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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-10-20-REC-minMop 17 ° Town of Lexington N Uj 5 O W Recreation Committee �r 4 APRIL Ir � XING��� Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Tel: (781) 862 -0500 x262 Richard Thuma, Vice Chairman Fax: (781) 861 -2747 Wendy Rudner Sandra Shaw Howard Vogel Recreation Committee Minutes of Meeting of October 20, 2010 A meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Office Building, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 207. A quorum of 4 was present. Members Present:. Sandra Shaw, Howard Vogel, Dick Thuma and Rick DeAngelis, Chairman Members Absent Wendy Rudner Staff Present Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation, Dave Pinsonneault, Superintendent of Public Grounds and Sheila Butts, Assistant Director of Recreation Others Present Robert Berger, David Pronchick, and Bob O'Neill, Lexington High School Women's Varsity Tennis Coach The Recreation Committee meeting began at 7.09 p.m. The meeting acted on the following items: 1. Citizens and Other Boards 2. Minutes of September 15, 2010 Sandra Shaw made a motion, seconded by Rick DeAngelis, to approve the minutes of the September 15, 2010 Recreation Committee Meeting as written. The motion was approved by a vote of 3 — 0 --1 (Dick Thuma Abstaining). 3. Bob O'Neill — Tennis Pavilion Bob O'Neill, LHS Women's Varsity Tennis Coach, accompanied by LHS parents Bob Berger and David Pronchick, reviewed plans submitted at the September 15, 2010 Recreation Committee meeting for a pavilion to be erected at the Gallagher Tennis Courts. The structure will be similar to the one currently existing at the Town Pool. It will be approximately 30' by 20' set on pavers with landscaping. Once the materials are purchased the pavilion will be constructed by students from Minuteman Technical High School. Karen Simmons told the Recreation Committee that this is a win -win opportunity for Lexington High School and the community. She also commented that the pavilion must be accessible and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, An accessible path must be made from the pool parking lot to the pavilion. Rick DeAngelis suggested that Ms. Simmons, Dave Pinsonneault and the Building Commissioner should review and approve the plans and specifications prior to any construction beginning. Mr. Thuma noted that it was important to have the structure placed so that there is unobstructed visibility from the existing bleachers. Bob O'Neill agreed and 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE e LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 noted that the plans call for the pavilion to be placed next to the existing bleachers. He also agreed that although half of the necessary funds have been raised, no construction will begin until private fundraising is complete. Rick DeAngelis made the following motion, which was seconded by Howard Vogel: The Recreation Committee approves construction of a Tennis Shade Pavilion as presented on October 20, 2010 pending the following: • Final design review and approval by Director of Recreation, Superintendent of Public Grounds and Building Commissioner. • Funding completed prior to start of construction. • All appropriate permits required by the Town of Lexington Building Department are obtained. • Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act to the extent that the regulations apply to the shade pavilion including access. • Placement of bleachers and shade pavilion will not compromise the view of the tennis courts from the bleachers. The Recreation Committee approved the motion by a vote of 4 _ 00 4. Town Meeting Article Assignments Karen Simmons reminded members of the Recreation Committee that there were three Recreation Capital Articles to be presented at the 2011 Town Meeting. She asked for volunteers from the committee to present the Capital Articles. Howard Vogel will present the Town Pool Renovation Article (funding requested from Recreation Enterprise Fund); Rick DeAngelis will present Phase Two of the Center Drainage Project (funding requested from Community Preservation Act monies); and Wendy Rudner will present the Park Improvement — Athletic Fields Article (funding requested from the Tax Levy). 5. Busa Farm Report Karen Simmons reviewed the evaluation criteria that will used by the Busa Land Use Committee for the Recreation Committee's Busa Farm Proposal. Rick DeAngelis will be presenting the proposal to the Busa Land Use Proposal Committee on November 4. Recreation staff has put in a great deal of time developing the presentation with the back up data. 6. USGA Report Karen Simmons distributed the September 16, 2010 United States Golf Association (USGA) Pine Meadows Golf Course Report. The results and recommendations presented in the USGA Report will be discussed at the November Recreation Committee Meeting. 7. Parks Report Dave Pinsonneault, Superintendent of Public Grounds reported the following: • The Hastings Field project has begun. Fence work is in progress and the field work should be completed before winter. • Center Playfields: o Underground water storage units will shift to the track side near the shrubs in right field where there is a viable connection to existing pipes. o Pending the Selectmen's approval, the project should be put out to bid over the winter. The time -line still needs to be determined. 0 o The funding request process will go forward for Phase Two (football field) • Old Reservoir Phase I- At a recent meeting with representatives of the Department of Environmental Protection, Army Corp of Engineers, Conservation and the Louis Berger Group, The EPA expressed their concern about wetlands protection. They are not looking favorably at the plan, although the current design does minimize disturbance of the existing area. The Committee expressed their concerns, Rick DeAngelis suggesting that the Louis Berger Group must find a solution to this. Dave Pinsonneault noted that they would, but that this could delay the project and change the face of the facility. Dick Thuma suggested that going forward the Town must be proactive in maintaining detention basins, so that they do not become wetlands in the eyes of environmental agencies. • The Golf Course Stormwater Mitigation Project has gone out to bid. Timing of the project will be determined once the bids have been received. 8. Recreation Report • Karen Simmons reported that the Department staff continues to have a lot on their plate. The current focus is developing the operating budget, FY2010 performance measurements, the Busa Farm Proposal, In -Town Basketball League, and planning for winter, spring and summer programs. • In January or February, the Recreation Department offices will move into Estrabrook Hall during the renovation of the Town Office Building. • On November 3 0, 2010 she will be presenting the Five Year Capital Plan to the Capital Expenditures Committee. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8 :30 a.m. Recreation Committee members are welcome to attend. 9. Other Reports The next meeting of the Recreation Committee will take place on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. The Committee will be notified of the meeting location. The October 20, 2010 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 8:31 p.m. The following documents /exhibits used at the meeting are attached: 1. USGA Green Service Section- Turf Advisory Service Report Respectfully submitted, Sheila Butts Assistant Director of Recreation 5 GOLF 5� Q United States Golf Association Northeast Region Green Section 1500 North Main Street Palmer, MA 01069-1215 T (413) 283 -2237 F (413) 233 -7741 USGA-GREEN SECTION - TURF A DVISORY PINE MEADOWS GOLF COURSE LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS September 16', 201q Present. Mr. John Aden, Jr., Vice President of operations, New England Golf Corporation Mr. W illi - am Harrison, President, New England Golf Corporation Mr. Jim Hastings, Superintendent Ms. Karen Simmons, Recreation Director Mr. Dave Pinsonneault, Superintendent of Public Grounds Mr. Jaynes E. Skorulski, Senior Agronomist, USDA FC f 1 ' � E 1 Pine Meadows Golf Course September 10, 2010 Page 2 l This report is provided for the Turf Advisory Service (TAS)' visit conducted at Pine Meadows Golf .course on September 1 5, 2010. The 2010 season will long be remembered - in the Northeast' as be in 9 one of the more difficult and stressful in many years. The season did not start out well with the winter injury followed by record heat and humidity and very dry v�eather conditions in Jui and . � y August. The winter damaged greens did recover after some time. It was good to see that the creeping bentgrass that was established following the winter rY in "u ' has � performed well during the stressful summer season. The heat and humidity in July and the drier weather conditions were more stressful to annual bluegrass in the greens, collars and fairways. Problems with the, irrigation system also created a number of management challenges in . this dry summer season. The golf course performed relatively well through the difficult weather. There were some isolated patches of dead turf in the fairways and some of the collar areas. Non - irrigated roughs also suffered some injury that is to be expected. We used our time together to tour the golf course and examine some of the weak and damaged areas. Recommendations were provided for the recovery of those areas. We also discussed_ the use of winter covers and other methods tot to protect the grass from c tr p 9 old temperature injury and ice. Recommendations were provided for soil manag ement programs, #8 green, tree work, irrigation, weed management and a -number of other practices that will be presented in this report. Winter Id ry It was good to see that the greens that were damaged in the winter season were fully recovered and. performed well this summer. I commend the staff for their hard work in reestablishing turf and then maintaining the plants through the difficult summer. We discussed covering strategies and other fall practices to improve the turfs' ability y to survive the winter season. The use of impermeable 'covers is generally an effective means to prevent the plants from becoming hydrated. Solid covers used alone however, do not provide protection from colder temperatures ( <0° F) that can also kill annual bluegrass. The impermeable cover will be utilized on a trial basis over #5 green this winter. install a permeable cover beneath the solid cover or use the foam material to create some air space that should help insulate the turf from rapid temperature fluctuations that can occur in winter_ Permeable covers are available from GreenJacket and other companies. A less expensive permeable agriculture cover can also be used below the impermeable cover: The use of a permeable cover also will be helpful as you _ Y transition. the greens in the spring season. I generally recommend removing the impermeable covers usually in early -mid March A rule of thumb is to wait until temperatures below the covers reach 4 °--45° P on a consistent basis erature not temperature p Pine Meadows golf course Sept -ember 16, 2010 Page 3 spikes) as this is the point when the annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass will begin to break dormancy. The impermeable cover would be removed while the permeable fabric would be left over the surface to protect the turf from frosts, wind desiccation, etc, until the turf has an opportunity to harden off or acclimate to the exposed environment. I would utilize the permeable covers from that point onward until the turf has hardened off or even until the threat of a severe freeze passes. Permeable covers will be utilized on both the 3rd, 4th and 8th greens. Eventually, those greens too are all good candidates for impermeable covers due to surface drainage concerns. Drywells will be installed in the low pockets on those greens in an effort to keep water off of the greens' surface in the winter months. The permeable and impermeable covers should be installed in late fall. (late November- -early December) before any major snowfall occurs and or a deep frost sets in the ground. Allowin g the turf some exposure to below freezing temperatures in late November and early December will improve the turfs' ability to tolerate colder temperatures later in winter. The impermeable cover needs to be installed over the entire green complex on the Stn hole to prevent surface water from flowing under the cover and onto the surface. Consideration might also be given to placing hay bales along the upper side of the 8th green to prevent water from sheeting over its surface. The hay bales should be secured to the ground with stakes. There are shade concerns that continue to impact several greens, leaving them more vulnerable to winter freeze injury. The dense shade patterns were witnessed during our tour of the golf course and those patterns will only worsen as we approach the winter season. The dense fail shade over the greens reduces the turfs' ability to produce the carbohydrates that it requires to protect itself from cold winter temperatures. The shaded conditions also favor weaker annual bluegrass. The following recommendations were made: !Morning shade was apparent on the 2 green during our visit. A Norway spruce tree' located behind the green should be removed to allow more sun to reach the green. A poor quality willow tree located behind the green should also be removed as it is becoming hazardous. Remove the large Norway spruce tree from the right side of #3 green to eliminate dense afternoon shade over the green's surface. Pine Meadows Golf course September 16, 2010.. Page 4 0 Tree work is required along the back and hack left side of #4 green to allow more sun to ' reach the green's surface during the late fall, winter and spring seasons. l recommend selectively removing all of the white pine trees growing along the back of the green (those that are shading the turf) as well as thinning some of the deciduous trees - from the woodland area to allow more sun to reach the The tree work involves the stand of trees along th Ieft side of the 5th hole. Extensive tree work is required along the left and back left sides of the 5th green and approach. That work involves removing or at least topping white pine trees growing at that location. The white pine trees are causing dense shade over most of the green's surface throughout the morning hours and that shade pattern is extended longer throughout the day in the winter season. Remove two white pine trees from the back of ##S green to allow more sun to reach the turf there. Several spruce and pine trees located between the 9 th and 5 th fairways may also be shading the green during the winter months. Those too should be removed as deemed necessary. Remove One white pine tree from , the right side of #9 green as it creates dense shade over the right half of the green in the morning hours. A second white pine tree should also be removed from that location in the future. Winter injury. is a weather dependent phenomenon. The ' best that we can do at this point is to try to grow the grasses that have the most tolerance to cold temperature and ice (i.e. the creeping bentgrass) and create conditions that are less likely to lead to that injury (i.e. improve surface drainage and correct poor growing environments). The use of the winter protection covers will in most years improve the tun=s' survival in the winter season. However, even the covering systems will not provide sufficient protection should already weak annual bluegrass be exposed to lethal temperatures or multiple freeze /thaw cycles. Soil. Management We examined the soil profiles in the 1 st , 2n 5 th and 9 th greens. The thatch mat in the greens seems to be increasing. This is hard to understand as the greens are being core cultivated in both the spring and late summer seasons and are receiving more topdressing than ever before. We need to monitor that thatch layer, which at this p Dint is- not having any negative effect on the greens. However, if it continues to grow then more aggressive forms of core cultivation will be needed_ This would include core cultivating with larger hollow tines and or completing the practice at a higher corm g frequency. The light topdressing done during the season may need to be intensified further. We will examine the sail profiles closely next spring to help determine what cultivation practices will be most effective moving forward. Y, Pine Meadows Golf Course September 16, 2010 Page 5 General Maintenance Increase the fertilizer applications on the sand tees on the 9th hole. It would also be a good idea to have a soil test taken to determine pal of those sands, it may be necessary to lime the tees to increase the ply up to a 6 - 0.5 level. Apply approximately .4 -.5 lb. of nitrogen per 1 ,000 sq. ft. monthly on the sand tees with the exception of July y and August when those rates might be cutback slightly due to the warmer weather and concerns with disease. Irrigation coverage is also a concern on the upper and lower tees on the 9th hole. Monitor the sprinkler head coverage and adjust the nozzles - or relocates sprinkler � p heads to correct the deficiencies that became apparent in this dry season. We also discussed the need to add irrigation to the middle tee box on the 8th hole. The 61h and 7t. tees are probably he weakest on the course. due to the environment onment in which they are located_ Remove more of the pitch pine trees located on the right side of #6 tee to allow more sun to reach the back half of that tee. The 7th tee is growing in a densely shaded environment and any work that can be done along the right side of the tee to allow more sun to reach the playing surface will benefit the turf. I realize the trees are an important screen from the 6th hole and that tree removal work has to be done with care. NI n R Trim The front tee on the 8 hole is very unlevel. Fortunately, there is a deep soil mix on the y p tee, which .makes it possible to level the surface and even increase the tee's size. The tee is a good candidate for renovation and should be a priority. Use a short -cut Kentucky bluegrass to re -grass the tee after it has been leveled. General Maintenance The area adjacent to ##9 tee is in poor condition as a result of poor irrigation, traffic and trees. I recommend removing an oak from the left front side of. the tee. The r t ee overhangs the walk -on area and is likely competing with the turf.there for water and nutrients (root competition). Adding a curb along the cart p ath at that location would help to keep carts from traveling over this heavily used area. The sprinkler head adjustments discussed earlier will also be helpful. Root prune between the tee box and the wooded area to eliminate any root competition there. Fine Meadows Golf Course September 16, 2010 Page 0 FAIRWAYS Trees Dense shade impacts the 5th fairway. White pine trees rowin along the left side of e g g g h hole should be thinned to allow more sun to * reach the left half of the fairway. I . Y recommend removing all of the white pine trees around a mature oak tree. The oak tree is a good specimen tree that should be brought into view. Thin pitch pine trees from the right side of the 0 th hole to allow more sun to reach the high traffic area in the right g ht rough (beyond the cart path). The sun will improve turf vigor and will also help o dry ry this area out more quickly. General Maintenance The remnants of the dry and hot summer weather remain with the damaged turf on the 2 nd hole, Core aerating the surfaces and seeding the damaged areas will stimulate new growth and recovery in those areas. Pine Meadows Golf Course September 16, 2010 Page 7 Goosegrass continues to be a problem in the 5th and 8th fairways. A split application of granular Dimension herbicide was made to the fairways in hopes . of managing the g g goosegrass. Unfortunately, the application was only moderately successful. I agree with Mr. Allen in that the fairways with the goosegrass should be treated with a sprayable formulation of Dimension in the split application. The first application of Dimension would be applied in early May followed by a second application one month later. Andersons Golf Products Goosegrass /Crabgrass control utilizes a combination of Betasan and Ronstar herbicides to manage both crabgrass and goosegrass. Ronstar continues to be the most effective preernergent product against goosegrass. consider ` th th an initial application of Dimension in the 5 and 8 fairways in the spring followed by an application of the Andersons product in late May. Animals are feeding on white grubs in tees, fairways and rough areas. Those areas where there is some surface damage from the animal activity are being treated with Proxol insecticide to control the white grubs and prevent any future feeding damage. The fertilizer Milorganite can also be applied to areas where animals are seeking the white grubs to deter the feeding and associated damage. The Milorganite will probably be most effective in deterring the feeding activity of skunks, raccoons and other mammals. Apply Merit, Arena or Acelepryn to the fairways, tees and primary rough areas next season. Drava „ge Drainage continues to be a concern in lower portions of the V fairway and the right side of #2 fairway. The dry summer season has reduced those concerns but only for a temporary basin A long -range plan to address these drainage concerns should remain a priority. Addressing the poor drainage will leave these fairways in a more playable condition and will allow for cart use even during more wet weather. _ J Sand Bunkers Ms. Simmons pointed out a concern with drainage in the greenside bunker on the S hole. The drain line in the low lying bunker drains into the pond. It is likely that the drainage will become ineffective if water levels in the pond are above normal. In the future, the sand bunker can be drained under the cart path and taken to the.ditch where the elevation is lower. This will allow the drain to be installed at a deeper depth and should also keep the drain functioning even when water levels in the pond are high. Flo.- 8 C-3rP_P_n We reexamined the contours of the 8 th green. It was interesting fo hear that the g rades of - - -the -- green: were - -- determined with -- a--lase and -that the surface did provide the­ - ._ surface drainage that was specified in the design. It appears however that there are Pine Meadows Golf Course September 10, 2010 Page 8 several low pockets on the green. one of the pockets is on the upper tier and the other near the right center of the green. The lack of or minimal surface drainage through the center of the green allows water to pocket there in the winter months. The evidence of the pockets was more clear with winter injury that occurred this season.. Ideally, the surface grade of this green would be more straightforward with the upper tier draining off the back right side of the green and the lower tier draining to the front right side of the green. At this point, most of the water seems to be funneled off the center and to the front of the green through a lower area. I am concerned that the limited surface drainage will increase the potential for future winter injury. There is no easy fix at this point. correcting the surface drainage would require the sod to be lifted from the front and back tiers of the green while the grade changes are made. A project of this type should. strongly be considered -in the future if additional winter injury occurs in those lower lying areas. -� � _ , Do not hesitate to contact the office if there are any questions regarding this report or should any questions arise as we enter the fall season. I hope I can return to the golf course later this fall to reexamine shade patterns over .the 4th green and others. At that point, we also discuss some more of the specifics with the installation of covers and other winter management techniques. Best wishes for the fall and winter seasons and I look forward to continuing to work with 'the Town of Lexington -and New England Golf Corporation to make Dine Meadows Golf course the best it can he.. Sincerely, J Es : jc cc: Mr. John Allen, Jr_, Vice President of operations, New England Golf Corp. Mr. William Harrison, President, New England Golf corporation Ms. Karen Simmons, Recreation Director Mr. Dave Pinsonneault, Superintendent of Public Grounds