HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-08-28 Board of Public Works Minutes August 28, 1978
Meeting of the Board of Public Works convened at 7: 30 P. M.
in the Auditorium of the Community Center, 52 Sanborn Street.
Present were Chairman Dustin, Secretary Price, Board Mem-
bers Russell and Cowell , Superintendent Louanis, Assistant Super-
intendent McIntire together with William McCauley and William High
of the Engineering Division.
Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as written.
Chairman Dustin called the meeting to order and Secretary
Price read Notice of Public Hearing regarding the proposed de-
velopment of Batchelder Park. There were approximately one hun-
dred and twenty-five people present. Chairman Dustin outlined the
chain of events leading to the acquisition of Batchelder Field by
the Board of Public Works and stated that in the Spring of 1978
Town Meeting appropriated funds for the operation of the Depart-
ment of Public Works which included funds for the development of
recreational facilities for an overall parks program including
' Batchelder Park. The Engineering Division had prepared a handout
which was a reproduction of the Department' s proposed plan and
this was distributed to those in attendance. Superintendent
Louanis presented the Board' s plan for the development of the
Park indicating that the proposed baseball field and the horse
ring would be separated by a barrier of shrubbery: that the
baseball field, foul areas and allowable parking area would
utilize something less than three acres of the eleven acre site:
the 4-H group have available, according to the plan; slightly
more than five acres, leaving approximately three acres of un-
developed space. Chairman Dustin then opened the meeting for input
from the audience. Mr. Hadad and Mr. Campbell were the principal
speakers in opposition to the construction of a baseball field
(copy of each text attached hereto) . They were concerned, among
other things, with the increase in traffic on Franklin Street
that the proposed ballfield would bring to the area and the com-
patibility of a ballfield and youngsters on horseback. James
Campbell of the 4-H Club stated a petition was being circulated
and would be submitted to the Board of Selectmen for presentation
to the next Town Meeting voicing their objection to the baseball
field and requesting it not be allowed. John Fallon, Duane
Heineck and Peter Moscariello all spoke supporting the proposed new
ballfield at Batchelder Park stating it is impossible to schedule
the practice sessions and games to accommodate over 1 ,800 people
with the present fields. There are, at present, 15 fields, ten
with backstops, only two of which are full size diamonds. Mr.
Moscariello pointed out the high school freshmen are being penalized
as there is no field available for them on which to play. Carl
Amon stated that the Town acquired the Batchelder land by purchase
in 1950 for school or recreation purposes or both and now that
there is no need for further schools, recreational facilities for
the greatest number is of prime concern. John Pacino, Superinten-
dent of Recreation supported the plan as prepared by the Board of
Public Works stating that he felt it was an attempt to provide
areas for diversified sports and accommodate all concerned. It
was moved, seconded and voted to close the Hearing at 9: 15 P.M.
and the Board returned to the Town Hall , Room 16, to continue
with the items scheduled on this evening' s Agenda.
Following an unscheduled Board of Survey meeting with a group
of local residents the Board of Public Works reconvened at 9:50 ,
P.M.
Read Notice of Public Hearing regarding taking an easement
through private property located off Warren Avenue for drainage
purposes. Following a brief discussion it was moved, seconded
and voted to take the easement and the Board signed the Order of
Taking.
Read letter from Joseph Kingston Co-chairman of the 1978
Old Redding Fair for the First Congregational Church requesting
Sanborn Street from Lowell to Woburn Street be closed to vehicular
traffic from 7:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and for permission to post a
sign on the green Saturday to advertise the event. It was moved,
seconded and voted to grant permission provided no alcoholic
beverages be served within the public way, the area be clean at
the conclusion of the event, the area be properly policed and
insured.
The Board re-reviewed bids for the sale of scrap metal and
reviewed record of receipts from the sale of metal at $12.00 per '
Minutes - continued August 28, 1978
' ton from March 1977 through June 6, 1978. Following a brief
discussion, it was moved, seconded and voted to award the con-
tract for the Sale of Scrap Metal at $12. 10 per ton to M. F.
R. Standley of North Reading for a period of six months.
Read letter from State Department of Public Works, Com-
missioner John J. Carroll , regarding Salt Storage Shed. It was
accepted as a point of information.
The Board accepted as a point of information, memorandum
from John Agnew regarding the September 14, 1978 meeting of
Boards and Committees.
It was moved, seconded and voted to approve the bill for
$200.00 covering membership dues to N.E.S.W.C.
The Board signed the following: Payroll for the period end-
ing August 25, 1978, Bill Roll dated September 1 , 1978 and
Commitment letter in the amount of $746.90 for laterals for sewer
house connections.
The Board read with interest the letter written by the
Board of Assessors to all Town Departments enclosing the Cherry
Sheet from the Commonwealth.
Memorandum from John Agnew enclosing copy of letter from
A. C. Paton, Acting Director of Sewerage Division stating that all mem-
ber communities are required to file a Municipal Permit Application
within 90 days of September 5, 1978 and further all municipalities
are required to issue user permits to each contributing industry
in its local sewerage system. Questions should be referred to
Mr. Noel Baratta at 727-8989. This information was accepted as
a point of information.
The Board reviewed tire bids taken by the Town and bids taken
by the State. It was pointed out by Assistant Superintendent
McIntire that the State had awarded bids to four separate con-
tractors and if the Town was to follow that policy and award con-
tracts to the low bidders we would be dealing with seven different
vendors. Since the State had not taken bids for tire repairs it
was next to impossible to make a comparison of one bid against the
other. Mr. Cowell expressed concern that a bid comparison had not
been made and felt that not sufficient information was available
for him to make a good judgment as to which would be the best
course of action. The Superintendent pointed out that tire re-
pair is a vital part of our bid and most important in keeping
our vehicles on the road and down time can result in substantial
loss to the department in lieu of the saving that could be
realized. The Superintendent also felt it was difficult to make
a true comparison of the bids because in effect we are comparing
apples with oranges. He suggested next year abetter record
should be put forth by the Department to develop a bidding pro-
cedure that would be more consistent with the State and Town.
It was moved, seconded and voted to award the bid to Baron Tire
of Stoneham.
Meeting adjourned at 10:45 P. M. in order to meet as the
Board of Survey.
Re ectfully submitted,
)W/"i*�e�2i
su/
cretary
A
Board Members,
We appreciate the opportunity to appear before the board
and state our concerns with the proposed Batchelder Field con-
struction and its implications on our families, neighborhood,
road, and tax dollar.
As abutters and area residents many of us were not aware
of the proposed. plan. For those citizens who did attend Town
Meeting, debate was closed prior to them being allowed to speak.
We believe Town Meeting has not been provided with an adequate
opportunity to fully evaluate all possible implications of this
project. Serious safety considerations, neighborhood recreational -
nerds, l ,cation of the facility, and the total cost of the pro-
ject warrant review. To date we have circulated and collected
over three hundred signatures on a citizen's petition calling for
a special Town Meeting. ,
�V
We have met with the §electmen and are meeting withgthe .
'B^ard of Public Works this evening. The Selectmen have indicated
I-." a special Town Meeting for ratification of contracts will
. he called soon.
It is our hope to utilize the special •Town Meeting as a
vehicle to have our voice heard. 4!e hope the meeting this evening
will persuade the Board to reconsider t-he its past action and
recommend alternative action to the proposed facility. At a
minim-am we hope to ask the Board to defer construction at Batchelder
Field until such time as the special Town Meeting has been called.
Our reasons for opposition are simple and forth right.
There are four major concerns.
.rte'
FIRST CONCER14
THE TRAFFIC .AND SAFETY PROBLEM
1
I
The volume of traffic on Franklin Street (between Main and
Haverhill Streets) is already excessive. The development of a base-
ball, or other spectator sport at Batchelder Field will draw more
motor vehicle traffic.
In the face of Increased Traffic on- a narrow street, the
Town may widen and straighten Franklin Street (as previously proposed.)
If widened, there will certainly be "land taking." Also, the speed
of passing motor vehicles will increase.
There are no sidewalks of Franklin, Pearl, Haverhill and other
nearby streets. The increased motor vehicle traffic and speed _
coupliwith increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic and horseback
riding will create unsafe conditions.
In contradiction to the Board's reassurances at the annual Town
meeting, Franklin Street, in fact,has been slated for "reconstruc-
tion" in the Board of Public Works 20 year Road Maintenance Plan.
SECOND C014CER14
NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS 6 INPUT
The proposed facility does not reflect the needs or input
of the neighborhood. As there was no prior notice nor hearing re-
garding this project under the budget line iten, many area resid-
ents were unaware of the proposed project. Other individuals,
primarily those involved with the 4-11, had repeatedly stated their
concerns with the project but they were unsuccessful in influenc-
ing the Board or. Department.
Currently Batchelder Field is used extensively for horse back
riding as well as kite flying, bike riding practice golfing, and
sand lot ball. The elderly neighbors take leisurely walks and walk
their dogs here. ' ._
To insure that the future par$ construction is responsive
VV neighborhood needs, we ask that the board further study and
assess the 'peighborhood recreational requirements including density
and population, age distribution, and neighborhood characteristics.
CenCec-q
eHit THIRD OBJEe ttrkl FS:
F/ 6Ca / -ResP - n !3 , t-,' I- 'l
As citizens of Reading we believe that tax dollars should
be expended wisely, effectively and economically in a balanced
program for the benefit and safety of the greatest number of
Reading citizens. The Batchelder facility with these considerations
is a poor site. The location of Batchelder Field in the northeast
corner of our community is an area of low population density when
compared to other densities in Reading. Densities in the southern and
western portions exceed 4 and 5, 000 people per square mile. Some
i
areas have as many as six homes per acre with densities exceeding
6, 000 people per square mile. In the Batchelder Field area the density
is fqr less than 3, 000 people per square mile. The zoning is a minimum
- residential lot of 20, 000 square feet and 30,000 square feet. Many ,
homes have 1 acre of land or more.
. c6i
Based on the fact that the proposed construction does not re-
flect neighborhood needs nor a balanced program for the benefit
Iand safety of the greatest number of Reading citizens, we suggest,w
to the Board that the moneys would he spent more wisely to refurbish -
tcasafe playing conditions existing fields.
Has the possibility of dual purpose improvement been considered?
For example, the Filliam School field could be brought up to accept-
able playing conditions for Little League and girl's Softball games
76
as well as benefit the hundreds of youngsters using it for school
related activities. -
. Wouldn' t areas much better suited for hard ball playing such as
Coolidge, Parker. and Birch Meadow fields where parking facilities
alreadiy exist save the tax payers' money?
mise-aGtiy of +1�4 l hl h
(7)
FOURTH CONCERN
COMPATIBILITY OF BALLFIELD AILD YOUNGSTERS ON HORSEBACK.
Our 4th concern deals with the compatibility of the baseball
field and the youngsters and not so young individuals on horseback.
I have been a 4-H leader for years. I have aided young people
working with their ponies and horses for the past G years. From
150 to 200 different individuals use the Batchelder Field area for
riding, practicing, excercisi,ng and exhibiting.
The activities of these youngsters are not restricted to the ring,
but also include the grassed area directly visable from Franklin St.
The ring is used for ring work, controlled execution of the gaits,
walk, trot and canter, as. well as proper leads, reining and schooling
of the animals. The warm up .area of- grassed area is Jused for lounging -
animaliare excercised in this manner in the winter and before they
are rid4n — dressage, a patterned riding excercise, and for flat-
work including figure eights, trail obstacles, and ground work. To
eliminate the outside area for the. horseback rider would be likeaak-
i•:g a ball player to limit their activities to the outfield and not
use the infield.
Reading has sixteen ball-fields for youngsters to play at.
natchelder is the only practice facility that the youngsters have for
their horse and ponies.
' (B)
Horses and ponies are not alldwed in any of our other formal,
flat, cleared playing areas in Reading.
�+ At each of the past,.public hearings held on recreational needs
the 4-H leadership, of our community has expressed concerns of mix-
ing baseball and horses. As leaders. of the 4-H Stablemates in Reading,
wewould like to state again our concern. The results of an animal
or youngsters on horseback getting hit by a fly ball or being startled
by roaring crowds are grave.
While other sports may be compatible with riding, we honestly
believe that baseball is not.
As you must realize,,ponies and horses are most unpredictable,
a good horseperson thinks well in advance of his mount. Many of our
youngsters are not experienced riders and their animals are
quite unpredictable.
To relate this to my own personal concern, gentlemen, (pause)
I have a fine professionly trained pony - yet if she is startled,
or hit by a ball - what will happen??? Will she bolt? Will she
turn the cart over? Would she runovera young ball player? What
are the consequences? Ior a youngster or a&4 animal out of control
will have very few options. +
Gentlemen, the game being played met longer is baseball tha
horsebackriding - it's Russian roulette. To enjoy a safe recrea-
tional sport is one thing to invite tragedy is quite another.
- (9)
As part of the 4-H progran safety is greatly stressed. As a
Jresult of the parking lot limitations and other restrictions placed
upon us by the Board, the 4-H leadership for safety considerations
chose to suspend shows rather than have animals and youngsters unload
from trucks and trailers on4j to Franklin St. or to have double parking
on Franklin St. The 4-H horse shows have decreased to in number from
5 several years ago to. l per year, primariliy limited to our own club.
Safety for youngsters and animals is our prime consideration. VUz
In conclusion the Batchelder Field Construction warrants re-
examination. toe would hope that the Board will reconsider it's .
position and a serious investigation of alternatives made. At a
minimum we ask deaa�tment of construction until after the Special
Town Meeting.
Thank-you.
e REPORT TO
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
AT
PUBLIC HEARING ON MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1978
AT
AUDITORIUM OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER
"DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF
BATCHELDEER PARK"
Prepared by:
`f[ L. HADAD
115 Franklin Street
Reading, Massachusetts
August 25, 1978
A
r '
CONTENTS
I. Introduction
II. Parks and Recreation Study (PARS)
A. General Conclusions
B. Specific Quotations and Comments
C. Neighborhood Input
III. Alternatives To Consider
A. Stop All New Park Development
B. Open Area/Leisure Activities
C. Other- Facilities
IV. Conclusions
Introduction
A. This report does not represent:
1) .A contest betweenthe, "Baseball people and Horse people";
2) A confrontation between "Organized and Unorganization"
recreation groups;
3) An attack on Town Officials, Boards or Committees.
B. This report does:
1) Request that Batchelder Park he managed as part of a long range
plan to meet the needs of the majority of Reading people and
the needs of the local neighborhood.
2) Suggest that the standards, surveys, and needs of the majority
of Reading citizens have been defined in the Park and Recreation
Study (PARS) dated December 1976. This study was prepared and
approved by the Department and Board of Public Works.
3) Reem h�asize and agree with the general conclusions of the PARS
document and adds -Iota neighborhood inputs.
4) Show that the proposed development at Batchleder Park is in direct
opposition to the PARS document and the input of the local
neighborhood.
l II
Parks and Recreation Study (PARS)
The following comments and direct quotations are taken from the PARS
Document. Reference is made, as appropriate to page numbers for all
comments and quotations.
A. General Conclusions
Before addressing specific items, here are quotations taken from
the general conclusions of the Parks and Recreation Study (pages
33 and 34):
" . .. a need for an overall improvement of maintenance procedures
and trash cleanup."
" Improved field restoration ... would be helpful ...
" . . . having all facilities lighted . . . aid the police depart-
ment in curtailing the drinking and park vandalism currently ex-
hibited in our parks."
" The response to the parks questionnaire made a very strong
statement in general indicating that the needs of the organized
sports activities are being catered to but the general needs
of the public are not."
of the facilities needed in the Town, according to Tom
Meeting Members, baseball ranked 9th on the priority list ...
" The 6th graders also ranked the need for baseball fields 10th ...
" The Planning Board indicated that new facilities for organized
sports are not even required."
s '
" Ti:e response also indicated that more of the existing fields
s �nuld be made available for people who are not in organized
scurts."
" Tra number of people currently participating in organized sports
approximately 10% of the total population but if the time
used by organized sports were determined it would dominate the
.,se of most of the facilities most of the time."
" .. to provide more sports facilities but more importantly the
need for improved planning of the use of the fields is required."
1:-1
' II. Parks and Recreation Study (PARS)- continued
" If the new fields are added .. . the idea of limiting
play and in some cases omitting play .. . to allow the
area to grown strong is essential."
" It is also imperative that blocks of time be left open for
people not wishing to participate in organized sports ..."
" Planning or providing new fields without the planning im-
provement is Just an expansion of the existing problem. '
B. Specific Quotations and Comments
The following direct quotations and my comments are taken from
the bacblof the PARS document.
Page €1
Quote
" The most general reasons for establishing parks . .. are
the benefit to health, enhancement of property values,
prevention of delinquency and crime, and promotion of safety."
Comment
The general conclusions of PARS, sited above, reflects the
need to improve:
(1) maintenance, (2) trash cleanup, (3) field restoration,
(4) curtailing drinking, (5) curtailing park vandalism. The
Recreation Committee appendix to PARS (Page 53) sites twenty
(20) general maintenance problems at five (5) parks. This
past spring the brcken glass in the Birch Meadow parking lot
was incredible. This is our largest, most heavily used
facility. How effective an maintenance program do we have
for less visable parks?
The reasons for parks are excellent but adding new fields
seems to indicate a "spreading of the existing problems."
It is requested that the tax dollars be used to retrench
and restore our present parks to safe and attractive condi-
tions.
II-2
II. Parks and Recreation Study (PARS) - continued
Page #1
IQuote
"The Master Parks Program . . . to provide adequate facilities
at proper locations."
Comment
(1) Precinct #8 has the lowest population density per
square mile. Adjusted for swamp and flood plain,
the second lowest density in Reading. (Please see
PARS pages 13 & 15).
- (2) Of the fifteen (15) parks listed on pages 20 through
25, the two with the lowest number of people served
within a 1/2 mile radius were Killiam School and
Batchelder, both in Precinct #8.
(3) On Page 10, the survey results indicated that 60% of
the adults and 95% of the sixth graders would not
travel more than 1/2 mile to use a park facility.
(4) Combining (2) and (3) above Batchelder would receive
very little use due to its location.
(5) See page 45, the Planning Board wants parksin the
Southeast and Southwest. Batchelder, of course, is at
the Northern most tip of Reading.
(6) See page 4, neighborhood parks should, "serve the
recreational needs of the immediate neighborhood for
all age groups." The immediate needs of the neighbor-
hood are for open fields to ride horses which are board-
ed at farms and on private property. This is the only
neighborhood with a need for safe areas to ride horses,
an area convenient to where the horses are boarded.
(7) Needless to say, horseback riding areas is only one
need for this precinct. I suspect the immediate needs
of precinct #8 people regarding another baseball field
are the same as other parts of Reading i .e. , very.low
on their priority list.
11 - 3
II. Pars and Recreation Study (PARS) - continued
Page 52
Quote
" ., a (projected) 1995 population of approximately -
30,500. This indicates a minimum of 305 acres of
parks land." Further, " one half of any community's
park and recreation area should be devoted to active
recreation, with the other half used for larger parks."
Comment
As cf December 1976, per PARS,. we already had 152 acres,
of park and school department landforactive recreation.
This is exactly 1/2 of the 1995 population requirement of
305 acres.
Reading appears to be twenty (20) years ahead of schedule as
of December 1976. . In fact, Reading has probably meet the
minimum recreation land area/population requirements for well
into the2lst century because:
1) population growth has slowed,
2 schools enrollment has dropped,
3) eo consideration is being given to existing
Town Forest and Conservation land useable for
recreation purposes,
4) plus Bear Hill, Nike Base, Fox Run, Harvest
Road, Lowell Street, Beverly Road land, and
Batchelder Field, totaling approximately 100
additional acres to be developed for recreational
purposes. The Town now appears to own more play
and recreation land than is necessary. Why, on page
20, do we call for the purchase ofrrore- land for
Washington Park? -
Page 83 & 4
Comment
The national standards suggest that baseball fields (specta-
tor sport) be built in district parks with area in acres of
firm 20 to 40acres. Batchelder Park is only 11.14 acres,
an average size neighborhood park. We appear to be violating
national standards b� developing Batchelder well beyond es-
tablished guidelines. (See pages 5 & 7 for park size stand-
- ardc and pages 21 & 22 for development plans and description
o' 'satchelder as a "Neighborhood Park District Park").
1.1hy do we wish to suggest that it is a District Park?
11-4
II. Parks and Recreation Study (PARS) - continued
Page #9
Quote - Survey Question
"Are there enough parks and play areas within the town?
Adults . . . 59% yes
Sixth Graders ... 95% yes
Planning Board . .. No
Comments
None
Page #10
Comment
Adults, sixth graders, and the Planning Board selected
Tennis, Skating Swimming, and Basketball by a wide, wide
margin over baseball/softball at lighted facilities. Only
6% of the edults wanted baseball/softball.
Page #11
Comment
The following activities ranked ahead of baseball , by
preference: bike paths, jogging, winter play, skating,
tennis, hiking, children's play, picnic, open areas/no
sports. Again, survey results from adults, sixth graders,
and planning board members.
Page #12
Quote - Survey Question
"For a park to fit your needs what type of activities would
you want to see?
32 - Wsure Activities
30 - Open Areas
8 - Organized Sports
Comment
90% of the adults want leisure activites and open areas.
11-5
II. Parks and Recreation Study (PARS) - continued
Quote
"What type of park do you feel would be best suited to your
area."
Comment
Less than 10% of the adults wanted district parks with spec-
tator sports. -
Note:
The sixth grade response was split 50%/50% on organized
vs. unorganized recreation and in the type park preferred.
Page #36
Comment
The existing facilities inventory shows two (2) large
baseball fields (page 36). .Batchelder field is not large
enough to support a baseball field and/or all of the other
prcposed activities (see pages 21 and 22). The national
standard for baseball is a district park with 20 to 40 acres.
Note that-Washington Park (5.7 acres) supports baseball and
its land area is to be expanded by obtaining abutting land.
It's already to small to be a neighborhood park ., but is
now serving as a district park" (see page 20). How can a
park with 5.7 acres be required to support activities which
require four (4) times as much land? Washington Park appears
to be in violation of national standards. The Batchelder
Park plan alsc appears to be in violation of national
standards.
Please .note that when we speakofa baseball field we include:
( 0 area for the field itself, (2) off-street parking, (3)
la :caping, (4) buffer area, (5) open space, etc. The
f i-.Wing reflects our plans for Batchelder, national stan-
dards for neighborhood and district parks (minimum) and the
average land use.
II-6
11. Parks and Recreation Study (PARS) - continued
AREA IN ACRES
Neighborhood District Park Average
Proposed Park Standard Standard Land Use _
Tot Lot .50 .70 .60
Two (2) Tennis Courts .50 1.75 1.10 -
One Basketball Court .25 .75 . .50.
One Sports Field
(Dual Purpose) 5.00 10.00 7.00
Open Area .50 2.00 1.25
Horse Rink 1.00 1.00 1.00
Hiking Trails (include with open area)
* Off-Street Parking 2.30 3.00 2.60
** Landscaping/Buffer 3.00 6.00 4.50
** Undesignated Space (10%) 1.30 2.50 1.85
TOTAL ACRES 14.35 27.70 20.40
* Off-street parking was not originally proposed in PARS, but I believe
it will be (and must be) included. There is no street parking possible
on all surrounding streets and roads.
** PARS did not provide for these items. National standards do require
them.
PARS did not propose a baseball field at Batchelder. However, we under-
stand that the DPW plan to build a baseball field since we already have
more softaball fields than required by national standards.
C. Neighborhood Input
I belive my letter of August 19, 1978 (shoo-in on next page) accurately
reflects, in part, the major concerns of the neighborhood. Further, we
are not opposed to the development of Batchelder Park to meet the im-
mediate neighborhood needs and as many as practical of the Town's needs.
However, a baseball field and/or other proposals presented to date appear
to violate national standards for parks end recreation land use. These
violations may adversely impact the Town's ability to receive Federal
aid for parks development and increase the tax burden on local citizens.
l]-7
115 Franklin Street
Reading, MA 01867
August 19, 1978
Dear Neighbor:
A Public Hearing has been scheduled for Monday, August 28, 1978,
from 9:30 p.m. to 9: 00 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Community
Center, 52 Sanborn .Street, Reading, Massachusetts, to discuss
the proposed development of Batchelder Field. Your attendance
at the hearing and your support in opposition to the development
of Batchelder Field into a baseball field is requested.
There are many arguments for not building a baseball field (or
any other "organized" sports field) at Batchelder.
More specifically, this letter addresses, in part, issues of
immediate concern to the people who will be directly affected
by a baseball field at Batchelder, i.e. , the home owners and
families in the area. Your attendance and your support at the
public hearing are requested to re-emphasize the followring points
to our town officials:
1. ) The volume of traffic on Franklin Street (between
Main and Haverhill Streets) is already excessive.
The development of a baseball, football, or other
spectator sport at Batchelder Field will draw more
motor vehicle traffic.
2. ) In the face of Increased Traffic on a narrow street,
the Town may widen and straighten Franklin Street
(as previously proposed. If widened, there will
certainly be "lana-taking". Also, the speed of
passing motor vehicles will increase.
3. ) There- are no sidewalks on Franklin, Pearl, Haverhill '
and other nearby streets. The increased motor vehicle
traffic and speed coupled with increased pedestrian
and bicycle traffic and horseback riding will create
unsafe conditions.
4. ) we must add to the motor vehicle and pedestrian
traffic problems the additional problems at other
parks, i.e. , maintenance procedures, trash cleanup,
drinking and park vandalism.
With your cooperation, we can delay work on Batchelder field until -
a Special Town Meeting can hear our position on all of the issues.
I hope to' see you at the Public Hearing.
'iiialtk you for your time and interest.
Very truly yo urs,
III. Alternatives to Consider
A. Stop All New Park Cevelopment
Stop all new park development until a complete plan can be
developed accounting for population trends, school enrollment,
complete inventory of parks, town forest, conservation, undevel-
oped land, and availability of Federal (or State) aid for new .
facilities. Concurrently, the Town would retrench and return
existing parks to safe and clean conditions.
B. men Area/Leisure Activities _
Batchelder could be left as an open area for biking, jogging, _
winter play, skating, tennis, hiking, children's play area,
picnic area, and horseback riding rink.
This approach meets the stated needs of the vast majority of _
the Town people and local neighborhood. .
C. Other Facilities
The Nike Base Site and Lowell Street at Beverly Road area
each have over 30 acres of land, are more centrally located
than Batchelder, would service more people, and are of a size
to support baseball and district park activities.
Consider the use of Federal funds to develop these areas to
national standards and reduce tax burden on Reading citizens.
IV. Conclusions
This report has shown that the development of Batchelder
Field transcends the immediate interests of baseball and
horse people.
It shows that the needs of the majority of the people of
Reading have been surveyed, and reported by the appropriate _
Town officials. However, for some unknown reason, the needs
of the majority of people are not being addressed at Batchelder -
Field.
Further, after a careful review of PARS, you begin to question
whether or not there is any long range plan for the development
and maintenance of Town park and recreation areas. If there
is a plan does it reflect current population trends, declining _
school enrollment, and Town and Neighborood input?
IIh1
IV. Conclusions - continued
Are new parks being built to national or Federal government
standards? Heve Federal funds been used in the past or are
they available in the future to assist the Town to develop
recreation areas? What documentation is available to Reading
citizens to assure them that formal approval plans are now in
place and being acted upon?
If our parks and recreation areas were truly an asset to the
Town; if they were properly developed, landscaped, and
maintained; I seriously doubt that Batchelder Field would have.
become the issue that it has become.
In the apparent absence of a master plan with established goals,
milestones, measurement criteria, schedules, funding, and main-
tenance program, we must seriously consider stopping new park
development until we can put a plan into effect. Our park and
recreation resources are much to valuable to be managed without
formal long and short range planning and control.
end
PAUL C. DUSTIN, CW—..
OFFICE OF JOM W. PMCe. S-1.,
TOWN OF READING JOIDI B. RUSSELI.
DOUGLAS A. COW LL
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS DAVID L. TESTA
a R. ROG&R LOUAMS. Supa nt dml
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
READING. MASS. 01667
MASSACHUSETTS
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Middlesex, ss.
The undersigned, Board of Public Works of the Town
of Reading, in compliance with the provisions of General Laws,
Chapter 80, as amended by Chapter 63 of the Acts of 1933, here-
by Certify that the lists herewith contain the names of per-
sons against whom we have made betterment assessments, to-
gether with the location of the land benefited by the improve-
ment and the nature and amount of such betterment assessment.
Sewer Frontage Betterments $ 385.68
Sewer House Connection Supplemental 2, 795. 10
TOTAL $3, 180.78
Such list is certified to you for the purpose of
committing the same to the Tax Collector, as provided by law.
WITNESS our hands this fifth da of September A.D.
1978.
See Commitment Sheets
r For Lists
as
PAUL C. DUSTIN. CAai .
OFFICE OF JOHN W. PRICE. Seerttuey
TOWN OF READING JOHN R. RUSSELL
DOUGLAS A. COWELL
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS DAVID L. TESTA
•
MUNICIPAL BUILDING E. ROGER LOUANIS. SuOenuie dtl t
�
READING. MARS. OIR67
MASSACHUSETTS
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Middlesex, ss.
The undersigned, Board of Public Works of the Town
of Reading, in compliance with the provisions of General Laws,
Chapter 80, as amended by Chapter 63 of the Acts of 1933, here-
by Certify that the lists herewith contain the names of per-
sons against whom we have made betterment assessments, to-
gether with the location of the land benefited by the improve-
ment and the nature and amount of such betterment assessment.
Sewer Frontage Betterments $ 434.40
Sewer House Connection Supplemental 731 .50
TOTAL $1 , 165.90
Such list is certified to you for the purpose of
committing the same to the Tax Collector, as provided by law.
WITNESS our hands this eleventh day of September A.D.
1978.
See Commitment Sheets
r For Lists
es