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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1932-11-02-PARKER-rpt.pdf COPY COPY Treasurer LEXINGTON COMMUNITY RECREATION ASSOCIATION LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS Mr . Rupert H Stevens, President, Lexington Community Recreation Association, Lexington, Mass . Dear Mr Stevens, Following is a report of the committee appointed to bring in recommendations for the Parker School Playground and adjacent park property of the Town The committee has met several times and visited the property as a committee twice, consulted with Mr Garrity of the Park Department and such other people whom it considered necessary to consult with in order to make this preliminary report The sub- ject is a large one to cover in one report and the Committee is willing to carry on until such progress is made in the development of the property as will insure its satisfactory completion The proper development of this land cannot come about in one year but will have to be spread over several years in all probability, but there are certain essentials the.t ought to be completed immediately, keeping in mind that the things done now must fit into the whole scheme when completed in order that there will be no wasted effort or unnecessary expense Recommendations 1 That the approach to this property via Valley Road be made passable for all the year round travel The road should be widened and a space provided for automobiles to turn around 2 That the northwest corner of the property next to the present school property be graded and made available for a playground for small children The stone wall and loose rocks near the school property should be removed and the present flat area regraded and made as large as possible so that there will be room for some playground equipment for the small children The barbed wire fence should be removed and also the poison ivy growing around the stone wall The present stone wall on the property line should be removed and a suitable wire fence placed on the property line 3 That the brook be lowered as much as necessary to make the lower flat area of the property dry and at the same time clean the brook thoroughly the entire distance through the property 'The object of this association shall be to promote civic unity, community happiness and good citizenship, by encouraging the constructive use of leisure time for adults, youths and children, through wholesome recreation, neighborliness, self-development, and service to the community" COPY Sheet 2 LEXINGTON COMMUNITY RECREATION ASSOCIATION LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 4 . That a proper dam be installed so that the lower area can be flooded in winter for skating. It may also be necessary to grade the lower area somewhat to make it more level The dam should be so constructed that when it is not necessary to flood the property that the water will flow naturally so that this area can be kept dry most of the year, and possi- bly be used for other purposes to be determined later 5 That the six (6) lots of Block 70 now held by the Town of Lexington through tax titles, be put through the Land Court in order to clear the title That the two (2) lots owned by aoseph Bullock and Aaron A Grant adjoining the above be purchased by the Town, and that five (5) lots now owned by Mr Cutter (all of Block 70) also be purchased so that the Town will then own all the land bordered by Valley Road, Willow Street and the present school property. 6 That two double asphalt tennis courts be built at the bottom of the hill, one one the land purchased and bordering on the Town's present tax title land, and the other adjacent to it on land now owned by the Town These courts could be built on the same level as the lower area and could be flooded in winter to allow a larger area for skating if necessary The courts should be placed so as to avoid the removal of any trees 7 That a fireplace be constructed in the natural cleft in the rocks for the use of the public , picnic parties and the like 8 That later, if and when the proper time comes ,a toboggan slide be constructed on the east side of the hill for the use of the citizens of the town, provided this can be done without the destruction of any trees The Committee feels that for the present the greatest need in the section is for the smaller children, as there is no place at present available for them unless they go to the Centre Playground which is very hard of course for them to do at present It is the thought of the Committee that if the playground ps proposed is estab- lished perhaps part time supervision could be given a few hours a day The supervisor could then make arrangements for the children to be taken to the Centre playground once or twice a week as found advisable The equipment should propably consist of a sand box, see-saws, for small tots , swings and a merry-go-round. The committee would be glad to co- operate with anybody or any agency with respect to the details of this equipment later. The approach to the property via Vally Road, is of course inadequate for any considerable travel and is now dangerous at certain times df the year . It is important that this approach be "The object of this association shall he to promote civic unity community happiness and good citizenship, by encouraging the constructive use of leisure time for adults, youths and children, through wholesome recreation, neighborliness, self-development, and service to the community" COPY Sheet 3 LEXINGTON COMMUNITY RECREATION ASSOCIATION LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS made passable at all times This is the first requisite for the proper us of this entire tract The lower part of the tract will be considerably im- proved by the lowering of the brook and the cutting of the grass , but as previously stated it may require some grading and filling in the low spots In other words a general leveling up so that when flooded it will fill properly In order to obtain the most use out of the present land it is felt that the additional lots should be purchased by the Town as recommended It is the belief of the committee , that these additional lots can be purchased now at a reasonable figure , but that after the improvements are made might not be procured as easily It seems necessary to have this additional land if the recommendations as to skating and tennis courts are to be followed out The committee feels that the tennis courts will be a con- siderable help to the program of development of this property, and also because of the relief they will afford to the centre courts , as many now go there to play from this section of the Town The above recommendations are made after considerable thought by the committee in order to make the best possible us of the land and not to destroy the park possibilites which are great as no other land owned by the Town in any section has such possibilities The committee believes that no more trees should be removed and that more red pines be planted on the side of the hill It is felt that the land available even with the land proposed for purchase would not be large enough for a base-ball diamond or adequate athletic field Perhaps land more suitable for this purpose can be obtained elsewhere, possibly on the southeast side of Valley Road nearby Yours very truly, Leonard Jellis Dorothy T Taylor Elsie G. Prentiss Wm R Rosenberger Roy A Ferguson Chairman Committee on Parker School Playground and adjacent Park Property "The object of this association shall he to promote civic unity, community happiness and good citizenship, by encouraging the constructive use of leisure time for adults, youths and children, through wholesome recreation, neighborliness, self-development, and service to the community