2023-02-01-REC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Town of Lexington Recreation Committee Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Tel: (781) 698-4800 Christian Boutwell, Vice Chair Fax: (781) 861-2747 Carl Fantasia Lisa O’Brien Claire Sheth Renen Bassik Weiwei Li Recreation Committee Minutes of Meeting February 1, 2023 A meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 in person and via zoom as a hybrid meeting at 6:30pm in Room 237 of the Lexington Community Center. Members Present: Rick DeAngelis, Christian Boutwell, Carl Fantasia, Weiwei Li, Lisa O’Brien, and Claire Sheth Members Absent: Renen Bassik Staff Present: Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, Christine Dean, Community Center Director, Dave Pinsonneault, DPW Director Others Present: In person: Suzie Barry (Select Board Liaison) Joining via Zoom: Bobby Lyng (38 Bose Street), Tim Clackson (14 Winthrop Road), Barbara Williams, Bernard Reddy, KB, Mark Sandeen (10 Brent Road), Rod Cole, Sean Kennedy (98 East Street), Suzanne Lau (18 Phinney Road), Tom Rhodes (482 Marrett Rd.) 1. Athletic Fields Projects at Lincoln Park: Proposed Athletic Lighting Slideshow Presentation by Christian Boutwell is included in attachments. 2. Public Comment Bobby Lyng, President of Lexington Youth Lacrosse (LYL), shared that the organization operates in conjunction with the Recreation and Community Programs Department and works collaboratively with the Town. The Lacrosse Program has been growing at a rate of about 6% annually and there is a need in Town for more fields. LYL has been expanding play through other organizations but they cannot compete with the bidding and funding. An increase in fields and lighting allows players to come back into Lexington. Mr. Lyng expressed LYL’s support of the lighting project. Tim Clackson is on the Lexington United Soccer Club (LUSC) Board and helps with scheduling for the teams. Mr. Clackson expressed that LUSC is a large and important part of the youth sports program in Town. They represent over 1,400 kids between grades K – 12 in various programs. The organization’s mission is to build a life-long love of soccer in Lexington youth. He agreed that there is a deficit in space, especially in practice times. LUSC works collaboratively with the Recreation and Community Programs Department to maximize use, especially given the increased loss in afterschool use due to the late school start. On behalf of the kids in the LUSC program, Mr. Clackson stated their support of anything that increases the availability of field use in a cost effective way, especially in light of the impending high school project.