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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-07-16-REC-min.pdf\pus MopN� oP 177S ticr V � A D V APRIL191 �FXI NGI�� Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Claire Sheth, Vice Chair Renen Bassik Sean Bridgeo Carl Fantasia Andrea Jackson Weiwei Li Town of Lexington Recreation Committee Recreation Committee Minutes of Meeting July 16, 2025 Tel: (781) 698-4800 Fax: (781) 861-2747 A meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 in person and via Zoom as a hybrid meeting at 7:00pm in Room 237 of the Lexington Community Center. Members Present: Rick DeAngelis, Claire Sheth, Sean Bridgeo, Andrea Jackson, and Weiwei Li Members Absent: Renen Bassik and 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, and Christine Dean, Community Center Director Others Present: Mark Andersen (2400 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington), Sarah Carter (School Committee liaison), Michael Dowhan (SMMA), Sreenivas Gunnala (17 Bridge Street, Lexington), Sampat Ingale (206 Concord Avenue, Lexington), Guy Jarvis (97 Woburn Street, Lexington), Doreen Karoll (76 Bloomfield Street, Lexington), Kathleen Lenihan (School Committee liaison), Doug Lucente (Select Board liaison), Ali Lynch (10 Bloomfield Street, Lexington), Hal Miller -Jacobs (17 Swan Lane, Lexington), Murali Pathivada (24 Turning Mill Road, Lexington), Erin Prestileo (SMMA), Yuanbo Qin (5 Birch Hill Lane, Lexington), Ram Reddy (42 Laconia Street, Lexington), and Sai Yaga (7 Bowser Road, Lexington) 1. Public Comment Ram Reddy, resident of 42 Laconia Street, spoke in favor of badminton and its growth across the country. Mr. Reddy would like to see a permanent badminton facility in Lexington as the sport has broad appeal from youth and adults across all ages. Hal Miller -Jacobs, resident of 17 Swan Lane, has served as a facilitator for the Introduction to Pickleball for Seniors class in previous seasons. Mr. Miller -Jacobs explained how within the last month, he had an encounter with a previous participant and she exclaimed that he had "changed my life" as this program was a recreational activity that got her back into doing something active. Mr. Miller -Jacobs thanked the Committee for the pickleball opportunities that are offered in the community, which have changed the quality of life in Lexington. Sreenivas Gunnala, resident of 17 Bridge Street, spoke in favor of badminton and thanked the Department for the badminton programs that are offered in town. Mr. Gunnala had looked at other towns where badminton is offered, such as Needham, Arlington, Chatham, and Bedford and explained how badminton provides fitness, fun, and community building. Mr. Gunnala encouraged the Committee to invest in an indoor badminton facility and outdoor badminton courts. Mark Andersen, resident of 2400 Massachusetts Avenue and Town Meeting Member, described how her has developed friendships through badminton and pickleball. Mr. Andersen shared his concerns about the investment in badminton in Lexington and compared it to Arlington where badminton is offered four nights per week, as compared to two nights per week in Lexington. Mr. Andersen ended his comments by expressing his appreciation for the support of the Committee and Department. Another member in the audience stated that he needs to go to other towns to play badminton and wondered why Lexington cannot provide nice badminton courts like other towns. This individual was in support of growing badminton in Lexington and added that people are not continuing to play badminton due to the condition of the courts. 2. Welcome New Members Rick DeAngelis, Chair of the Recreation Committee, welcomed Sean Bridgeo and Andrea Jackson as members to the Committee and had no doubt that Mr. Bridgeo and Ms. Jackson will contribute in a meaningful way to the fabric of the community. Claire Sheth, Vice Chair of the Recreation Committee, shared that an orientation will be held sometime this fall where various rules, regulations, policies, and procedures can be reviewed. Ms. Sheth will solicit suggestions for topics to cover during the orientation and acknowledged that the knowledge base should be more equitably distributed across all members of the Committee. As a follow-up to the June meeting, Ms. Sheth will be completing a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis and the first step is to meet with past and present Committee members and liaisons. Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, will send links to materials to Mr. Bridgeo and Ms. Jackson to prepare for the fall. Mr. DeAngelis suggested that the Committee take a tour soon to understand the recreational infrastructure and assets of the town. 3. June 2025 Meeting Minutes Weiwei Li moved to approve the minutes from the June 12, 2025 meeting and Claire Sheth seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 3-0-2 to approve this motion (the abstentions are from individuals who were not members of the Committee at that time). 4. CPC Member Melissa Battite stated that the Committee will need to select a member to serve on the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) and a copy of the memo that provides an overview on the CPC is attached to the meeting minutes. The CPC typically meets on Thursday afternoons at 4:00pm during the months of September through December. The CPC consists of members from recreation, housing, historical, community representation, and a Select Board member. The different "buckets" of CPA funding include open space and conservation, housing, historical, and undesignated. Mr. DeAngelis mentioned the possibility of an existing and new Committee member working in tandem on this. Ms. Sheth suggested that she could introduce members who may be interested in serving on the CPC to Christian Boutwell, who was the most recent Committee member to serve on the CPC, as Mr. Boutwell would be a valuable person and resource to talk to. Ms. Sheth will coordinate a call with Mr. Boutwell and the Committee will vote on this item at the August meeting. 5. 5 -Year Capital Updates Attached to the meeting minutes are a memo about the 5 -Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) as well as the Recreation & Community Programs FY2026-FY2030 Capital Summary and the Committee's Recreation Capital Summary Statement — FY2026. Melissa Battite explained that the 5 -year plan will roll forward as long as the needs remain the same. It will be important to look at the big picture fiscally as CPC funding is becoming more limited. The memo attached to the meeting minutes is a working document and a more concrete memo will be reviewed at the August meeting. Claire Sheth added that the primary drivers for the capital budget are to 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 maintain level service, address end -of -life issues, and to address needs and interests as they change and evolve over time. 6. LHS Project Updates Kathleen Lenihan, School Committee liaison, informed the Committee that the schedule for when the finalized cost estimate for the LHS School Building Project will be presented has been set. The cost estimate will be presented to the Permanent Building Committee (PBC) on Thursday, July 31St and Thursday, August 7' and to the School Building Committee (SBC) on Monday, August 4' and Monday, August 11'. There is a community forum scheduled for Wednesday, August 13' and at its meeting on Monday, August 181, the SBC will vote to accept the schematic design. Michael Dowhan and Erin Prestileo from SMMA provided the Committee with an update on the Lexington High School Building Project. This was a follow up to the presentation made at the June 12, 2025 Recreation Committee meeting and a copy of the presentation slides is attached to the meeting minutes. The site design/overall campus plan and field layouts remain unchanged. Regarding lighting, conduit for potential future lights at new/relocated fields is included, but none of the new/relocated fields are scheduled to be illuminated as part of this project. On the fencing & bleacher system slide, red represents chain link fencing. There will be safety netting by the football goal posts, along Worthen Road, and at the throwing cage area and removable fencing will be installed between the JV baseball field (0) and JV softball field (CB). For concessions, restrooms, and storage, there will be a total of two buildings at the site, one for storage (01) and one for concessions and restrooms (02). Mr. Dowhan stated that currently, the budget does not include fencing around the new Skate Park. Mike Cronin, DPF Director, stated that the LHS Building Project will fund the relocation of the Little League field up to Lincoln Park. Mr. Cronin informed the Committee of this in an email dated June 18, 2025 and a copy of that email is attached to the meeting minutes. Melissa Battite received an estimate from Dave Pinsonneault, DPW Director, that this field relocation will cost approximately $500,0004550,000. Ms. Prestileo said that SMMA is looking for a support letter from the Committee and user groups by August 29' as that is the date when SMMA will be uploading documents. Claire Sheth will draft a letter for the August meeting as well as talking points for the Sports Advisory Council. Ms. Prestileo also discussed the potential land swap that will be necessary under Article 97. The existing area was displayed on the left and the proposed area was displayed on the right of the slide. In total, an additional 0.8 acres of playfields will be provided as a result of this project and Ms. Prestileo stated that every effort is being made to ensure that adequate open space is provided. A separate document with Figures A -F from the presentation slides is attached to the meeting minutes. 7. Recreation and Community Programs Report The July Recreation and Community Programs Report is attached to the meeting minutes. A few Save the Dates include fall program registration beginning on Tuesday, August 19' and the Community Center 10th Anniversary Celebration will take place on Friday, September 12th. Pine Meadows continues to be busy. For the past few weeks, the first tee has been starting on the 5' tee due to the ongoing clubhouse renovation. This fall, the Lexington High School golf team will be reserving tee times at Pine Meadows in the morning to get more practice time. While operations at the Town Pool have been going well, there have been some verbal and physical altercations that has resulted in the Police being called a handful of times so far this season. Staff is in the process of finalizing the fall program schedule. Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, recognized Doreen Karoll, P.K. Shiu, and Hal Miller -Jacobs for facilitating various pickleball programs over the years. Ms. Karoll, Mr. Shiu, and Mr. Miller -Jacobs volunteer to facilitate these programs and their efforts have directly led to the advancement of pickleball in 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 4 Lexington. A few residents raised concerns over the past month of cricket being played at the Center Track Field while the Center Track is also being used by people walking or running on the track. There were over 11,000 visitors (combined) at the Town Pool and Community Center over the past week. Melissa Battite gave a shout out to the custodians for all of their efforts. Christine Dean, Community Center Dean, described the different vibes and dynamics that are at work at the Community Center during the summer months. Ms. Dean, working in collaboration with Michelle Kelleher, Human Services Senior Services Director, secured a grant through the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) that has been used to offer an intergenerational, interracial, multi-lingual gardening program at the Community Center. The next meeting of the Recreation Committee is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, August 20" at 7:00pm. The July 16`h, 2025 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 8:18pm. Respectfully submitted, Peter Coleman Assistant Director of Recreation The following documents distributed at the meeting are attached: • Membership to the Community Preservation Committee Memo • 5 -Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Memo • Recreation & Community Programs FY2026-FY2030 Capital Summary • Recreation Committee Recreation Capital Summary Statement — FY2026 • LHS Building Project Info Memo • Lexington High School Project Presentation Slides from SMMA, dated 7/16/2025 • Figures A -F from SMMA regarding Article 97 Land Swap • Email from Mike Cronin, Director of Public Facilities, dated 6/18/2025 • July 2025 Recreation & Community Programs Report • Athletic Playing Field Surfaces Memo • Select Board Policy: Conduct and Decorum for Public Meetings Policy • Lexington Council for the Arts Proposal to Paint Utility Box at Lincoln Park • Recreation Committee Email Correspondence 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421