HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-13-GCC-min.docx
Minutes of Greenways Corridor Committee Meeting 13 November 2025
Present in person: Keith Ohmart (chair), Peggy Enders, Eileen Entin, David Frohman, Bob
Hausslein,
Daisy Liu, Stephen Perkins, Mike Tabaczynski (nonvoting), Millie Webster (nonvoting),
Present virtually: Bobak Moshiri, Susan Kenyon (nonvoting), Joe Pato
1. Votes:
a. 11 September 2025 minutes approved unanimously
b. GCC letter of support for purchase of Silk Fields Farm by Town of Lexington
approved unanimously
2. Reports/Updates
a. Oct 5 - GCC table at LexFarm event. Bob H, Bobak, David staffed the table.
Good event with many people stopping by for information about ACROSS and
the shade of the tent as well. Good day, good well organized event.
b. Minuteman Bikeway closure: discussion of potential approaches to help walkers
when Bikeway is closed for construction between Dana and Maple during the
winter. Unknown start and duration remains a challenge still. A draft sign was
presented that could guide users and could be laminated in the Conservation
office. Several areas to potentially address were discussed: from Arlington Great
Meadows, from Mass Ave, Bow St, Maple. The conclusion was to address AGM
and Dana Court. Follow up to get more information about start date and duration.
Signs to guide people won’t mention dates. Updating the GCC website and
Facebook page was suggested as another way to highlight the information.
c. Safe Routes to School Report: More sidewalks are valuable, but expensive - $5
million for North St sidewalk on one side. A new cheaper approach on Shade St
was successful: add white lines on the sides of the roads and remove the center
line to reduce vehicle speed and give pedestrians a safer area to walk on. A
concern was raised by DPW about the cost of repainting the lines each year.
d. Traffic Safety Advisory Group Report: The Affordable Housing project proposed
for Lowell St was discussed and it was suggested to create a new trail into the
North Street Pits at the intersection at North St and Lowell St. It would require
some trail redevelopment or realignment. Open question about GCC involvement
given no ACROSS trail there. Discussion of car accident at Fiske school. Next
step: Peggy/Bobak to bring a letter for GCC consideration about support for safer
walking paths.
e. Bowman Park social trail closure: there remains an open question if the new path
is getting more use or older social paths. Next step: re-evaluate in the spring to
assess.
f. VO250 volunteer initiative - broad encouragement to add our time to this town
initiative
3. Ongoing Business
a. Review of current routes in development:
i. Discussion of the decision to refill Erica Herrera’s position in Q1 2026
which will give needed bandwidth to Karen and the Conservation
Department for the following pending projects
ii. Rte 22/Arlington’s Great Meadows/Lower Vine Brook Connector.
iii. Proposed Route 8/Concord Avenue East Loop.
iv. 114 Wood St proposed development.
v. Discussion of new developer Poulte Homes building on Boston Sports
Club site adding 150 units. Possibility of adding a trail connection and
adding trail signs to Bedford St.
4. New Business
a. Route L realignment
i. Widnall Woods new conservation area. The goal is to move existing trails
from sidewalk to the woods to get people into nature. Engaging Sacred
Heart church to use their surrounding natural lands to avoid steep portion
of Bridle Path. The Boston area Catholic Church seems amenable and
this might be a first step in the Boston area to share the lands around
churches with the community.
b. GCC meetings in 2026 - approved on 2nd Thursdays with exception in January
to move to January 22.
c. Brochures:
i. Our inventory is nearly out, so we will need to print more for Q1 2026 with
the new route Q and new design (cutting Points of Interest text which
Stephen has already done and adding photos)
ii. The committee reviewed the submitted photos and chose 10-20 with a
variety of walkers, bikers, dogs, seasons and portrait/landscape to
consider further both for the cover and around the text. Jon Sacks will do
the design work.
iii. New points of interest on new routes will be reviewed by Eileen, Stephen
and Mike.
iv. Next meeting will be used to push forward photo choice and brochure
design
The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 pm.
Next Meeting: 11 December, 4-6 pm in the Parker Room