HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-17-REC-min.attach2 17 January 2018
Dear Lexington Board of Selectmen and Mr. Valente,
The Community Center Program Advisory Committee met on Thursday, January 11, 2018.At the
meeting, the presentation of the Community Center Expansion Study by DiNisco Design on Monday,
January 8th was discussed.
The Community Center expansion now being proposed dates back to the 2012 Phase 2 Expansion Plan
recommended by the Ad Hoc Community Center Advisory Committee. It is now 6 years since these
space needs were identified. Since the opening of the Community Center, attendance and registration for
programs has steadily increased. Most programs are oversubscribed and interested participants are
being turned away. It is projected that interest in programs and the need for space will increase
significantly in the future.
The members of our committee acknowledge that the costs for expanding the Community Center will be
substantial. However, the demand for space and programs will only increase. Our town is experiencing a
growing school population and a growing aging population.While the schools provide educational
opportunities, the Community Center promotes health, wellness and socialization for the entire Lexington
community. Both are equally important.
Our committee believes that serious consideration should be given to planning for the Community Center
expansion because there is a real community need and not"something nice to have." By starting the
process now, a clear path to expansion can be identified. With construction costs and interest rates on
the rise, delay will only increase costs in the future.We recommend investigating how expansion might be
accomplished by doing the project in phases, looking at alternate funding options and other ways that will
enable the Community Center to continue its mission to provide active and passive leisure activities that
are educational, fun and life enriching.
The members of the Community Center Program Advisory Committee strongly support funding the
Feasibility Study for the expansion of the Community Center in FY19 through the Enterprise Fund.
Thank you for your consideration.
Nancy Shepard, Chair(representing The Cary Library)
Nancy Adler(representing The Council on Aging)
Alessandro Alessandrini (representing the School Committee)
Daniel Palant(representing the Youth Services Council)
Lisah Rhodes(representing the Recreation Committee)
Archana Singhal (representing Indian Americans of Lexington)
John Zhu (representing Chinese Americans of Lexington)