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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1943-10-18PLANNING BOARD MEETING October 18, 1943 A meeting of the Planning Board was held at the Town Off- ' ice Building On October 18, 1943 with Messrs,,Greeley, Richards, Worthen, Ferguson, Nickerson and Cromwell. The Board met with Mr. Thomas S. Grindle, who elaborated on his letter to the Board of September 25 on the future needs of the School Department. Regarding the varfaus points of his letter he explained as follows. (Items are listed in order of importance.) School Department 1, The athletic. field adjoining the Center Playground should be enclosed with a wire fence. 2, The town should buy the land between the high school and the railroad. This would provide a much needed playground for exercises, physical education, etc. High school was built for 1000.pupils but has 1200, 3. The Parker School playground should be leveled and divided for boys and girls. Ground is now used but is rough and uneven. (See also Advance Budget) 4. The Munroe School is in urgent need of a sprinkler system. It has none and lives of pupils may be endangered. 5, Hancock School -now heated by five obsolete and inefficient ?==aees.,New toilets needed as present ones obsolete. 6, Adams School- will need basement classrooms to take care of expected growth. 7, Junior High School now has canvas curtain separating boys' ' and girls' gym. Soundproof partition needed, Telephone system never satiffactory and should be improved. Present classrooms are substandard as to lighting and otherwise, Mr. Grindle raised the question of a new.high school. Sentiment of the. School Committee is towards use of Aldrich property, This would be a senior high school, leaving the present building as a junior high school. The need is con- tingent on growth of town. Real need may not come for ten to fifteen years. Other property being considered is that behind and ad3tiWfig1 that of Mr, Mulliken. (The Planning Board favors this property.) If this property is used it should be added to, to square it off. The important question for the present is whether the Town should anticipate future needs by acquiring property. Cdr. Grindle said the Town needs or will need a grammar school in.the vicinity of Five Forks, After the meeting the following letter was prepared by Park the Clark of the Planning Board and mailed to Cdr, Garrity: Department Mr. John J. Garrity ' 9 Hancock Street Lexington, Massachusetts Dear Mr, Garrity: For the record we have prepared the following summary of the needs of the Park Department as described by you at the 2. meeting of the Planning Board on October 18, 1943.. If you find this summary inaccurate in any important particulars we should appreciate hearing from you. The needs as we understand them are listed in order of tbAir importance. ' 1e Athletic field - This field of five acres should be enclosed with a cyclone fence with shrubbery inside. The Town has a legal right to charge admittance but cannot do so easily with the field unenclosed. It might be decided to admit children under 14 free after a certain time limit. Estimated cost of fence, including backstop, $3,500. South field should be graded. Estimated cost $3,000. 2. A new Locker building should be erected on same site as present oneEstima+ted cost $10,000. 3. East Lexi ton playground - Needs toilet facilities for use when school is closed* Tood playground weeded, Should be developed at estimated cost of $3,000. Entrance to playground from Massaelmsetts Avenue, between house of Ellen Stone and Sacred Heart Rectory. This might be ten or fifteen deet wide. Estimated cost $2,000. 4. Kineents Pond - Mud should be taken out to improve skating and beautify.- 5000 cubic yards of mud could be stored and treated (time l year) and would than be useful as loan on ' various other projects. Estimated cost, including storage and treating $2,500. (Amouht of loam needed for playground would be 2000 cubic yards.) 5, Gr2adetand on Center Pla round - This could be build for 2000 pegp a and added to later on, Estimated cost $5,000, 6. Old Reservoir on Marrett Road - This could be made into a ffami y swimming poolCut area from 7 to 3 acres in order to save undue expense of filtering. Water not good after July 1, at present. It was suggested that there are ten driven wells in the pond which might supply clear water and obviate filtering if cleaned out. A bridle Mth should be built from center playground to res- ervoir. Cost of land for bridle path might be $1,;500. Estimated cost of improving reservoir, including an adjoining playground, $35,000. This plan needs a great deal more study. 7. Locker building at swimminiz pool - This should be extended at both ends to provide equate facilities for changing and ' 3. storing clothes, etc. Present boys' room is 12x12 and from - 60 to 65 boys may use it at once. Clothing has been lost due to crowding. Estimated cost $+4,000. ' 8. Sickle Brook Pro9eet - Make a small children's park. Estimated cost ,000. 9. Hatch's Pond - Purchase is recommended, the pond to be improved for skating, etc. 10, Winter SDo_r_tss Area - Plan has been prepared and some work has been done, 'Estimated cost is $17,500. The problem for the Planning Board is to recommend how fast the project shall be pushed towards completion, 11. Blake's Meadow - This should be made into a park. It is recommended that the land be bought now. 12. WobuKn.-Street athletic field - An athletic field would be desirable on �ioburn Street, the preferred location being on land opposite junction of Woburn and Vine Streets. Ten acres, Very truly yours, LEXINGTON PLANNING BOARD Richard P. Cromwell I Clerk The meeting adjourned until October 25, 1943 at 8:00 P,X4, Re �fu(lV-00 tte$, �a rd P .lerk n