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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-11-15-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 15, 2023 A Working Session meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday, November 15, 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, Renen Bassik, Carl Fantasia, Weiwei Li, 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 Chris Filadoro, DPW Superintendent of Public Grounds Others Present: Bob Breslin (16 Curve Street, Lexington), Rod Cole (Capital Expenditures Committee liaison), Lynn Jackson (2198 Massachusetts Avenue), Doreen Karoll (76 Bloomfield Street, Lexington), Janna Mendonca (1 John Wilson Lane, Lexington), Hien Nguyen (17 Holland Street, Lexington), Richard Petrasso (39 Parker Street, Lexington), Jeff Rago (43 Forest Street, Lexington), Deepika Sawhney (School Committee liaison), P.K. Shiu (1024 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington), Ali, Eileen, Eli, and Tammy 1. Discussion on the Possibility of Repurposing the Adams Tennis Courts to be a Pickleball- Only Facility Claire Sheth provided an overview of the memo that she wrote, dated October 16, 2023, on pickleball court lining configurations. A copy of the memo is attached to the meeting minutes. Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, informed the Committee that since the October Recreation Committee meeting, a survey was sent to stakeholders of Adams Park regarding the current parking at this location. Responses were received from the Waldorf School, Lexington United Soccer Club (LUSC), Boston Ultimate Disc Alliance (BUDA), Sacred Heart Parish, and Follen Church. Informational slides with the survey results and a copy of the responses that each organization submitted, are attached to the meeting minutes. The last item that is attached to the meeting minutes is an aerial map of Adams Park with the estimated minimum distances from the Adams Courts to the abutting property lines. After this brief introduction, members of the Committee had the opportunity to make comments and ask questions. Claire Sheth questioned that if the parking survey responses were made with the academic year in mind, should the organizations be asked about their parking needs during the summer months and she wondered if the Waldorf School operates a summer camp. Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, informed the Committee that she is gathering more information on when the Town sold the building to the Waldorf School and Christian Boutwell, Vice Chair of the Recreation Committee, emphasized that it will be important to know what parameters and conditions are included in the Waldorf lease. Ms. Battite added that something to keep in mind is the potential occupation of the Stone Building in the future. 2 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 Weiwei Li has attended Lexington Pickleball Club (LPC) events at the Clarke Courts and acknowledged that pickleball is very popular in Lexington. Mr. Li would like to promote additional capacity for pickleball in town and expressed an interest in increasing the number of pickleball courts at Adams to six (6) pickleball courts. Ms. Sheth said that the Committee should be mindful of not just the people playing pickleball, but also other park users as well as individuals waiting to play pickleball, and questioned whether any site can absorb this level of activity and provide adequate parking to support this amount of use. She added that the Committee should be mindful that during the spring and fall, Waldorf is a school. Ms. Sheth also stated that pickleball is not just a game, it is a culture. Ms. Battite informed the Committee that a post-season survey will be distributed to all tennis and pickleball members from this year within the next month to gather feedback on a variety of items, including the possibility of the repurposing the Adams Courts to pickleball-only. Renen Bassik asked if courts and athletic fields can be blocked off for special events. Mr. Coleman explained that the public can make court reservations up to two weeks in advance. As long as pre-existing reservations for a special event are entered in the system before the two-week window opens, then the courts would not be available for use during the event. Mr. Boutwell asked if the Waldorf land sale included parking and that parking will be an issue at any site. There is parking available on Massachusetts Avenue and people can access the park using the Minuteman Bikeway. Rick DeAngelis, Chair of the Recreation Committee, added that parking is a driver and the Committee needs to understand what the agreement includes. Lisa O’Brien asked if there are any pickleball courts at the Minuteman High School. Mr. Boutwell asked what additional information would be needed before the Committee continues this discussion. Mr. DeAngelis raised the question that if parking can be resolved, is the Committee in favor of pickleball-only courts at Adams and would this reduce pickleball use at other courts. Mr. Bassik requested additional data to track court usage of both tennis and pickleball. Staff will work with PlayLocal to compile court usage data for the 2023 season (April-November 2023). Ms. Sheth asked how to best divide usage of the courts between tennis and pickleball and thought it would be beneficial to come up with a ratio that will be a factor. Lining the Adams Courts could be appropriate for pickleball in the summer. The Committee determined that the discussion will continue during the January meeting. The next meeting of the Recreation Committee is scheduled to take place on Thursday, December 14th at 6:30pm. The November 15th, 2023 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 6:58pm. Respectfully submitted, Peter Coleman Assistant Director of Recreation The following documents distributed at the meeting are attached:  Memo on Pickleball Court Lining Configurations  Parking at Adams Park Survey Results – informational slides and responses by organization  Aerial map of Adams Park – Estimated minimum distance from Adams Courts to property lines