HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-02-01-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
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.
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39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421
Rick DeAngelis, Recreation Committee Chair and founder of Lexington Blue Sox, stated that the
upcoming high school project will only exacerbate the loss of field space. On behalf of Youth
Baseball, they support the lighting project as proposed by the Recreation Committee.
Melissa Battite thanked everyone for joining the meeting. She shared that the presentation will made
available on the Capital Projects website by the following midday. She requested that those in
attendance please share the details of the project with others. The meeting was publicized by A-
frames placed in prominent parks, in the Recreation and Town e-newsletters, as well as a notice sent
to abutters. Select Board Member Suzie Barry thanked the Recreation Committee for their outreach
about the project and the opportunity for the public to participate.
Lisa O’Brien motioned and Weiwei Li seconded the motion to adjourn. The February 1, 2023
meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 8:01pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Dean
Community Center Director
The next meeting of the Recreation Committee is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February
15st at 6:30pm.
The following documents distributed at the meeting are attached:
Athletic Fields Projects at Lincoln Park: Proposed Athletic Lighting at Fields 1 and 3