durable; long
No problems
Battle
Stairs and
life span;
identified
-
Monument
cheek
historic (19t"
walls
century)
appearance
Path to
Crushed
Cost effective
Limited life
-
Belfry Hill
stone and
span;
-
wood
Tendency to
timber
wash out;
tendency to
messy
A
appearance;
a
difficult,
uneven
L'
walking
surface
Path to
Granite
Historic
Uneven
`; wX
Belfry Hill
Fieldstone
appearance;
surface
v'y
durable;
difficult to
-
permeable
walk;
tendencyto
�4
heave with
frost
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Other Paving Options
Image
Material & Cost
Benefits
Issues
(per s .ft
—
Irregular Bluestone
Brown or gray -blue
Costly to install;
m —�
color choices;
irregular joints can
Historic appearance;
sprout weeds;
ADA compliant when
properly installed
# x'-
y�
ii
- — —
Tumbled bluestone
Even, regular
Costly to install;
t
patterns; tight joints
smaller size stones
have less tendency
lead are more
to become uneven;
susceptible to frost
ADA compliant when
movement (not so
properly installed
with larger size
stone); material is
not indigenous to
Lexington region
Large cut granite
Large stones mean
Costly to install;
less frost movement;
historic treatment
historic sidewalk
found in other
treatment for many
colonial New
New England
England towns but
villages; ADA
not documented in
compliant when
Lexington;
properly installed
Regular cut granite
Available in wide
Costly to install;
variety of sizes;
thermal surface can
durable; ADA
be slippery in shady
compliant when
areas
i
i
properly installed
Seeded exposed
Pebbled appearance
Requires expansion
aggregate concrete
imitates pea stone
joints; slightly more
or gravel; durable;
costly than
ADA compliant
traditional concrete
walk
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
_
Bluestone and
Historic treatment
Costly; not ADA
cobble Cross walk
documented to
compliant
other New England
communities;
-
durable; traffic
calming
Fieldstone steps
Historic; durable;
Requires careful
i
long lasting; can be
selection for even
purchased in cut or
tread surfaces,
natural fieldstone
otherwise no
style; easy to install
perceived problems
Analysis
The crushed stone, though perhaps the most historically sensitive, is messy, easily
tracked, and has a tendency to get muddy or puddle under heavy wear. It is the most
permeable of all paving solutions. Its use throughout the Battle Green area has resulted
in mixed success. It has been most successful for informal paths through open lawns
where there is little topographic change and limited foot traffic away from historic
structures. An alternative to this material might be to use a stabilizer mixed with the
crushed stone (as done in Minute Man National Historical Park) that better `fixes' the
crushed stone and creates an even, durable, well- packed walking surface which retains
the historic appearance of dirt or aggregate. Another alternative, known as `Chip N Seal'
embeds crushed stone aggregate into bituminous asphalt.
Brick offers another historically sensitive material withstands heavy foot traffic, and is
consistent with ADA requirements when properly installed. It is, however, more costly
than other options and requires adequate base preparation to limit frost upheaval. Some
communities are applying brick over an asphalt base to limit the opportunities for frost
upheaval and weeds between joints. Brick pavers and wire cut brick have been used
throughout the downtown Lexington business district, so use of traditional brick within
the Battle Green would conform to this village street design standard but would
incorporate historic materials rather than a contemporary material.
Large granite pavers offer another historic choice as a durable historic path material. This
material might be a good option for heavily used areas surrounding monuments and
memorials most frequented by visitors. If a color is selected that matches the crushed
stone used in stabilized dirt paths, the path treatments would be unified in their overall
color treatment_ Granite pavers should be large size antique stone (4' x 4') or newly cut
granite finished with a sand- blasted or other non -skid surface for safety and historic
appearance.
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
The concrete sidewalk along Bedford Street, though more contemporary in appearance,
offers a durable surface that can withstand heavy foot traffic and is more cost effective
than brick. If the concrete was acid - washed when installed, the resulting "exposed
aggregate" surface would offer a more historic appearance than the brushed, even
concrete surface of the current sidewalk. This option, however, is more labor intensive
and therefore more costly than the brushed concrete surface.
The granite stairs leading to the Battle Monument are the most successful treatment for
stairs in the Battle Green. These stairs are durable, historically appropriate, and made
from local materials. The rustic fieldstone steps leading to the top of Belfry Hill from
Clarke Street are uneven and unsafe, though their rustic appearance is historically
sensitive in appearance. The crushed stone and timber stairs leading up Belfry Hill are
the least successful and least effective of any stair options within the district. Their
tendency to wash out in heavy rains creates a maintenance hazard, and the gradual
degradation of the risers caused by their natural weathering processes results in unsafe
and uneven conditions.
Paving Recommendations
The Battle Green does not require a single paving treatment for all areas. There are four
categories or levels of walkways in the Battle Green:
1. Town sidewalks (major walks adjacent to roadways)
Examples: 6' wide sidewalks on both sides of Bedford Street, Massachusetts
Avenue, and Harrington Road
2. Primary paths (heavily used walks connecting major features and /or forming
important pedestrian routes)
Examples: 4' wide paths leading to the Lexington Visitor Center, Buckman
Tavern, etc.
3. Secondary paths (less frequently used walks)
Examples: roads and paths within Ye Olde Burying Ground, path from Lexington
Visitor Center to Hancock Street, paths atop Belfry Hill, etc. Most are 4' wide
4. Paving surrounding monuments (usually heavily used and often serves as the base
for the monument or memorial)
Examples: path to the Revolutionary War Monument, path to the Parker Boulder,
Belfry Marker, Meetinghouses Monument, etc. Most are 3' wide; some are
wider, designated areas surrounding the monument with no distinct edges at
present
5. Paving under benches
Examples: Area under all benches throughout Battle Green Area
Recognizing the category of use and importance should define the paving material
selection and offer opportunity for variety in paving throughout the Battle Green area.
Final selection of any paving material should be based on its durability, its installation
costs, its historic appearance, its ADA compliance and its maintenance requirements and
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
expenses. In all cases, proper installation, particularly proper base preparation, is the key
to longevity. Regular, routine maintenance can prevent small problems from growing into
major issues.
Carefully delineating or retaining the width of all paths is critical to the historic
appearance in the Battle Green area. Maintaining standards for path widths can help to
guide their use and reinforce their purpose. Heavily traveled sidewalks which are part of
the 21" century streetscape should retain their 6' width. Smaller, 34' wide paths into
each monument requires single -file movement and generates the opportunities for quiet
respect and contemplation. Narrower paths, by necessity, slow pedestrians. Wider paths
encourage group conversation and quick movement through an area. Respecting these
subtle opportunities for guiding appropriate use of the Battle Green area is critical to its
long -term success and respectful of its historic significance.
Carefully delineating the areas to be paved is another important consideration. Heavy
foot traffic and compaction has discouraged grass from growing around most
monuments. The crushed stone that has been applied around the monuments has
eliminated muddy conditions, but has gradually spread to cover a much larger area than is
necessary. Crisply defining an area large enough for visitors to stand and returning
extraneous areas to grass will greatly improve the appearance of these areas and eliminate
path spread. Edging crushed stone, or changing these areas to stabilized crushed stone,
brick or granite will improve their overall appearance.
Paths can guide and respond to visitor use. Paths should only be located in areas where
they are most needed, and eliminated from areas where they are not useful. All paths
which form the historic fabric of the Battle Green area should be retained, respecting
their historic widths and historic materials.
Based on an evaluation of existing paving materials and suggested alternatives as
outlined in the tables, the following materials are recommended for use in each walkway
category. Consistency of materials can help to unify the site, link features, direct people
through the Battle Green, and ease maintenance considerations.
Category /Level
Recommended Material
Comments
Town Sidewalks - A
Exposed aggregate concrete
6' width; ADA compliant tip -
(major walks adjacent to
downs at crosswalks
roadways away from the
Battle Green (i.e. Buckman
Tavern side of Bedford Street
and resident's side of
Massachusetts Avenue
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Primary paths
Stabilized crushed granite
4' width; edge adjacent lawn
(i.e path to Lexington Visitor
stone on appropriately-
areas biannually to retain
Center, Buckman Tavern,
prepared base; transition to
crisp edges Stone, brass or
etc.)
large -cut antique or
bronze markers inset at key
sandblast surface granite (4'
locations can link features
x 4') within 12' of building to
and connect to interpretive
remove stone grit from shoes
program
Secondary paths
Stabilized crushed granite
3' width; edge adjacent lawn
(i.e. paths within Belfry Hill,
stone on appropriately-
areas biannually to retain
paths within ye Olde Burying
prepared base
crisp edges
Ground, path from Lexington
Visitor Center to Hancock
Street)
Paths and paving
Stabilized crushed granite
3' width; edge adjacent lawn
surrounding monuments
stone on appropriately-
areas biannually to retain
prepared base; transition to
crisp edges; some
large -cut antique or
monuments to sit within
sandblast surface granite (4'
crisply- defined area off
x 4') within immediate
adjacent sidewalk (no
surrounds of monuments
distinct path)
Stairs — Belfry Hill from
Antique split granite
6' width; Set with even
Massachusetts Avenue
treads and risers for
consistency
Stairs — Belfry Hill from
2" granite fieldstone treads
Width varies within existing
Clarke Street
set atop existing (reset)
fieldstone boulder edges;
rustic fieldstone risers;
Reset existing fieldstones for
match risers in color and
consistent height; mortar
texture to existing stone
fieldstone treads atop
existing fieldstone risers with
deep -raked joints
Paving under benches
Stabilized crushed granite
Length and width
stone on appropriately-
determined by size of bench;
prepared base or large cut
connect this paving to
granite
adjacent sidewalk & select
material to coincide with
adjacent path paving; anchor
bench legs 6" inside edge of
paving
Path selections should be consistent throughout the district and should be selected to
unify the district and complement its historic integrity. Use of stabilized crushed
bluestone or stone dust should be trimmed regularly to create a neat, uniform appearance.
Transition from crushed stone to large granite pavers within 12' of historic buildings to
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remove grit from shoes before entering buildings. Granite paving could be extended to
cross walks to create safe, distinct pedestrian ways across major roads.
Paths that are rarely used should be eliminated and returned to grass / lawn. "Desire
paths," indicated by worn footpaths in the lawns, should be considered for improved
surfacing. If a marker system is approved for labeling or linking historic features, it
should be incorporated into the paving system (such as the markers found on the Freedom
Trail).
Action Items
1. Review all walks and determine width and style of paving.
2. Review walking patterns prior to determining location and routes for walks; also
width of paths.
3. Submit for review to HDC and Selectmen's approval.
4. Develop schedule for walkway improvements for a 3- year period.
5. Develop a maintenance program to regularly maintain walkways as necessary,
including the maintenance of crisp, well defined edges on all walks.
Note: Traffic Islands and crosswalks will be improved subject to a comprehensive traffic
and safety study (see Recommendation # 7)
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
2. Site Furnishings
Site furnishings within the Battle Green area currently include benches, street and
monument lighting, and trash cans. All of these are considered necessary and important
to continue within the Battle Green, but as with the paving, a unified approach is
preferred to the current haphazard design selections. All site features need to be
historically sensitive, durable, cost effective, and require limited long term maintenance.
None of them are "character defining" features and, as such, can change as the uses and
needs of the Battle Green continue to evolve. However, they need to support and
enhance the historic character of the site and serve the functional needs demanded by this
busy public space.
The following table inventories the existing site furnishings. Since most are functional
and historically sensitive, a design standard for these features is recommended by
selecting a specific bench, trash can and lighting standard from one of the existing.
Image
Location
Comments
Visitor Center (4);
Teak bench with back and
Belfry Hill (4)
arms; Each bench includes
memorial plaque in middle
of back; set at edge of
paths; Visitor center
benches on brick pads;
Belfry Hill benches set on
grass or stone dust
Situated in evenly spaced
Concrete sides and wooden
locations along the edges
slats; Wooden slats
- - -- -
of the Battle Green facing
regularly require painting;
- -
away from the street (10)
Informal mass of stone dust
surrounds each bench
Old Burying Ground
Antique granite post and
boundaries
wooden rail fence; iron
A k.
hinges attach rails to posts;
boards are sawn 2 "x4"
boards (oak ?); creates well-
_
delineated edges to
` P
property
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Image
Location
Comments
-
Edge of Battle Green (6)
Metal frame with barrel
liner; no top; curled iron
slats along top edge of
basket
Visitor Center (4) and Belfry
Metal frame with barrel
Hill (1)
liner; insert cover; similar
base design to above;
simpler top. (some inserts
have been removed and
should be replaced)
Drinking fountain on
Spun concrete on
-;;
Massachusetts Avenue (1);
brushed concrete slab
unknown date
base
Wreath and stand
Temporary stands with
(seasonal; wreaths placed
wreaths; moveable wire -
at several monuments on
stand frame; new
special holidays)
wreaths placed for each
event
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Site Furnishing Recommendations
Bench
Naturally weathered teak bench. As they wear out, replace existing concrete and wooden
benches with teak versions set on stabilized sand bases or large size granite paving. .
Battle Green benches do not include memorial plaques; donations of memorial benches
(with plaques) can be used at Belfry Hill and Lexington Visitor Center
Fence
The fence style used at Ye Olde Burying Ground is appropriate and functional.
Throughout the 19th century the Common was fenced with the same two -rail fence style.
Adding the fence back to the Battle Green will create that `special sense of place' that is
so desired by town residents and would create a distinct and different treatment from
other town parks. This fence should be based on the historic design but with removable
rails in the event that the fencing is an obstacle for the reenactments or other large events.
Some of the monuments (and the Old Belfry) are protected by iron picket fencing of
varying heights and styles. These fences require regular repair and maintenance and
should be replaced in kind when replacement is necessary. Research may indicate the
date and reason for the placement of these fences. If installed at the time of monument
installation, they should be considered as part of the monument and conserved under
similar guidelines used for the monuments themselves.
Trash Containers
Both trash container designs are historically sensitive to the Battle Green landscape. The
simple top and black powder- coated style of the newer trash container is easier to
maintain. Consistency is important, so use of all powder- coated black style with the
insert should be required as the older trash containers are replaced. Trash containers
should be placed only in areas frequented by people and set adjacent to or in concert with
benches and other site furnishings.
Drinking Fountain
This feature bears more investigation as to installation date and design selection. The
first drinking fountain was part of the watering trough designed as the Hayes Fountain. If
the Hayes Fountain is restored, then the current drinking fountain could be eliminated
unless it is historically significant. A water fountain serves a necessary functional
purpose for site visitors, and its design needs to be simple yet historically sensitive to the
Battle Green area. Consider removal or relocation of this drinking fountain to another
suitable spot near the Lexington Visitor Center or in the park at the base of Belfry Hill.
Do not compromise underground archaeological resources when placing a new drinking
fountain.
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Action Items•
1. Analyze bench locations and base materials; develop plan for bench placement
(consider grouping 2 -3 benches together in fewer locations).
2. Obtain approval for bench style and pad design.
3. Develop program for bench repair or replacement and policy for benches.
4. Implement bench plans and routine maintenance program.
5. Review number and placement of trash containers. Locate trash containers as
needed throughout Battle Green area; regularly maintain and replace as necessary.
6. Investigate history of drinking fountain and evaluate condition and maintenance
requirements. Restore Hayes Fountain and its use as a drinking fountain if
appropriate. Relocate or remove existing drinking fountain if not historically
significant.
7. Determine if other fountain locations are necessary in the Battle Green area (not
on the Battle Green itself). Install in areas where they will not damage
archaeological features.
3. Lighting
There are four luminaires and four post styles used in the area. Each lighting standard
style reflects its own era of lighting improvements. The glass acorn light on a concrete
post is the most historic (c. 1930's) while the other light standards reflect mid to late 20th
century styles, some inspired by earlier (non - electric) lighting. The curved -top and
platter style light is the only cut -off style fixture that is `dark sky friendly,' a
classification of lighting style that does not reflect light up into the night sky. This
lighting fixture currently offers the softest illumination of any existing luminaire. None
of the fixtures are `full cut off fixtures, meaning that they show the source of
illumination is visible to passersby.
Careful selection of a dark -sky friendly fixture with a full cut -off light source would
enhance the night -time experience of the Battle Green and would not compete with the
special lighting dedicated to illuminating the Minute Man Statue and the flagpole. The
closest existing light standard with these characteristics is the Victorian style curved top
and platter light, though a new platter -style fixture is available now which nests the light
source up into the shade, creating a full cut -off fixture.
Many communities are experimenting with LED lights. This newly emerging, efficient
lighting style is cost effective, but careful selection of a warm LED coloring (non -blue)
and appropriate wattage can create the soft lighting and color tones more typical of
historic lighting. Often LED light is bright and very blue- toned, creating an
unwelcoming, harsh lighting environment that would compete with the aesthetic
monument lighting.
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Lighting Recommendation
Continue to research the history of street lighting in the Battle Green area and determine
the date and reasoning for each lighting campaign. (There are no light fixtures shown in
the 1905 photographs, so presumably any historic fixtures would be 20th century in
design). Include both gas and electric options. The town of Stockbridge just re -cast their
historic light fixtures and posts, and this may be an option for Lexington if a better
historic light fixture is available.
If a more historic fixture is not found, use the curved top platter light (preferably with full
cut -off lighting) as a design template, as it is the most environmentally friendly option,
and offers the softest illumination without glare of all existing styles. Investigate options
for warm LED bulbs in wattage suitable for safety which does not compromise the
monument and flagpole lighting. Obtain approval for selected post, luminiere and type
of bulb selected. Develop a comprehensive lighting plan for the Battle Green which is
sensitive to the aesthetic lighting of the monuments and creates a safe walking and
driving condition using the minimum number of lights. If possible, locate the lights on
the edges of the street across the road from the Battle Green with no lights on the Battle
Green.
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t
�
R
Bedford Street (1)
Bedford Street (5)
Hancock Street (3)
Clarke Street (3)
Metal post and colonial
Spun concrete post with
Spun concrete post
Wooden telephone
luminaire; Installed by
metal top and ruffled
with glass acorn -style
pole post with
Boston Edison as a sample
platter -style luminaire
luminaire
mercury vapor
and never removed (c.
goose -neck
1970's)
luminaire
Lighting Recommendation
Continue to research the history of street lighting in the Battle Green area and determine
the date and reasoning for each lighting campaign. (There are no light fixtures shown in
the 1905 photographs, so presumably any historic fixtures would be 20th century in
design). Include both gas and electric options. The town of Stockbridge just re -cast their
historic light fixtures and posts, and this may be an option for Lexington if a better
historic light fixture is available.
If a more historic fixture is not found, use the curved top platter light (preferably with full
cut -off lighting) as a design template, as it is the most environmentally friendly option,
and offers the softest illumination without glare of all existing styles. Investigate options
for warm LED bulbs in wattage suitable for safety which does not compromise the
monument and flagpole lighting. Obtain approval for selected post, luminiere and type
of bulb selected. Develop a comprehensive lighting plan for the Battle Green which is
sensitive to the aesthetic lighting of the monuments and creates a safe walking and
driving condition using the minimum number of lights. If possible, locate the lights on
the edges of the street across the road from the Battle Green with no lights on the Battle
Green.
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Action Items•
1. Research lighting history and historic design styles.
2. Select post, fixture and lighting type (gas versus electric) for use throughout the
Battle Green.
3. Develop lighting plan showing number, type, and location of fixtures and their
appropriate wattage.
4. Determine if additional monument lighting is appropriate or necessary.
5. Obtain approvals.
6. Implement lighting program over a 2 year period, including replacement of
existing lights
7. Establish regular maintenance program for posts, luminaires and bulb
replacements
4. Vegetation
Trees
Large deciduous shade trees are one of the key defining features of the Battle Green. A
previous plan for the Battle Green in the late twentieth century recommended a double
row of mixed species with similar growth habits around the Battle Green. This duplicates
the historic rhythm and placement of trees in the late nineteenth and early twentieth
century.
The large lawn areas between Bedford Street and the Bicycle Path feature scattered, less
rhythmic placement of deciduous trees and smaller understory fruit trees and
ornamentals. Most of the trees are less than fifty years old, replacements for the massive
number of American Elms lost to Dutch elm disease in the 1950's and 1960's.
The vegetation on Belfry Hill is more rustic — featuring the remains of ornamental
shrubberies (rhododendrons, lilacs and other ornamental early 20th century species),
mixed with stands of seedling oaks, pines and briar bushes. The dry, thin, ledge - strewn
soils on the hilltop limit the opportunities for intentional plantings.
One evergreen tree screens large electric utility boxes on the Massachusetts Avenue side
of the Battle Green. This tree is lit during the holiday season; some feel that this type of
tree is better suited to another location outside the heart of the Battle Green.
Shrubs and Herbaceous Plants
Massed plantings of arborvitae and yew hide the entrance to Belfry Hill. Yew hedges
mixed with other ornamental shrubberies soften the back side of the USS Lexington
memorial. The seemingly accidental nature of the rhododendron plantings on Belfry Hill
are currently the most successful use of evergreens in the area.
There are very limited occurrences of seasonal flower plantings currently in the Battle
Green area. Masses of colorful annuals ornament the pockets of the Hayes Memorial
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Fountain and accent small planting beds near the buildings and interpretive signs on
Massachusetts Avenue.
Grass
Recommendations for the height of the lawn areas were discussed in depth as part of the
public hearing process. Some hoped that the lawns would be maintained as regularly
mown meadows mown four times per year. Others suggested that the Battle Green, in its
role as town common, was more appropriately maintained as a well kept lawn. All
agreed that efforts to minimize compaction and encourage vigorous growth for the grass
were important using organic and ecologically sensitive methods.
The appropriate treatment of the grass should respect its historic precedents and the
contemporary needs for the Battle Green today. Throughout the 181h and 19th century the
Common was pasture. The grasses grazed by cows and sheep were kept irregularly
clipped by the animals, so they were never very tall. After the Civil War, when animals
no longer grazed the Battle Green, the grasses were allowed to grow and then cut as hay;
the hay was auctioned off to a lucky Lexington resident. During this period, the grasses
were cut 3 -4 times annually. This period, however was very brief (c. 1860- 1884). By
1884, when the first monuments were placed on the Battle Green (in addition to the
Revolutionary War Monument from 1799), the grasses were clipped to a manicured lawn.
The 1905 photographs illustrate a Common that had removed all evidence of its former
agricultural roots — the fence was removed, the grasses clipped, and the elms encouraged
to shade the clipped lawn and trimmed sidewalks.
Today's attitudes and opinions about lawn maintenance are mixed. Some encourage the
use of taller, broader -leaf, drought - tolerant varieties or meadow grasses mown less
frequently. Others encourage sound, organic- based, ecologically sensitive maintenance
programs using native or hardy grass species with minimal watering demands. The
thousands of tourists that visit the Battle Green area, the reenactment events and other
programs suitable to the Battle Green have to be considered when determining a grass
maintenance program.
Recommendations
Trees
The Town should continue to plant large deciduous shade trees in a double row around
the Battle Green. When the evergreen masking the utility boxes goes into decline,
options for sinking or masking the utility boxes with smaller shrubs should be planned.
(The existing evergreen masks one of the key views through the Battle Green).
The areas surrounding the Lexington Visitor Center and Buckman Tavern should be
planted with orchards and less formal arrangements of shade trees positioned so they do
not mask the view to the Visitor Center and the other buildings.
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Shrubs and Herbaceous Plants
Shrub plantings that are part of the monument installations, such as the shrubs backing
the USS Lexington Memorial, should be retained and regularly maintained according to
their intent and relationship to the monument.
Remove shrubs along Massachusetts Avenue that are blocking the view to the Lexington
Visitor Center. Establish the view between the Lexington Visitor Center and the Battle
Green by framing it with a few, appropriately placed trees, if necessary.
The yews and arborvitae at the base of Belfry Hill should be removed to encourage
visitors to enter Belfry Hill. The pines that line the property boundary between Belfry
Hill and the neighboring residence should be under - planted with masses of
rhododendrons or other native or hardy, historically appropriate evergreen shrubs to
provide privacy and screening between the public and private spaces.
Plantings on Belfry Hill should be evaluated for intent. Weedy species should be
removed and a carefully designed arrangement of hardy, drought tolerant species added
to the edges of the park to provide privacy to neighboring back yards but highlighting the
expansive views of the Battle Green and village center viewed from the top of the Hill.
Given the thin, ledge- strewn soils atop the hill, limit the occurrence of lawns and
encourage the use of groundcovers, low shrubs and simple plant groupings tolerant of the
difficult growing conditions.
Review the location, size, and condition of trees within Ye Olde Burying Ground. As
necessary, use native or historically appropriate plantings to screen or buffer views to
surrounding properties that detract from the historic character of the burial ground and its
boundary fence. Retain the casually clipped grasses at the base of the fence and retain
the simple boundary created by the fence.
The use of colorful annuals should be discouraged, with the possible exception of the
Lexington Visitor Center and the base of Belfry Hill where the colorful plants might
guide visitors to these under- utilized areas. Guidelines for seasonal plantings should
encourage the use of hardy native or historic species and limit the maintenance and water
demands for these displays.
Grass
The park -like treatment of the Battle Green during the late nineteenth century with its
installation of so many monuments and memorials significantly changed the role of the
grassy lawns from common pasture to public park. Given the predominance of
monuments and memorials on the Battle Green today, the role of the grass as a
greensward is a critical design element in the Battle Green. Its location at the heart of a
bustling downtown surrounded by carefully manicured private residences must be
carefully considered.
If the Battle Green is fenced, there is better opportunity to maintain the grasses to a
different standard than the surrounding residences. If a more historic aesthetic is
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preferred, maintaining the lawns at a height and quality similar to Ye Olde Burying
Ground is one option, with the goal of a fenced pasture rather than a hay meadow.
Recognizing the needs of the Patriots Day re- enactment and the heavy visitation of the
Battle Green area must be considered when selecting a grass height. Limiting heavy
visitation to a few, carefully selected grass paths will force all visitors to use the same
route and by necessity may require this path to be paved to prevent muddy, ill -kept
conditions. Lower grass heights might encourage disbursement of foot traffic across the
Battle Green and prevent heavy wear in one area.
No matter the final decision on length of lawn, it should be maintained at a length that
discourages `browning out' during the hot summer season, and continue the organic
maintenance program already in use by the Superintendent of Grounds.
This standard should also apply to the lawns surrounding the Visitor Center and
Buckman Tavern. Like the Battle Green, the change in maintenance standards to create
lawns in the 19th century has dominated our mowing aesthetics throughout the 20th
century. As part of the evolving history of the Battle Green, the lawn evolved out of the
pasture when machines replaced sheep and cows. As such, maintaining a well tended,
ecologically friendly maintenance program and regular (frequency to be determined)
mowing is appropriate.
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Action Items•
1. Continue tree planting program, being sensitive to keeping open feel of Battle
Green. Use trees of similar size and habit to existing in a double row around the
Battle Green.
2. Develop appropriate species and planting standards for trees surrounding
Buckman Tavern and the Lexington Visitor Center, sited to retain views to both
buildings and connecting views between the Lexington Visitor Center and the
Battle Green.
3. Develop planting and maintenance standards for all plantings associated with
monuments and memorials, including the fountain and traffic islands surrounding
the Minute Man Statue.
4. Develop a planting plan for Belfry Hill, including the removal of evergreen
shrubs that hide the entrance to this area from the public way and the careful
management of species to provide privacy to neighboring yards but open views to
the townscape.
5. Develop an eco- friendly, organic maintenance and mowing program for all grass
areas.
6. Manage soils and watering programs to appropriately and adequately maintain all
plantings in an ecologically sensitive manner.
7. Develop an appropriate maintenance budget for staff to adequately maintain the
Battle Green area.
5. Focal Points and Views
In order to appropriately manage plantings and to enhance the aesthetic and symbolic
aspects of the Battle Green area, understanding and maintaining its focal points and its
key views is critical to the Master Planning process.
At present, the following list represents the primary views for the Battle Green:
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Downtown to the Minute Man
Statue
Minute Man Statue to Flagpole to
First Parish Church
First Parish Church to views across
the Battle Green toward
downtown /Minute Man Statue
Gateway Views: first view to Battle
Green and Buckman Tavern from
intersection of Bedford Street and
Hancock Street
Gateway View: first view of Battle
Green from Massachusetts Avenue as
you approach the end of Harrington
Road
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View from Visitor Center to Hancock
Street
View from Visitor Center to Battle
Green (could use enhancement)
View across Ye Olde Burying Ground
from end of entry road
Panoramic view from top of Belfry Hill
Streetscape — Massachusetts Avenue
vicinity of Battle Green
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Streetscape — Harrington Road
Features that serve as primary focal points for the Battle Green:
1. Minute Man Statue
2. Buckman's Tavern
3. First Parish Church
The following map illustrates the location of key views and focal points (focal points are
marked with an asterisk *).
Recommendations
Preserve existing views and significance of key focal points. Test any proposed plans for
plantings, pedestrian access and traffic management for their impact to these views.
Consider enhancements which might create new views or establish new focal points.
Action items:
1. Review existing views and vistas.
2. Improve view from Lexington Visitor Center to Battle Green and from Bedford
Street to the Lexington Visitor Center to draw visitors into the Center.
3. Improve views from top of Belfry Hill.
4. Enhance existing views and /or create new views within Battle Green that
reinforce its role as a special place.
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View Study, 2010 (Focal Points are marked with a*)
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Recommendation #7: Parking, Traffic Calming and Safe Pedestrian
Access
Parking
In the public survey and in public hearings, parking was identified as a major topic of
concern for the Battle Green. Those who responded indicated that they felt it was
necessary and non - intrusive to allow automobile parking around the Battle Green. Others
strongly supported the possibility of eliminating parking along the edges of the Battle
Green as long as the number of parking spaces could be accommodated elsewhere within
the vicinity. A few suggested limiting automobile parking to the sides of the street
opposite the Battle Green. Parking on Harrington Road was not discussed. Cars parked
along the major thoroughfares offer a small measure of buffer and protection from traffic.
However cars in these locations limit the visibility of the Battle Green from the major
gateways.
A majority of citizens hoped to eliminate bus parking from the Battle Green because of
their size and their continuously - running diesel motors. Everyone recognized, however,
the importance of welcoming tourists and accommodating tour groups.
Establishing a thriving double row of trees along the edge of the roadways throughout the
Battle Green area would help to minimize the impact of vehicular noise and the visual
distraction of parked cars. Carefully planning for safe cross walks in visible locations
where pedestrians are not obscured by parked cars is equally important, particularly if
connections are increased between features on both sides of Bedford Street and
Massachusetts Avenue.
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Recommendations
It is the recommendation of this report that a parking and traffic study be completed that
includes an analysis of parking for automobiles along Bedford Street and Massachusetts
Avenue, alternative locations for these spaces if they were eliminated from the Battle
Green, and options for bus drop -off and parking. There is a significant amount of
parking within the immediate vicinity of the Battle Green, located in large lots behind
downtown businesses. This parking is difficult for visitors to find, and Battle Green
visitors will compete with business traffic for the available spaces. A comprehensive
parking study can analyze the current number, allowed duration, and location of parking
spaces and develop a well considered plan for relocating the existing spaces around the
Battle Green.
In consultation with the Historic Districts Commission, develop plans to remove parking
over a period of time around the Battle Green and relocating the parking spaces to other
designated locations. Parking should be eliminated on Harrington Road except for
Sunday mornings or specific times during regularly scheduled church services.
A dedicated bus drop -off area should be designated in a spot away from cross walks or
areas where buses dropping passengers might obscure pedestrian visibility. Once
passengers disembark, buses should be required to leave the area and park in a designated
lot away from the Battle Green, then return at the appropriate time to pick up passengers.
A plan for tour buses and tour programs should be linked to the interpretation and
signage program, and take into consideration getting visitors into local businesses. One
possibility might include a bus drop -off in the Battle Green area and bus parking or pick
up in the downtown area, encouraging visitors to explore downtown shops. Another
option might include starting bus groups at the Depot or Museum of National Heritage
and bringing them to the Battle Green via trolley or other, less intrusive, mode of mass
transit.
Traffic Calming and Safe Crossings
A number of traffic calming techniques are already in place in the Battle Green area. The
density of the village center, the number of turning and entering vehicles onto major
thoroughfares in the area, and the congested roads all serve as speed - calming agents,
though they increase the frustration and confusion of drivers. Short of installing
pedestrian crossing lights, options for raised cross walks or the use of special paint
highlighting the crossing opportunities for pedestrians are the best means of providing
safe passage for vehicles, people and commercial traffic through the Battle Green area.
Painted or raised granite crosswalks may be an option, though they will require special
design consideration for plows in the winter season.
Bump -outs are used throughout the downtown center, and the Battle Green area currently
includes the use of traffic islands, bump -outs and changes in paving to mark crosswalk
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locations. Where necessary, crosswalks that run perpendicular to the road edge are
preferred to those set at angles. In all cases crosswalks should be located where
pedestrians most often cross the roads. The existing traffic island in front of the Minute
Man Statue has proved to be an effective means to allow visitors to photograph the
monument. Its surface needs aesthetic improvements (such as changing the surface to
stone or using grass or groundcover surrounding a central walk). Where possible,
pedestrians should be encouraged to cross the road at intersections rather than in the
middle of the street — locations where vehicles tend to slow or stop for turning traffic.
Carefully managing through traffic, turning traffic and pedestrian crossings in these areas
is congested but preferable to crossing pedestrians in the middle of a road where they are
not expected. However placing crosswalks where pedestrians WANT to cross the street
will be most effective in controlling pedestrians and cars.
Recommendation
A professional study which analyzes the current parking, traffic and pedestrian crossing
opportunities can offer the best options for solving these important problems. Solutions
for these issues must be carefully studied and solved using appropriate materials and
minimal signage so they do not intrude on the historic integrity of the Battle Green area.
This study should address the overall improved safety for pedestrians to the Normal
School, the Lexington Visitor Center, Buckman Tavern, the Battle Green, the Cary
Library, and downtown businesses.
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Where possible, enhancing the use and feel of the Battle Green area as a special place
apart from other Lexington parks is an important goal of all traffic calming, crossing and
parking recommendations.
Working with the Battle Road corridor, coordinated and consistent treatment of these
issues throughout the Battle Road may offer a comprehensive design solution and
standards that are consistent, considerate of all users, and safe.
Though necessary, safety signage should be carefully designed and limited to those
locations and messages that are critical for the safety of all users. Selected materials and
locations should take into consideration their (positive) visual impact of this sensitive
area.
Action items
1. Analyze past traffic and parking studies and their recommendations.
2. Commission a comprehensive traffic, parking and pedestrian study of the Battle
Green area and its relationship to downtown businesses.
3. Recommend improvements for parking (for all vehicles), traffic calming program,
and pedestrian crossing locations that are sensitive to the Battle Green area.
4. Locate cross walks in the safest locations.
5. Develop design standards for cross walks and islands and use them consistently
throughout the Battle Green area based on traffic calming techniques developed
through the traffic study. Where possible use drought - tolerant groundcovers or
historic paving materials for these islands (as opposed to asphalt).
6. Improve the aesthetics of the traffic island in front of the Minute Man Statue, (if it
is to remain based on the traffic study) including alternative options for surface
paving, use of landscape materials surrounding the Statue, etc.
7. Obtain approval for all plans.
8. Spearhead funding and implementation plan.
9. Maintain all implemented changes; monitor their success and alter as needed.
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Recommendation #8: Funding
The recommendations within this Master Plan cannot be implemented without proper
funding. Another charge of the Battle Green Area Advisory Committee is to make
recommendations for appropriate private and tax payer based funding strategies. As a
highly significant, National Landmark property, the Battle Green has options for
available federal funding not available to other historic sites (the Save America's
Treasures program). Individual features within the Battle Green area (monuments,
markers, historic structures, vegetation) might qualify for funding from various public
and private sources.
Budget
Based on the recommendations in this Master Plan, the following budget has been
prepared based on a three -tier implementation strategy (immediate, mid -term and long-
term improvements). Cost figures are based on 2010 pricing and will have to be adjusted
for inflation as necessary.
(costs will be prepared in late December based on review of this draft document)
Funding Sources
The following is a preliminary list of available federal and state funding sources for the
Battle Green area. Other sources, particularly private grants and foundations, may offer
other funding opportunities, particularly for specific features or aspects of the Battle
Green area (i.e. monument preservation, signage, interpretation, etc.)
1. Grant Name: Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation
Agency: National Trust for Historic Preservation
Amount: $2,500 — 10,000
Match: 1:1
Deadline: Feb 1
Eligible Activities:
Consultant services for planning and education in preservation;
Designing management capabilities; designing marketing
materials; educational programs; web site development
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2. Grant Name:
Save America's Treasures
Agency:
National Park Service, National Endowment for the Arts, Institute
Amount:
of Museum and Library Services, Presidential Committee on the
Match:
Arts and Humanities
Amount:
$125,000- 700,000
Match:
1:1
Deadline:
late May
Eligible Activities:
Preservation and conservation work on National Landmark sites,
structures, intellectual and cultural artifacts
3. Grant Name:
Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund
Agency:
Massachusetts Historical Commission
Amount:
$6,000- 10,000
Match:
60:40
Deadline:
varies
Eligible Activities:
Master planning for historic preservation; feasibility study of
financial, technical or economic alternatives to or advisability of a
proposed preservation project; development of information related
to historic preservation; heritage tourism, historic district design
guidelines, training or educational programs for historic
preservation
4. Grant Name: American Battlefield Protection Program
Agency: National Park Service
Amount: $18,000- 95,000
Match: 1:1
Deadline: January
Eligible Activities:
Battlefield survey, site mapping, preservation planning, cultural
landscape inventories, educational materials and interpretation
5. Grant Name:
Interpreting American History Grant
Agency:
National Endowment for the Humanities
Amount:
$15,000
Match:
outright funds but prefer 1:1 match
Deadline:
January
Eligible Activities:
Planning and implementation grants offered in two separate
categories; visitor orientation, exhibitions, interpretive displays,
revised tour scripts, docent materials, publications such as
brochures and guidebooks, signage, website and other digital
media
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
6. Grant Name: Preserve America Grants
Agency: National Park Service & Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation
Amount: $15,000- 250,000
Match: 1:1
Deadline: February
Eligible Activities:
Heritage tourism, preservation planning, history education and
economic development
7. Grant Name: Massachusetts Downtown Initiative
Agency: Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community
Development
Amount: $10,000
Match: 1:1
Deadline: December
Eligible Activities:
Consulting services for business improvement districts; design;
economic development; housing; parking; way - finding and
branding
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Master Plan (Graphic)
(once the draft plan has been reviewed and revised, this page will contain a compilation
graphic of recommendations for the Battle Green area)
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Conclusion
The Battle Green is a complex layering of daily use and national shrine with intensely
significant symbolism. Every effort, from site furnishings, to the length of grass, to the
maintenance of its memorials should reflect and respect its significance. As such,
standards for the Battle Green and the surrounding historic area are high. The citizens of
Lexington care deeply about this property, and as its owner, proudly search for the
appropriate choices to achieve these high standards. Community ownership, however,
also requires multiple opinions and respect for differing attitudes about use, design
standards, and interpretive programming. This respect for diverse opinion and the role of
individual citizens to shape public policy is exactly what the Battle Green represents.
Therefore, the implementation of its Master Plan will, by necessity, be laborious and
riddled with passionate conversation. Instead of slowing or stopping the process,
however, it should not prevent progress, but inform it. Eventually, the Board of
Selectmen and Town Meeting have to cast a vote and move forward, under the guidance
of the Battle Green Area Advisory Council. This steady, forward movement, coupled
with sound budgeting and conscientious maintenance programs, will ensure that we
preserve `the birthplace of American liberty' for future generations of Lexingtonians and
for those visitors from around the world who view the land as a sacred reminder of
American ideals.
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Annotated Bibliography
---------- Renactment of the Battle of April 19, 17 75. (Lexington MA: 1986)
Source: Cary Memorial Library 1 videocassette
Description: Video of battle re- enactment from 1986
Cary Memorial Library, comp. Articles and brochures about Lexington Battle Green.
(continuously updated ).
Source: Cary Memorial Library, Lex Room 974.44L Gr
Description: Newspaper clippings from the Lexington Minute -Man, Boston
Globe, Massachusetts Historical Commission, Centennial Legion
Cary Memorial Library, comp. Articles and brochures, Minute Man Statue, Lexington
MA (continuously updated).
Source: Cary Memorial Library Lex Room 974.44L L591hms
Description: Story of the famous statue at Lexington Green by J. Robert
Sherman — the Minute Man Speaks; Norton Tuttle Hood.
Newspaper clippings fromteh Lexington Minute -Man, Boston
Globe about Minute Man Statue
Cary Memorial Library, comp. Historic buildings, places and historic districts articles
and brochures, Town of Lexington (continuously updated)
Source: Cary Memorial Library Lex Room 974.44L H 628hd
Description: Newspaper clippings from the Lexington Minute -Man, Boston
Globe
Cary Memorial Library, comp. Historic descriptive brochures, Lexington Battle Green
(continuously updated).
Source: Cary Memorial Library Lex Room 974.44L L59bad
Description: Guidebooks to Lexington, Lexington and natural history guide,
story of famous statue at Lexington Green
Fleming, Ronald Lee and Lauri A. Halderman. On Common Ground: Caring for Shared
Land from Town Common to Urban Park. (Cambridge MA: The Townscape
Institute and Harvard MA: Harvard Common Press: 1982).
Source: Consultant's library; also available through Massachusetts Inter-
library loan program
Description: Study and recommendations for managing, designing and
interpreting town commons
Hamilton, Lynn. The Master Plan for Recreation and Open Space. (Lexington MA
Department of Parks: 1970)
Source: Cary Memorial Library Lex Room 974.44L L591rg 1970
Description: Planning Board report for Lexington parks and open space
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Hudson, Charles. History of the Town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts:
from its first settlement to 1868. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co: 1913)
Source: Cary Memorial Library 974.44L H867h vl and v2
Description: detailed history of Lexington from early settlement through 1912
Lexington Conservation, Planning and Recreation Departments. 1997 Lexington Open
Space and Recreation Plan. (Lexington MA: 1997)
Source: Cary Memorial Library REF 974.44L L5916m
Description: Recreation plan for Lexington (report), 1997
Lexington Historic Districts Commission. Lexington Historic Districts Commission:
applications, instructions and guidelines. (Lexington MA: 2001)
Source: Cary Memorial Library, Lex Room 974.44L L5912a 2003
Description: Lexington historic districts application instructions and guidelines
Lexington Oral History project. Democracy and Dissent (Lexington MA: 2007;1994)
Source: Cary Memorial Library 66 videodiscs
Description: Lexington Oral History project videorecordings
Lexington, Town of. Rules and Specifications Regulating the Use of the Battle Green,
2004
Source: Lexington Town Hall: Town Clerk's Office
Description: Typewritten sheet; rules and regulations for use of Battle Green
including application for event or activity
Linenthal, Edward. Sacred Ground: Americans and Their Battlefields. (University of
Illinois Press: 199 1)
Source: Cary Memorial Library Lex Room 973 L
Description: Book includes descriptions of Lexington and Concord
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Freedom's Way Heritage
Association. Lexington Reconnaissance Report: Freedom's Way Landscape
Inventory. (Boston MA: Massachusetts Heritage Landscape Inventory Program:
2006)
Source: Cary Memorial Library REF 974.44L L
Description: Landscape inventory including Lexington history, Battle Road
Corridor, historic cemeteries, inventory of archaeological assets,
planning documents and tools, preservation planning
recommendations
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Historic Landscape
Preservation Initiative. Terra Firma: Putting Historic Landscape Preservation on
Solid Ground. Common Wealth: The Past and Future of Town Commons.
(Boston MA: 2008)
Source: available online at
htlp://mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/histland/terra firma6.pdf
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Description: General history of Massachusetts town commons, preservation
planning considerations, case studies of some Massachusetts
commons
Pullen, Doris Luck. In the Shadow of the Minute Man: a guide to Lexington,
Massachusetts. (Lexington MA Battle Green Publications: 1964)
Source: Cary Memorial Library
Description: travel guide to sites and locations in Lexington
Sileo, Thoma P. Historical Guide to Open Space in Lexington. (1995)
Source: Cary Memorial Library 974.44L S
Description: History of Lexington's open spaces and parks; includes chapter on
Lexington Common
Sileo, Thoma P. History of Lexington Battle Green. (1995)
Source: Cary Memorial Library Lex Room 974.44L S
Description: History of Battle Green to 1995
Walter Cudnohufsky Associates. The Battle Green, Lexington, Massachusetts. Town
Commons Preservation Initiative. Historic Preservation Grant Program.
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management. (Ashfield MA: 2001).
Source: Cary Memorial Library, Lex Room 974.44L Grp
Description: Typewritten manuscript report; results of public charrette and
consultants recommendations for Battle Green
Worthen, Edwin B. A Calendar History of Lexington, Massachusetts, 1620 -1946.
(Lexington MA: Lexington Savings Bank (in observance of its 75th anniversary
1871 -1946: 1946).
Source: Cary Memorial Library Lex Room 974.44L W899c
Description: Calendar including images of Lexington Battle Green
Worthen, Edwin B. Historic Lexington published in the Times Minute Man, Lexington's
Newspaper. (Lexington MA: Times Minute Man Newspaper: 1930)
Source: Cary Memorial Library Lex Room 974.44L H629p
Description: Historical events by the year in Lexington
Worthen, Edwin B. Tracing the Past in Lexington, Massachusetts. (Vantage Press: 1998)
Source: Cary Memorial Library 974.44L W899t
Description: Book outlining the process of historic research and sources in
Lexington
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Plans for Lexington Battle Green on File, Lexington Department of Engineering
Proposed Work, May 24, 1928 [Public Grounds and Buildings 63; Vault 201 Bedford
Street]
As Built, March 1925. [Public Grounds and Buildings 53; Vault 201 Bedford Street]
Land Around Common, January 1, 1917. [Public Grounds and Buildings 83; Vault 201
Bedford Street]
As Built, n.d. [Public Grounds and Buildings 65; Vault 201 Bedford Street]
Sprinkler System, 1974. [Public Grounds and Buildings 89; Vault 201 Bedford Street]
Tree Map, June 1957 [Public Grounds and Buildings 53A; Vault 201 Bedford Street]
Middlesex County Atlas. (Bound volume) 1906 [Vol. 2 Middlesex County Vault 201
Bedford Street]
Map of Belmont, Watertown, Waltham and Lexington (bound volume) 1898. [Vault 201
Bedford Street]
Lexington GIS. Base maps and mapped layers. 2010. [online]
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Appendices
1. Guidelines for Greens
2. Case Studies from Other Communities
3. Public Forum Comments (October 20, 2010)
4. Survey data, 2010
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
(Authors Note: This list of guidelines, and this publication, offer simple rules for proper
management of town greens. Lexington has already adopted many of these goals; the others are
part of the objective of this Master Plan)
Guidelines for Greens
By Thomas M. Paine, ASLA and Lauri A. Halderman
Published in On Common Ground: Caring for Shared Land from Town Common to
Urban Park (Harvard MA: Harvard Common Press, 1982)
FOCUS
1. Maintain the dominance of an effective focal point
2. If the green has no focal point, consider creating one
3. If several embellishments compete for dominance, relocate or reorganize them
4. Provide additional focus by enclosing the green with a fence, rows of trees, or
both
LANDSCAPE
1. Maintain characteristic planting of the space
2. Locate trees according to historical, spatial, and environmental factors
3. Plant trees along the perimeter to provide a strong sense of enclosure
4. Plant trees and shrubs sparingly in other locations, for special design purposes
5. Restrict flowers to planters or other suitable containers
6. Preserve the existing topography of the green.
FOOTPATHS
1. Provide paths to major points of destination and embellishments
2. Arrange paths in a pattern that is simple and functional
3. Keep footpaths uniformly narrow
4. Provide access for the handicapped to the major path
5. Pave off -path areas if necessary
6. Choose footpath and paved area materials that are attractive, compatible, and
durable
FURNISHINGS
1. Restrict the number of furnishings so that they do not overwhelm the green.
2. Select new furnishings to coordinate with the existing style, or replace the entire
system
3. Provide lighting on the green as necessary
4. Choose furnishings that are well designed, durable, and in keeping with the
character of the green.
INTERPRETATION
1. Use interpretive material to convey historical and contemporary information.
2. Consider a variety of media.
3. Integrate interpretive markers with other green furnishings
ENCROACHMENT
1. Defend the green against state highway encroachment.
2. Defend the green against local expropriation for traffic, recreation, and other
purposes.
3. Define the edges of the green
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
4. Choose furnishings that are well designed, durable, and in keeping with the
character of the green.
TRAFFIC
1. Enforce low speed limits around the green.
2. Provide adequate crosswalk access to the green.
3. Eliminate curbside parking along the perimeter of the green.
4. Restrict the number of signs on the green.
TOWNSCAPE
1. Preserve the townscape enclosure of the green.
2. Preserve attractive views as well as the buildings themselves.
3. Preserve historic townscape details
4. Encourage rehabilitation and amenities projects in the area surrounding the green.
5. Defend solar access to the green.
6. Reduce the clutter of telephone poles and overhead wires.
USE
1. Encourage regular, passive use of the green.
2. Use the green for both small- and large -scale community events
3. Involve the green in the observance of holidays, especially Arbor Day.
4. Prohibit permanent facilities that benefit only special - interest groups.
5. Establish a system of management for special events
MAINTENANCE
1. Establish a system of routine maintenance
2. Establish a hierarchy of maintenance priorities
3. Supplement parks department staff with a private landscape maintenance firm if
necessary
4. Encourage owners of properties adjacent to the green to adopt similar
maintenance programs
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Case Studies
Keene NH Too many embellishments (fountains, bandstands, etc.);
pedestrian access
Bridgewater MA Plantings confined to containers
Salem MA Restored missing elements; rehab funding
New Haven CT Path system and working green
Lawrence MA Commemorative memorials
Cambridge MA Treatment of paving at base of memorials to prevent erosion and
wear; Planning and funding
Little Compton RI Lighting standards and commemorative plaques at base
Dedham MA Fencing
Falmouth MA
Fencing, embellishments, Seasonal displays; events issues
Woodstock VT
Inferior standards for light posts
Middletown CT
Highway encroachment
Tallmadge OH
Highway encroachment and green space
Norwich CT
Parking
Waltham MA
Paving, planning issues
Madison CT
Pulling the elements back together again
Easthampton MA
South Royalton VT
Ipswich MA
Gifts and legacies
Curbing
Construction of new buildings
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Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
Other Massachusetts Communities with Town Commons:
• = national significance
Amherst
Edgartown
Marshfield
Sheffield
East Amherst
South Egremont
Middleton
Stow
South Amherst
Essex
Milton
Sturbridge
North Andover
Falmouth
Natick
Sudbury
Ashby
Framingham
Needham
Sutton
Auburn
Fitchburg
Needham
Taunton
Barnstable
Foxboro
Heights
Templeton
Barre
Framingham
New Bedford
Tewksbury
Bedford
South
Newbury
Tolland
Belchertown
Framingham
New
Topsfield
Berlin
Grafton
Marlborough
Townsend
Billerica
Granby
New Salem
Tyngsboro
Bolton
Greenfield
Newton
Wakefield
Boston
Groton
Norfolk
Waltham
Boylston
Hadley
Northampton
Warwick
Boxford
Hanover
Northboro
Wayland
Braintree
Hardwick
North Carver
Webster
Brewster
Harvard
Northfield
Wendell
Bridgewater
Haverhill
North Reading
Wenham
Brimfield
Hingham
Norton
Westborough
Brookfield
Holden
Norwell
West Boylston
Brookline
Holliston
Oakham
West
Cambridge
Hopkinton
Pepperell
Bridgewater
Carlisle
Huntington
Petersham
West Brookfield
Carver
Ipswich
Pittsfield
Westfield
North Carver
Lancaster
Plymouth
West Newbury
Charlestown
Lawrence (2)
Prescott
West Townsend
Chelmsford
Lee
(Groton)
Westford
Chelsea
Leominster
Princeton
Westhampton
Cohasset
Lexington
Quincy
Weston
Concord
Littleton
Reading
Westwood
Conway
Longmeadow
Rehobeth
Williamstown
Dedham (2)
Lowell
Rochester
Winchester
Deerfield
Ludlow
Rowley
Woburn
Dennis
Lynn
Roxbury
Worcester
South Dennis
Lynnfield
Royalston
Wrentham
Dunstable
Mansfield
Rutland
Duxbury
Marlboro
Salem
Easthampton
Village
Sandwich
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Public Forum Comments
Lexington Battle Green
October 20, 2010
Estabrook Hall
Important considerations for Master Plan suggested by individual audience participants:
• Handicapped Parking
• Don't move statue
• Eliminate parking only if alternative spaces are available
• Handicapped Accessible surfaces for walks and paths
• Keep center of Battle Green open —trees only on perimeter
• Federal regulations impose a level of review and stewardship
• Landmark status makes Battle Green eligible for Save America's Treasures money
• Notify people about burying ground and encourage them to go visit
• Spruce tree is annoying for seeing obelisk
• Current obelisk fencing serves no purpose — remove railing and maintain area
• One consistent material for walkway surfaces — all weather and durable
• Tree Committee member: trees around periphery — deciduous — they are important;
not fan of spruce tree; 2 staggered rows of deciduous trees makes most sense
• Handouts /interpretation: Handout is better than too many signs
• Need to provide map of Battle Green and adjacent areas, including how to get to
Burying Ground
• Tree removal /planting policy (tree committee)
• Return Battle Green to original view at time of Battle
• Find ways to integrate historic sites surrounding Battle Green into interpretation
and visitor experience
• Exhibit for everyday — good ideas for scope should not be bound by geography —
binding things
• Is space for tourists or residents? How does that affect approach?
• Disturbing to think that some people think the Center and Battle Green area
separate
• Stewardship for April 19th
• Evocative of 1775 but not stagnate
• Wider definition of Battle Green is better
• 5 -10 year plan to eliminate parking is critical
• Different surface structure is important
• Subtle connection of roadway to Olde Burying Ground — encourages visitors to go
see what is over there.
• Residents don't assume Battle Green is the same as other parks — they value the
importance of the Battle Green
• How to enforce regulations?
• Active versus passive recreation?
• No longer get a special feeling the way it is now
53 High Street
Kennebunk ME 04043
cindy @pastdesigns.com
Lexington Battle Green Area Draft Master Plan 12/6/2010
• Two issues: recreate 1775 or minor modifications to existing?
• Think in terms of permanent decisions versus reversible decisions
• Oversight belongs with Selectmen
• Visibility of Selectmens' meetings and their decision - making is important to Battle
Green governance
• Commission bronze statues for those that died on the Battle Green and place where
they lay
• Can't turn back time but can be evocative of 1775
• Increase Battle Green portion of Common
• Create a feeling that evokes 1775
• Interpret place as more educational
• How does it hold the ideal of what happened that day?
• Different interpretations of information such as filming reenactment
• Different rules for Battle Green versus across the street — allow some activities to
happen across the street that are not permitted on Battle Green
• Don't forget spiritual sense of space
• Why not an app on an (Phone that shows battle?
• GPS guided tours?
• Should be an evaluative body to present recommendations for Selectmens'
consideration
Lots of discussion about spiritual aspect of Battle Green and what it represents. Plan
needs to be guided by this ideal as much as it describes the physical changes to the space.
Lots of discussion about interpretation techniques (signs /images /apps) that allow all
visitors to experience the space on the day of the Battle
Lots of discussion about tourism and economic development — link between tourists and
businesses of Lexington
Balance residents' needs to tourists needs
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(insert excel spreadsheet of survey results)
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