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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-16-REC-min Town of Lexington Recreation Committee Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Tel: (781) 698-4800 Lisah Rhodes, Vice Chair Fax: (781) 861-2747 Christian Boutwell Carl Fantasia Lisa O’Brien Claire Sheth Recreation Committee Minutes of Meeting May 16, 2022 A meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday, May 16, 2022 at 7:00pm in Room 242 of the Lexington Community Center. Members Present: Rick DeAngelis, Lisah Rhodes, Christian Boutwell, Carl Fantasia, Lisa O’Brien, and Claire Sheth Staff Present: Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, Christine Dean, Community Center Director, and Dave Pinsonneault, DPW Director Others Present: Cristina Burwell (6 Albemarle Avenue, Lexington), Dongling Chen (39 Parker Street, Lexington), Howard Cloth (19 Sherman Street, Lexington), Kathleen Lenihan (School Committee liaison), Susann Luperfoy (31 Clarke Street, Lexington), Hal Miller-Jacobs (17 Swan Lane, Lexington), Helena and Richard Petrasso (39 Parker Street), Darren Rough (35 Parker Street), Longwei Su (29 Parker Street, Lexington), and Ruth Thomas (10 Parker Street, Lexington) 1. Meeting Minutes – April 27, 2022 Lisah Rhodes moved to approve the minutes from the April 27th meeting. Claire Sheth seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 4-0 to approve the April 27 minutes. 2. Public Comment Howard Cloth, resident of 19 Sherman Street, expressed his concerns about having pickleball at the Gallagher Courts. Mr. Cloth is opposed to the noise created by pickleball, but he is not opposed to pickleball itself. In Mr. Cloth’s opinion, regular, ongoing use would not qualify under the exemption within the Town’s noise bylaw. In addition to being a matter of law, there is a timing issue for the Gallagher reconstruction project with the building of a new Lexington High School in the coming years. Mr. Cloth referenced how there is a large staging area for the construction of the new high school in Belmont. Susann Luperfoy, resident of 31 Clarke Street, stated that she uses multiple recreation facilities and programs, such as swimming and tennis. While she is not an abutter, she is a heavy user at the Center Recreation Complex and she marvels at how many people are there on any given night. The design of the complex was well-thought out and provides a variety of activities such as track and field, soccer, tennis, playground, picnic area, and Skate Park. As a tennis member, Ms. Luperfoy indicated that she has a hard time reserving court time due to the demand and is concerned that having four pickleball courts will make court time even harder to come by. She is concerned about the noise level for the abutters and proposed that another location be found for pickleball. Longwei Su, resident of 29 Parker Street, thanked the Committee for the opportunity to speak. Mr. Su expressed his concerns with the noise level of pickleball as well and compared a 2 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 measurement of 70 decibels at 100’ as being equivalent to the noise level that is generated by a highway. His hope is that the noise consideration is factored in during the planning for this project. Richard Petrasso, resident of 39 Parker Street, loves pickleball and plays the sport. The problem is that at Gallagher, there is only twelve (12) meters between the courts and the abutters. Mr. Petrasso encouraged the Committee to find the right location for pickleball in Lexington. Hal Miller-Jacobs, resident of 17 Swan Lane, is an avid pickleball player. He participates in two groups with 15+ members each and he indicated that no one plays nor wants to play pickleball at Gallagher. Mr. Miller-Jacobs thanked the Committee for recognizing seniors and the excellent exercise that pickleball provides for seniors. He thanked Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, for the installation of windscreens and pickleball line markings at the courts. Mr. Miller-Jacobs emphasized that Lexington needs dedicated pickleball courts as several surrounding communities, such as Burlington and Woburn, have these amenities. In his opinion, the Adams Courts would be a wonderful location since there are no abutters at this park. 3. Recreation Committee Email Correspondence – Lisa O’Brien Lisah Rhodes reported that ten emails were received about finding an alternative location for pickleball in Lexington instead of the Gallagher Courts. Other emails received were concerning the Lexington High School softball banner on the outfield fence at Center #2, the water fountains at Lincoln Park, and modifications to the traffic plan at Lincoln Park. 4. Recreation & Community Programs Report The May Recreation & Community Programs Report is attached to the meeting minutes. A series of shows hosted by Brett Outchcunis during the month of May that promote Skills for Life was highlighted. The department received two grants from the Dana Home Foundation this year: one to support the Forever Fit program ($19,800) and one to support the Drums Alive program ($2,500). The grant reception will be held on Wednesday, May 18th. The outdoor tent at the Community Center will be delivered on Wednesday, May 18th. Kate DeAngelis, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, recently became certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid and Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, was recently recertified as a Certified Pool Operator (CPO). The kickoff meeting for the Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) will be held on Tuesday, May 17th. 5. Liaison Reports The May Liaison Reports are attached to the meeting minutes. 6. Bike Park/Pump Track – Mike O’Connor, resident This item has been moved to the June Recreation Committee meeting. 7. Athletic Field Feasibility Study – Melissa Battite Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, provided the Committee with an update on the Athletic Field Feasibility Study. A copy of the presentation slides, which was prepared by Weston & Sampson, is attached to the meeting minutes. The project mobilized in Fall 2021 and Weston & Sampson will present the final report at the June Recreation Committee meeting. Ms. Battite reported that there were no real surprises when it comes to big picture findings. Several fields drain poorly based on their location and some of the options that were presented to staff were deemed non-starters due to such factors as being located in a settled neighborhood or parking limitations at the site. Once the final report has been received, it will be up to the staff and Committee to determine how the improvements can be built into the Recreation 5-Year Capital Plan. Ms. Battite recognized the various groups that filled out the survey that helped compile the information in the final report, which included cricket, ultimate frisbee, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, and the Lexington Public Schools. 3 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 Ms. Battite reminded the Committee that this study came as a result of the failed venture with Minuteman High School. Such considerations that were reviewed during the process included lighting, field reconfiguration, safety, converting fields from natural grass to synthetic turf, site expansion, and public/private partnerships. The demand for organized field use exceeds the Town’s inventory. Excessive use during all seasons has caused stressed conditions at multiple field locations, poor field drainage significantly reduces field time and overburdens fields that drain well, and the user experience can be different at each field due to availability and condition. Dave Pinsonneault, DPW Director, added that the more use on a natural grass field, the quicker the conditions will deteriorate. To preserve the longevity of the fields, it is important to rotate and rest fields, which are luxuries that the Town is unable to implement at this time due to demand. Some of the poorer draining fields include Bowman, Bridge, Clarke, and Center #1. Additional considerations that were reviewed include peak programming (after school/work and weekends), limited lighting on the existing synthetic turf fields, limited real estate, and protected open space. The Committee members will review the study further and submit comments by May 30th prior to the final presentation being given at the June meeting. At this point, a total of ten (10) proposed concepts were reviewed. Mr. Pinsonneault noted that some of these sites are already included in the 5-Year Capital Plan and it is good to know that there are options at the various sites. Kathleen Lenihan, School Committee liaison, recommended putting Harrington B and Harrington C really low on the list since an alternative location for the Lexington Public Schools administrative offices has not been identified. Rick DeAngelis, Chairman of the Recreation Committee, stated that recreation resources are limited and over- utilized and are in need of renovation and upgrading. Lisa O’Brien asked if deficits will remain once the projects are completed and where does the Town have the most demand. Ms. Battite and Mr. DeAngelis reminded the Committee about the presentation that two high school students made several years ago about the need for a cricket field in town. The intent is that issues like this would be adequately addressed through the implementation of this study. Christian Boutwell acknowledged that the use at Lincoln is already being maximized and he would not want to see the field conditions deteriorate prematurely due to additional use. 8. Munroe Centre for the Arts – Cristina Burwell Cristina Burwell, Executive Director of the Munroe Centre for the Arts, was joined by Brian Healy of Brian Healy Architects and Steve Poltorzycki, Co-Chair of the Munroe Centre for the Arts Board of Directors, to review proposed improvements at the site. Site drawings and renderings are attached to the meeting minutes. Munroe was built as a school building back in 1905. The priority is to increase accessibility with the main focus being on the inclusion of an elevator and accessible restrooms. The project would also extend into the recreation land that is located behind the building. The proposed project fits into items identified in the 2020 Community Needs Assessment, such as outdoor events and cultural experiences, and Ms. Burwell wanted to touch base with the Committee to provide an update. Mr. Healy added that planning has been ongoing over the past year. The proposed entry pavilion would be accessible, contain gender neutral bathrooms, and would require parking to be extended. One option being considered is to switch the orientation of the parking lot from east-west to north-south. The project calls for the creation of an amphitheater and the end result is for the Munroe campus to serve multiple purposes. There are currently 41 parking spots and no spaces would be eliminated. The goal is to work in concert with the Committee to improve organization of the campus, enhance safety, clearly identify uses at the park, and improve playability for organized activities. Securing funding and meeting with the abutters to discuss the project are the next steps in the process. There is no budget estimate at this time. Ms. Battite indicated that the Commission on Disability (COD), Building Department, Community Preservation Committee (CPC), and Design Review Team have all seen this presentation. The property is not Article 97 land, but Town 4 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 Counsel wants to know the intention of the use as the public building is currently leased to the Centre. Ms. Battite added that there are possibilities to partner that the department has not traditionally undertaken in the past and understands the loss of green space that would result if the project moves forward. Rick DeAngelis was in favor of the layout and commented on the exterior amphitheater. Dave Pinsonneault acknowledged that it would be challenging to create a connection to the Minuteman Bikeway. 9. National Park & Recreation Month – Proclamation July is National Park & Recreation Month and the draft of the proclamation is attached to the meeting minutes. Melissa Battite explained that this item would be a standalone item on June 6th Select Board meeting agenda since this is a first-time request. After a brief discussion, Lisah Rhodes made the following motion: “The Recreation Committee moves to accept and bring forward the designation of July as Park and Recreation Month to the next Select Board meeting.” Claire Sheth seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 6-0 to approve this motion. Rick DeAngelis commended the incredibly dedicated staff of the department, including Melissa Battite, Peter Coleman, Christine Dean (Community Center Director), Tom Romano (Youth & Family Program Coordinator), Hayato Tsurumaki (Recreation Supervisor), and Kate DeAngelis. 10. Pickleball at Center – Darren Rough Darren Rough, resident of 35 Parker Street, gave a presentation on pickleball at the Center Recreation Complex and a copy of the presentation slides is attached to the meeting minutes. Mr. Rough moved to Lexington in Fall 2020 and the park and recreation opportunities in Lexington are numerous. Pickleball is a terrific idea, great for seniors who are valued within this community, and it features exercising, being outside, and socializing with friends. Noise is the identifiable problem. There are good and not-so-good places to put pickleball courts and they can be located in a more suitable location. Mr. Rough stated that noise bylaws were created because there are health issues and encouraged the Committee to think about why we have noise bylaws to avoid any ill effects. He asked where the better places for the pickleball courts would be and if there would be value in forming a working group that could evaluate the potential options. Mr. Rough referenced cricket, which speaks to the inclusiveness of the Lexington community. Christian Boutwell stated that the layouts for the courts would be the same as they have been the last four years when Gallagher #7-10 were lined for pickleball in 2018 and he reiterated that the current proposal has not been finalized yet. Claire Sheth added that a false narrative about the scope of this project has been created in recent months. Moving forward, Lisa O’Brien said that it will be important to correct inaccuracies so the community can trust the Committee with its stewardship of the Town’s recreational resources. Melissa Battite stated that there must be a thoughtful approach when it comes to the timeline for this project. The department currently has several successful working groups and reiterated that the noise bylaw exemption is not something that staff is hiding behind. Ms. Battite added that between April 1 and May 10, 2022, only four (4) hours of pickleball use were reserved on Gallagher #7-10. This does not include when the Lexington High School PE classes have pickleball as an activity. Richard Petrasso stated that those in attendance would like for there to be a working group. Rick DeAngelis said that the Committee has listened and that it will take some steps to form a working group on this matter. The next meeting of the Recreation Committee is scheduled to take place on Monday, June 13th at 7:00pm. The May 16th, 2022 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 9:10pm. 5 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 Respectfully submitted, Peter Coleman Assistant Director of Recreation The following documents distributed at the meeting are attached:  May 2022 Recreation & Community Programs Report  May 2022 Liaison Reports  Town of Lexington Athletic Field Study Presentation Slides  Munroe Centre for the Arts Site Drawings and Renderings  Park and Recreation Month Proclamation  Bringing pickleball to Lexington in a responsible way presentation