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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-06-15-REC-minFrederick DeAngelis, Chairman Lisah Rhodes, Vice Chairman Sandra Shaw Ruixi Yuan Jason Denoncourt Town of Lexington Recreation Committee Recreation Committee Minutes of Meeting June 15, 2016 Tel: (781) 698 -4800 Fax: (781) 862 -2747 A meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at 6:30pm at the Lexington Community Center, 39 Marrett Road, Lexington. Members Present: Rick DeAngelis, Jason Denoncourt, Lisah Rhodes, Sandra Shaw, and Ruixi Yuan Staff Present: Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, Chris Filadoro, DPW Superintendent of Public Grounds, Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, and Laura Drew, Recreation Intern Others Present: Tony Messina (9 Jackson Court, Lexington) and Tom Shiple (Lexington United Soccer Club) 1. Meeting Minutes from May 18, 2016 Sandra Shaw moved and Rick DeAngelis seconded approval of the Recreation Committee Minutes of May 18, 2016. The Recreation Committee voted 5 -0 to approve the minutes of May 18, 2016. 2. Citizens and Other Boards — None 3. Liaison Reports Sandra Shaw presented a liaison report on behalf of the Bicycle Advisory Committee. Ms. Shaw reported that the Bicycle Advisory Committee recommended to the Board of Selectmen that the Complete Streets program, which would consist of bike lanes and shared roadways, be implemented in Lexington. While funding has been eliminated for this, the Bicycle Advisory Committee will be submitting a similar request this year as compared to last year. Rick DeAngelis moved that the Recreation Committee support the Bicycle Advisory Committee's goal calling for the implementation and completion of the Complete Street project and Ruixi Yuan seconded this motion. The Recreation Committee voted 4 -0 -1 to approve. . 4. Outdoor Pickiebali Courts Tony Messina, a 30 -year resident of Lexington, approached the Recreation Committee to discuss the possibility of having an outdoor pickleball court in Lexington. The sport of pickleball is a combination of table tennis, badminton, and tennis and it is currently the fastest growing sport in the country. Leading up to this meeting, Mr. Messina spoke with department staff to see if the Town had a plan in place for expanding the pickleball opportunities in Lexington. Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, provided a brief history of pickleball in Lexington. A pickleball demonstration was given at the Gallagher Tennis Courts in spring 2014 and this led to the program being part of the adult evening drop -in gym program at the Lexington Field House during the 2014 -2015 school year. Due to its popularity, pickleball became a stand -alone program at the Diamond Middle School gym during the 2015 -2016 school year and the program was at maximum capacity during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. Mr. Messina asked about 2 the possibility of converting existing tennis courts into pickleball courts as well as constructing brand new pickleball courts. Rick DeAngelis, Chairman of the Recreation Committee, indicated to Mr. Messina that the Recreation Committee is charged with staying relevant and pursuing new and up- and - coming recreational activities for the residents of Lexington. He expressed his interest in the innovation of pickleball and stated that this is something that the Recreation Committee could consider including in its 5 -Year Capital Plan. Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, indicated that in additional to permanent courts, the department is exploring opportunities to offer pickleball outdoors on a temporary basis, whether it be on existing tennis courts on in the parking lot at the Community Center. Mr. Messina was excited with the Recreation Committee's response and interest in this topic and said that he would be willing to help out wherever possible. 5. Recreation 5 -Year Capital Plan — Future Projects Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, reminded the Committee to be thinking about future capital improvement projects to the recreation infrastructure that could be included in the FY2018- FY2022, 5 -Year Capital Plan, which will be presented to the Recreation Committee in August. Ms. Simmons reported that the two new projects that will be included are for the creation of a cricket athletic field and permanent outdoor pickleball courts. 6. Diamond /Clarke Middle School Construction Update Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, reminded the Committee that the Clarke Tennis Courts will be offline as of Monday, June 27"' for approximately 2 years. Mr. Coleman also notified the Committee that at the Diamond Middle School this summer, people will be able to access the fields by parking in the main parking lot off of Hancock Street and following a pedestrian walkway from the front of the school back to the fields. The Sedge Road entrance at Diamond will not be useable this summer due to the school renovation project. All program participants and field permit holders will be notified about this ahead of time. 7. Lincoln Park Light Project Update Tom Shiple, President of the Lexington United Soccer Club (LUSC), presented an update on the light project at Lincoln Park. The permitting process is ongoing. 8. Recreation Report • Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, began by introducing Laura Drew to the Committee. Ms. Drew attended SUNY Cortland and she will be serving as our Recreation Management Intern this summer. • Ms. Simmons distributed a copy of the USGA Turf Evaluation Report from the on -site visit at Pine Meadows on May 25"'. John Allen from New England Golf Corporation will review the report at the July Recreation Committee meeting. • At Pine Meadows, there was an 8% decrease in May as compared to May 2015 and this was due in large part to the weather. • Ms. Simmons provided an update to the Committee on the Community Center. Over 90,000 people have attended the facility to date. Sheila Butts, Community Center Director, has been doing an outstanding job of overseeing the facility. • Ms. Simmons also provided an update on the ongoing and upcoming capital improvement projects. She will be meeting with Bill Harrison, President of New England Golf Corporation, and Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator, in the coming weeks to discuss the project on the green at the 4th hole as the green will be pulled away from the wetland area. The Conservation Commission will determine if a 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 (mail) 39 MARRETT ROAD • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 (office) 3 Request for Determination would be sufficient. The department is currently seeking request for proposals (RFP) for the design /engineer services for this project with the construction scheduled to begin in mid - October. The pre - construction meeting for the turf replacement project at Lincoln #3 will be held on Friday, June 17"'. The field will go offline as of Monday, June 20t' and it is anticipated that the field will reopen for the fall season. Regarding the Granite Forest, Ms. Simmons has spoken with Rob Addelson, Assistant Town Manager for Finance, about this project and it may need to be publicly bid in the fall given that it is a public /private partnership and the amount the Town will be contributing is $30,000. The renovation project at the Lincoln softball field is scheduled to be completed this fall. Ms. Simmons also informed the Committee that staff from DPW and the Recreation and Community Programs Department are now meeting monthly to review and provide updates on the status of the Recreation capital improvement projects. • Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, provided a brief update on the summer. The Irving H. Mabee Town Pool Complex and the Old Reservoir opened for the season on Saturday, June 4'. The first few weeks of the season have been slow due in large part to the weather. The orientation for all employees working at our day camps, sports clinics, and tennis programs this summer will take place on Saturday, June 18t''. The majority of our summer programs, camps, and clinics is scheduled to begin the week of June 27"'. On Thursday, July 28"', Kiss 108FM will be hosting its Summer Movie Series in Lexington. The movie that is being shown is Big Hero 6 and the event will be held at the Center #2 softball field. 9. Parks Report Chris Filadoro, DPW Superintendent of Public Grounds, provided the Parks Report. The drainage work at the Worthen Road practice field has been completed and the grass is growing in now. Staff has been dealing with several irrigation issues as a result of the winter and there is a new irrigation technician overseeing this area. A clover issue has been observed on the Lexington High School football field and the field will be treated once the school year is over. The Center Track Field will be taken offline as of Monday, June 27th so DPW can perform maintenance on the field. The Clarke soccer field is in good condition. A volunteer group from LABBB will begin policing for trash at Lincoln Park in July. Due to the weather, it has been a slow start to the season at the Town Pool, but according to staff, the facility is operating well mechanically. The next meeting of the Recreation Committee is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at 5:45pm at the Pine Meadows Golf Club, 255 Cedar Street in Lexington. The June 15, 2016 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 7: 30pm. Respectfully submitted, Peter Coleman Assistant Director of Recreation The following documents /exhibits distributed at the meeting are attached: • USGA On -Site Visit Report at Pine Meadows — May 25, 2016 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 (mail) 39 MARRETT ROAD • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 (office)