Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-06-12-REC-min`puS M010 177S 1c V � A r $= w 3 Q A S V APRIL I9' �fX1 IN 011 Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Claire Sheth, Vice Chair Carl Fantasia Renen Bassik Weiwei Li Town of Lexington Recreation Committee Recreation Committee Minutes of Meeting June 12, 2025 Tel: (781) 698-4800 Fax: (781) 861-2747 A meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Thursday, June 12, 2025 in person and via Zoom as a hybrid meeting at 7:00pm in the Select Board Meeting Room of the Town Office Building. Members Present: Rick DeAngelis, Renen Bassik, Weiwei Li, and Claire Sheth Members Absent: Carl Fantasia Staff Present: Mark Barrett, DPF Project Manager, Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, Mike Cronin, DPF Director, Christine Dean, Community Center Director, and Dave Pinsonneault, DPW Director Others Present: John Albright (Dore + Whittier), Rod Cole (Capital Expenditures Committee liaison), Michael Dowhan (SMMA), Debi Dulberg (63 Bridge Street, Lexington), Lorraine Finnegan (SMMA), Jonathan Fleischmann (8 Angier Road, Lexington), Guy Jarvis (97 Woburn Street, Lexington), Julie, Doreen Karoll (76 Bloomfield Street, Lexington), Jane Lawler (2 Meadow Brook Avenue, Lexington), Kathleen Lenihan (School Committee liaison), Doug Lucente (Select Board liaison), Naomi Martin (Director of Athletics, Lexington Public Schools), Sanjay Padacki (Appropriation liaison), Erin Prestileo (SMMA), Theresa Sain (6 Aerial Street, Lexington), Kathryn Scott and Roger White (30 Revere Street, Lexington), P.K. Shiu (1024 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington), Eran Strod (10 Thoreau Road, Lexington), Mary Sweeney (1 Thoreau Road, Lexington), and Jill Teplensky (219 Follen Road, Lexington) 1. Public Comment — none 2. Vice Chair Appointment Rick DeAngelis, Chair of the Recreation Committee, moved to nominate and appoint Claire Sheth as the Vice Chair of the Recreation Committee. Renen Bassik seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 4-0 to approve this motion. Capital Project Updates — Valley Courts Capital Project Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, reviewed a memo that provided an overview of the Valley Courts reconstruction project to date. A copy of the memo is attached to the meeting minutes. Mr. Coleman highlighted the financial challenges that have been encountered and the fact that the bid results came in higher than the available budget. hi an attempt to still be able to move forward with the project, staff contacted the United States Tennis Association (LISTA) about potential grant opportunities earlier this spring. In its terms and conditions, the USTA specifies that courts lined for multiple sports are not eligible to receive USTA grant funding. The Valley Courts are currently lined for both tennis and pickleball. The memo concluded with items for the Committee to take into consideration when determining on how to best proceed with this project. Claire Sheth, Vice Chair of the Recreation Committee, looked at this as a chance to make equal opportunities available within meaningful financial and land constraints. Ms. Sheth recommended the Committee work towards establishing a 50/50 distribution between tennis and pickleball over time in terms of the number of courts, number of lighted courts, permitted hours at the courts, and league access at the courts. Members of the Committee asked what would happen if the Valley project did not move forward this year and staff indicated there are currently no immediate safety hazards at the courts. Renen Bassik asked if the Committee should ask the Town for additional funding or if additional alternatives could be considered. Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, indicated that potential alternatives were taken into consideration during previous projects and were factored into this project as well. Rick DeAngelis stated that the Town does not have the resources available to satisfy 100% of a group's desires. Mr. Bassik questioned if a 50/50 split is achievable and wondered whether or not all options have been exhausted yet. Ms. Sheth believed there is logic to offset the loss of no pickleball play at the Gallagher Tennis Courts and thought it would be beneficial to set parameters around the debate. Jill Teplensky, resident of 219 Follen Road, gave a presentation on the access gap that would be created if the Town accepted the USTA grant and a copy of the presentation slides and supporting documents is attached to the meeting minutes. Ms. Teplensky primary concern is that if the USTA grant funding is accepted, it will eliminate pickleball opportunities at Valley and a special interest group should not be able to dictate to the Town how to use community resources. This could potentially present efficiency, equity, effectiveness, ethical/legal problems. Ms. Teplensky stated that the Town already has excess tennis capacity and excess pickleball scarcity and that if this project moves forward, from a demographics standpoint, a group of seniors would be underserved. Ms. Teplensky added that it is a misnomer to think that there are any dedicated pickleball courts in town as people cannot use half of the court for the other sport that is not being played. It will be important to enhance flexibility and not be limited structurally or contractually. While Ms. Teplensky was appreciative of the 50/50 concept, she thought it must be conditional and subject to demand because if the demand is 2/3 for one sport and 1/3 for the other sport, a 50/50 split would not be beneficial. If the USTA issues a grant for the Valley project, Ms. Teplensky claimed that pickleball would lose 40% access moving forward which would directly impact senior access to the courts as 60% of senior court memberships are held by pickleball players. Ms. Teplensky believed that the USTA restriction would be a step in the wrong direction as outside grants should support the vision of the community, not suppress it. Ms. Teplensky added that a petition to postpone the Valley project until unrestricted funds are available was created and has been signed by 198 people to date. Mr. DeAngelis appreciated Ms. Teplensky's fervor for the sport of pickleball and passion for the community. Ms. Sheth emphasized the amount of effort that has been exerted to expand pickleball in Lexington. Rod Cole, Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) liaison, packnowledged the tough budget climate that the Town is facing. Mr. Cole added that projects have been coming in over budget and that it is not uncommon for projects to be granted supplemental funding. Doug Lucente, Select Board liaison, stated that it is becoming clear that it is going to be challenging to receive funding in future years as there will be competing entities for limited CPA funding. Ms. Battite shared that the Town had already received two extensions to the bid award and that a third request would not be fair to the contractor given the work would be in a new season, costs may change, etc. Mr. DeAngelis agreed that the Town could not accept a bid for a project that it does not have funding for. After a lengthy discussion, the decision was made to defer the Valley Courts reconstruction project. 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 4. LHS Building Project Updates Michael Dowhan and Erin Prestileo from SMMA provided the Committee with an update on the Lexington High School Building Project and a copy of the presentation slides is attached to the meeting minutes. Regarding the site design, the plan includes one large parking lot and three smaller parking lots that will total 500 parking spaces (this number does not include parking on Clarke Street and by the Center Playground). The Center #1 baseball field (C1), Center #2 softball field (C2), and the rectangle overlay (C7) all fall outside the limit of work. In the current proposal, the Center #3 junior varsity field (0) will be relocated with a temporary fence, the Center #4 Little League field (C4) will be moved offsite, the Crumb Football Field (C5) will be relocated with the same orientation and size as the current field, the practice field (C6) will be the same size as the current field and located adjacent to C5, and the cricket oval (C8) will be an overlay over C5 and C6. The throwing cage (CA) will be relocated to where the Skate Park currently is and the Skate Park (CC) would be relocated next to the Center Playground. A new park (CD) would also be installed right next to the Skate Park. Mike Cronin, DPF Director, added that C4 would move up to Lincoln Park where the Lincoln softball field currently is and the Lincoln softball field would move to the Center (CB) so all high school baseball and softball activities would take place at the Center Recreation Complex. Melissa Battite indicated that she participated in a meeting with Naomi Martin, LPS Director of Athletics, Dave Pinsonneault, DPW Director, and other LHS staff to review the various locations and orientations for the displaced fields. Members of the Committee noted that if the additional Little League field does not come online at Lincoln for 4-5 years, that could present more short- term issues. Mr. Dowhan said that by swapping the Skate Park and the throwing cage, the new Skate Park will be located closer to the Center Playground while the throwing cage will be located closer to the Center Track. The Skate Park and Center Playground could be used by LABBB students. Ms. Martin asked if there were any updates on field surfaces. Mr. Dowhan replied that all new/relocated fields will be priced for sod and will contain irrigation and drainage systems. Regarding lighting, the existing lighted fields will remain illuminated (C1, C2, and C7) and the plan calls for no lights or conduit on all new/relocated fields. Ms. Prestileo added that she will double-check to see if conduit will be installed at any of the fields. Claire Sheth advocated for the installation of conduit, at a minimum, given the installation of additional synthetic turf fields in the future is less likely. Ms. Martin concurred and expressed her strong concerns to not have lights at the football field and how that could negatively impact school culture. Mr. Cronin indicated that this item will be reviewed as the process continues. Mr. Dowhan discussed the fencing and bleacher systems. The bleachers at the football field will include 1,000 seats with a press box and be ADA -accessible. Mr. Pinsonneault asked if there will be fencing at the throwing area and Ms. Prestileo confirmed that fencing at that part of the site will need to be accounted for. Mr. Dowhan then reviewed the bicycle network and facilities as well as the non -athletic field park program at the complex. Ms. Battite requested access to water at C3. Mr. Dowhan provided a quick overview of the concession, restrooms, and storage buildings. The bathroom design will contain all -gender restrooms. Ms. Prestileo referenced a memo that was prepared by Town staff regarding the storage containers that are at the Center Recreation Complex. Some of the storage containers will stay while others will be moved or relocated. The storage trailers that Lexington Little League (1 a) and Lexington Youth Lacrosse (lb) are using will need to be moved offsite. Ms. Prestileo added that a new metal storage building will be located by the throwing cage. Mr. Pinsonneault said that a set up for the robotic mower will be needed. For other amenities, the C 1 batting cages will hopefully be relocated along the 3rd base line and there will three flag poles throughout the site. Ms. Battite recommended that Ms. Prestileo and Mr. Dowhan speak with the Town's IT department about access to public WiFi. Ms. Prestileo said it would be really helpful if the Committee could submit a letter with land swap issues by the end of the summer. Doug Lucente asked if any 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 4 thought had been given to putting storage under the bleachers. Mr. Dowhan replied that it would be difficult to locate storage under the bleachers due to the size that would be needed. Ms. Prestileo concluded by stating that everything presented will be part of the base bid for the LHS School Building Project. 5. May 2025 Meeting Minutes Rick DeAngelis moved to approve the minutes from the June 12, 2025 meeting and Claire Sheth seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 4-0 to approve this motion. 6. Recreation and Community Programs Report The June Recreation and Community Programs Report is attached to the meeting minutes. Claire Sheth offered to do a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis of the Recreation Committee regarding the efficiency of the Committee. The goal is to ensure that the Committee is policy -focused and Ms. Sheth offered to meet individually with current and previous Committee members. The analysis could potentially culminate with a retreat sometime this fall. The next meeting of the Recreation Committee is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 16" at 7:00pm. The June 12`h 2025 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 9:16pm. Respectfully submitted, Peter Coleman Assistant Director of Recreation The following documents distributed at the meeting are attached: • Select Board Policy: Conduct and Decorum for Public Meetings Policy • Update on the Valley Courts Reconstruction Project Memo • Cover Letter, Presentation Slides, Supporting Documents, and Appendices from Jill Teplensky regarding Tennis and Pickleball Play at the Valley Courts • Position Statement from the Lexington Pickleball Club (LPC) regarding the Valley Courts • Lexington High School Project Presentation Slides from SMMA • June 2025 Recreation & Community Programs Report • Lincoln #2 Field Replacement Project Abutters Letter and Map • Recreation Committee Email Correspondence 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421