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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-11-16-REC-min 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 November 16, 2022 A meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 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, Renen Bassik, Carl Fantasia, Weiwei Li, Lisa O’Brien, and Claire Sheth Members Not present: Staff Present: Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, Christine Dean, Community Center Director, and Dave Pinsonneault, DPW Director Others Present: Suzie Barry (Select Board liaison), Brian Kelley (44 Grant Street), Harold Payson (40 Highland Ave.), Denali Payson (40 Highland Ave.), Becky Abeyta (40 Highland Ave.) and online attendees: Carol Rose (11 Parker Street, Lexington), Erik Larson (54 Burlington Street, Lexington), Mike Beverly (3 Flintlock Road, Lexington), and Scotlyn Yates (60 Burlington Street, Lexington) 1. Public Comment None. 2. August Meeting Minutes Rick DeAngelis moved to approve the revised minutes from the August 17th meeting and Claire Sheth seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 7-0 to approve this motion. 3. October Meeting Minutes Christian Boutwell moved to approve the minutes from the October 19th meeting and Lisa O’Brien seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 7-0 to approve this motion. 4. Lincoln Park Sub-Committee Annual Update – Brian Kelley Brian Kelley, Chairman of the Lincoln Park Sub-Committee, provided an update to the group about the work that they have done over the past year. A large focus has been on controlling invasive species. Mr. Kelley reported that the main upcoming capital concerns will be the fitness stations and the boardwalk. There are 15 stations which will be due for replacement in the next few years. Mr. Kelley believes they were redone in 2003 when the turf fields were installed. He informed the Committee that they get decent use but with upgrades they will get a lot more. He went on to explain that the composite boardwalk is presenting a safety concern. It was possible to “Band-Aid” the broken boards but it is becoming more problematic. He explained that the areas that get the most sun have faired the least well. Mr. Kelley finished his presentation to the group by mentioning the two memorial bench requests that have been discussed and voted upon by the 2 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 sub-committee. The family of Tiffany Fontanez would like to donate a granite bench in the birch grove area. The other request came from the family of Mark Fraitas. At the completion of Mr. Kelley’s update, Christian Boutwell asked where the income comes from for improvements to the park. Mr. Kelley described the two public trust funds; the Kirk Fund and the Teresa and Roberta Lee Fitness Path Fund. These funds were created with donated monies and generate annual income which has been used for projects such as the granite forest and the 2013 Bathroom project. He explained that the bulk of the ongoing maintenance and landscaping is completed by volunteer stewards. Mr. Boutwell questioned whether the lack of use of the fitness equipment was due to the condition of the stations or a lack of interest. Mr. Kelley clarified that the central location of the equipment makes it a valuable asset to the community of Lexington. The stations have been there for 30 years and he believes they will get used. Mr. Boutwell wondered if the stations would be better off consolidated around the athletic area and fields. Mr. Kelley explained that the group would like to see the park continue to blend the fitness with the nature. Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, added that it is good timing because of the upcoming Lincoln Park Master Plan. Mr. Boutwell suggested putting the epicenter of the fitness trail at Worthen Road to help draw the public into the path as opposed to starting at the far side of the fields. Mr. Kelley stated that they currently draw people with informational pamphlets and signage. Claire Sheth asked if the LABBB program used the equipment and if so, that could help inform the choice of replacement equipment. Lisa O’Brien added that the number of bench requests has been impressive. Mr. Kelley agreed, adding that last spring Thomas Worth Associates performed a couple of assessments, mapping all the benches on the property. The assessment didn’t account for the memorial vs. traditional park benches, however, and they would like to have firm come back to track that. Following the Lincoln Park Sub-Committee update, Committee Chair Rick DeAngelis suggested skipping to agenda item #7 to receive the Lincoln Park Master Plan Update. 5. Liaison Reports and Working Group Updates There were no updates submitted ahead of time. Ms. O’Brien reported on behalf of the Community Preservation Committee “CPC” that all the projects being presented for FY24 total around $13.3 million and there is $14.8 million in the fund. She added that the CPC likes to keep a couple million balance in reserve. The Recreation submissions include the playground at Justin, field at Bridge and Lincoln 1, and the lights at Lincoln 1 & 3. The Department is going back to CPC to present as three members approved and three would like to wait for more information. Ms. O’Brien stated that there was concern over the synthetic turf and the impact of the lights on abutters. The Munroe Arts Center, a project priced at over $3 million, is also up for consideration. Ms. Sheth reported that the Tennis and Pickleball Working Group (TPWG) has worked to add additional play times at Diamond as well as conducted outreach to Hayden Recreation and Grace Chapel to consider play. Cary Hall was also investigated but will not be pursued. Ms. Sheth explained that outdoor pickelball play is very social and as opposed to the organized scheduling of tennis, pick up play is often preferred. The group is looking for solutions to bring that style of play to Lexington. She added that there is lots research on the mitigation of noise and clear criteria for noise abatement. Mr. Boutwell asked if there has been any talk of creating a League that can reserve a block of time on behalf of the group and then the players can show up for pickup games. Ms. Sheth agreed with this concept and is hopeful that the group will head in that direction. Mr. Boutwell added that there is an advocacy piece to going that route, as a group’s voice is often louder than individuals. Ms. Sheth is optimistic that the group will become an expansion of an existing tennis league or create a new pickleball one. Rick DeAngelis exclaimed 3 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 that Claire has done a superb job of drawing out information and allowing the members of the working group to say what they need to say. 6. Recreation Committee Email Correspondence – Lisa O’Brien/Clair Sheth Ms. O’Brien and Ms. Sheth reported that the Committee inbox received feedback about the Kinneens Playground public meeting. There was low attendance and concerns that the abutter letter did not reach homes in time to attend. There were also emails about an end of the season celebration at Center Recreation with a couple hundred people and alcohol present. A resident on Parker Street reached out with thoughts on sensitivity around cultural respect. This was in response to a comment made at the October Recreation Committee meeting. Mr. DeAngelis stated that if members struggle to find the right word to describe a sport or an event, they should ask others for help. He stressed the importance of cultural sensitivity, so as not to identify an activity with an ethnicity. Renen Bassik asked if there was a request for response or reply. Mr. Boutwell replied that a few members of the Committee met with the parties who brought the issue to attention and it was resolved, to the best of his knowledge. An email was submitted about a proposed land donation at Kinneens Park for a bike park. The resident expressed concerns about the location, access, and parking. There were also ongoing noise concerns around the practice boards at the Gallagher tennis courts. 7. Lincoln Park Master Plan Update & Appoint Member to Working Group Melissa Battite reported that the Lincoln Park Master Plan Working Group has mobilized. The group is comprised of Melissa, Dave Pinsonneault, Lisa O’Brien, Brian Kelley, and Meg Buczynski of Activitas. The group is hoping that it will be a 4 – 6 month process and finish prior to Town Meeting to build any outcomes into the capital plan. There will be Stakeholder meetings including Town Staff, Hayden Recreation, the Sports Advisory Council, LexFUN!, the Department of Public Facilities, and the Sustainability and Resilience Officer. There will also be more focused meetings specific to the amenity at the park. In all, there will be three community meetings and once close to the final plan, Activitas will present to the Recreation Committee and the Lincoln Park Sub-Committee. Ms. Battite reminded the group that this is one of the subcommittees that still has a vacant liaison role and asked if anyone like to volunteer. She confirmed that the group meets around six to eight times per year. Renen Bassik asked for clarification on the difference between the Lincoln Park Master Plan working group and the Subcommittee. Ms. Battite explained that the Master Plan will look at the entire property of Lincoln Park and review the Community’s desire for uses of the park. The Lincoln Park Sub-Committee focuses more on the nature trails and path, the fitness stations, the granite forest and the passive areas of the park. Mr. Boutwell added that the plan will drive what we want to see as the future of the park and how we want to get there. Mr. Kelley stated that the Sub-Committee has never seen themselves as involved in the oversight of the ballfields area of the park. Mr. Bassik expressed that the nature path doesn’t feel like it is accessible from the parking lot or rest of the park. He questioned how they can make space for people who want to visit that area of the park but get prevented by lack of parking. Mr. Kelley answered that Worthen Road always has parking. Ms. O’Brien added that the path was designed 20 years ago and the intent was to be very natural. Mr. DeAngelis reminded the group of the transformation of from the Town Dump to the park. He stated that parking is a critical component of any planning process. He stressed the importance of collaboration between the Lincoln Park Sub-Committee and the Lincoln Park Master Plan working group. The focus originally was on the creation of three very good usable fields, not parking. He closed by stressing that if there are radical changes to the parking there will also be radical changes to the fields. 4 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 Weiwei Li volunteered to take the role as liaison to the Lincoln Park Sub-Committee. Lisa O’Brien made a motion to appoint Weiwei Li as liaison to the Lincoln Park Sub-Committee and Christian Boutwell seconded. The Recreation Committee voted 7-0 to approve this motion. 8. Transforming Trees into Art – Center Recreation Complex – Carol Rose Carol Rose notified the Committee that she would be presenting to the Community Preservation Committee in the coming days and that the Lexington Council for the Arts agreed to become the fiscal agent for the project, if funded. Ms. Rose then presented a set of slides to the group (see attachment). After the presentation, Weiwei Li asked if there was a consideration for making the path behind the Gallagher Tennis Courts more accessible. Mr. Bassik questioned if there is long-term maintenance required for the tree art. Ms. Rose responded that once a year the trees would need to oiled. She expanded on the educational opportunity of the art, explaining that there would be signage along with the animal represented. She is envisioning a QR code with a sign next to each animal that would present more information about the species. She added that there is $2,000 in the budget for website design. She is open to thoughts and ideas on the educational component of the project. Mr. DeAngelis informed the group that there are statutes in Massachusetts that regulate artwork. He recommended asking Town Counsel if there are any laws that would regulate this art project and questioned if the artist transfer the title and all rights to the art. Mr. Bassik expressed his concern that the burden of maintenance would fall on the Recreation and Community Programs Department if one of the tree sculptures becomes diseased or falls down, for example. Ms. O’Brien expressed her thanks for the presentation with the photos and costs included. A question was posed to DPW Director, Mr. Pinsonneault, about the timeline of the tree replacement planting and how it might impact the art project. Mr. Pinsonneault affirmed that they took into account the art project in the planting design. Mr. Boutwell expressed his approval of the idea and support for the use of regional bird species. Ms. Battite asked if the artist could provide an estimate for the cost of oiling the sculptures either per treatment, or annually. She added that it would likely need to be contracted out rather than adding the burden to DPW staff. Mr. DeAngelis cited Mass General Law Chapter 231 sec 85s confirming that works of sculpture are regulated. Mr. Bassik asked if there were any other towns with similar projects that could be referenced and Ms. Battite added that she would reach out to Town Counsel for advisement. Mr. DeAngelis confirmed that there is no prohibition to the artwork but there are protections for the artist. He asked for clarification that the Department was not being asked to fund the project. Mr. DeAngelis recommended that the Committee state their support for the project, considering there are a couple of issues to be worked out in terms of legal regulations and the funding for maintenance. Mr. Bassik made the following motion: “The Recreation Committee is in support of continuing the conversation as a partner in support of the use of the trees for this project on Recreation Land. Mr. DeAngelis added to the motion: “We suggest that the Massachusetts General Law Chapter 231 Section 85S be reviewed by Town Counsel and the question of ongoing maintenance be resolved.” Christian Boutwell seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 7 – 0 to approve this motion. Following the vote Mr. DeAngelis asked if anything needed to be done in the meantime to preserve the trees stumps designated for the project. Mr. Pinsonneault reported that his team has taken care of that. 9. Land Donation – Kinneens Park – Beck Abeyta 5 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 Mike O’Connor, member of the Bicycle Advisory Committee, Conservation Steward, and Mountain Bike Enthusiast, presented the proposed bike pump track to the Committee (see attached slideshow). Following the slideshow, Mr. DeAngelis asked how large the plot of land is that is being considered. Mr. O’Connor replied that the property is 1.35 acres in total and the family is looking to donate 0.3 – 0.4 acres for the bike park. He added that the area is currently sufficient for users, however the proposal is for building another feature on 10,000 square feet for phase 2 of the project. Mr. Bassik asked if the facility would be accessible for all members of the public. Mr. O’Connor replied that it will serve all abilities of people who can ride a bike. He added that parking is available at Diamond Middle School about 1/3 mile away. When questioned about current usage, Denali Payson explained that around two to three people visit daily during the summer and at the end of the season the may be group of around 40 people for an event. On weekends there are typically five to ten bikers. Currently, the park only sees private usage expressed through word of mouth or friends of the family. A public bike park would certainly see greater use. Mr. DeAngelis questioned whether parking would be a significant issue since users would likely come to the park on their bikes. Mr. Payson explained to the group that creation the park came out of the COVID-19 pandemic and was built by a few kids. It has since grown over the years to accommodate a progression of levels. Mr. DeAngelis asked if there were any plans to light the facility and the response was that the park would remain closed from dusk to dawn. Mr. Payson expressed that parking is sometimes a sticking point for abutters because there are events where kids come from different areas. He added that parking for the ACROSS Lexington trail is an option. Mr. DeAngelis shared that the Committee received an email with concerns about access and parking. He added that it may be necessary to hold a series of public meetings to hear from the greater constituency. Ms. Battite confirmed that all abutters were notified of the meeting. Denali Payson shared that he went around to homes in the neighborhood on earlier in the week to generate feedback and it was generally positive. Ms. Sheth recalled attending T-ball games at the park that were highly attended and she was not overly concerned about additional parking given the current use. Mr. Boutwell questioned if the title would have a restriction for bike use in perpetuity. Ms. O’Brien said she would like to see what the Town’s land donation policy looks like. Ms. Battite shared that it was brought up to Town Counsel and would need to go to the Select Board for approval. Mr. O’Connor shared that this presentation was also given to the Select Board for the participatory process. Ms. Battite informed the group that the project was not selected as one of the top 25 projects to move forward. Mr. DeAngelis questioned the Town’s liability and Ms. Battite replied that the Town Manager would like to reach out to insurance first before reviewing with Town Counsel. Erik Larson of 54 Burlington Street shared that he has witnessed a lot of drop offs using neighborhood driveways to unload and cross the road to the park. Scotlyn Yates of 60 Burlington Street asked how drop offs would be regulated. Mr. Boutwell responded that those details would be part of the process and information gathering as the Committee develops an opinion on the project. *Comments and Questions submitted into the chat. Ms. O’Brien asked the group if there is a similar park located near the Flight Yard, to which Mr. O’Connor responded there is a park in Chelmsford. There are also discussions happening in Arlington, he adds, but that project does not have the green light yet. Mr. Boutwell asked if there is any information about the maintenance costs and responsible party for the parks in Acton and Keene, NH. This information would be helpful when considering comparables. Mr. Boutwell voiced his concerns about the project because it is well outside current operations that the Department oversees. He also shared concerns about parking, stating that parking is a major concern for the neighborhood. Liability is another significant concern if the land becomes a Recreation property. Although the bike park serves a need for a specific population in Town, it hasn’t come up on the priority list for the greater community. The Town cannot fund everything 6 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 and must decide if this a need or a want. That reasoning is what the Appropriations Committee uses for their decision making. Mr. Boutwell stressed that it would be helpful to have examples of how other towns operate; examples would give a vision of what this arrangement could look like. Mr. O’Connor responded that the City of Keene owns the land but the New England Mountain Bike Association operates and funds the park. Mr. Pinsonneault posed the question of responsibility if a tree comes down. Mr. O’Connor suggested a volunteer group could provide maintenance without additional burden on the town. Mr. Boutwell added his concern about oversight if the park goes into disrepair after 20 years of use. Mr. DeAngelis stressed the need to talk to Town Counsel and wondered if the donation would come with a restriction of use. Ms. Battite recommended getting on the Select Board agenda to receive their questions and advice to help guide the process. Mr. O’Connor shared that he had previously discussed the concept with Joe Pato. He offered to go back to Mr. Pato to see about going further in the process. Ms. Battite informed him that Suzie Berry is the Recreation Committee liaison and suggested going to her as a good place to start. Mr. O’Conner finished by expressing to the group that mountain biking is a growing interest, not just a trend. Mr. Boutwell, once again, clarified that it is where this amenity lies in the line of priorities that will determine its future. Mr. DeAngelis made reference to the sport of cricket – the players had come before the Committee for years and they heard them and continued to move it forward. Ms. Sheth, speaking to Denali, said that what he is offering to do is immense, even though it sounds like it is getting picked apart. Things take a long time in Lexington but don’t let that sour your ambition. 10. Recreation & Community Programs Report – Melissa Battite The November Recreation & Community Programs Report is attached to the meeting minutes. The next meeting of the Recreation Committee is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, December 21st at 6:30pm. The November 16, 2022 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 9:08pm. Respectfully submitted, Christine Dean Community Center Director The following documents distributed at the meeting are attached: • Transforming Trees into Art – Center Recreation Complex • Land donation – Kinneens Park • Recreation & Community Programs Report