Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-17 Recreation Committee Minutes - Birch Meadow Working Group RcCEIVE1) RK TOWN CLE R MA . ACT I V I TAS 2021 J4, —5 rM 10: 15 landscape architecture civil engineering MEMORANDUM Subject: Community Presentation Follow-up Questions and Comments Project: Town of Reading Birch Meadow Master Plan Project No. 20009.00 Date: 17 December 2020 To: Jenna Norente BY: Mark Novak Town of Reading Design Principal Recreation Department 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867 Delivery: via email (gficrente@cf.reading.ma.us) Activities facilitated a virtual community presentation on November 18, 2020 to update interested members of the Reading Community on the Birch Meadow Master Plan project.At the end of the presentation,Activitas fielded and responded to comments and questions from presentation attendees. Due to time constraints,Activitas could not address all questions and comments.The following memorandum lists additional questions and comments submitted by presentation attendees and Reading residents who did not have an opportunity to vocalize their thoughts on November 18th. For ease of reference,the questions and comments have been grouped into the following topics: • General • Bike Friendly Accommodations • Batting Cages • Stormwater • Softball • Bancroft Avenue/Woodland Street/Morton Field • Birch Meadow Drive Parking • Sustainable Design Recommendations GENERAL Question/Comment. Hope you are well and safe. I missed this. Is there a link to a recording of it?Please let me know. Thanks, ahatutale@aol.com Response: The presentation was recorded and has been provided to Reading Recreation so they can post it for public viewing. RCTV has posted the video of the meeting as well. activltas.com 70 M'Jton Street I Detlllam, ivcl ac llo6eiis 1 02026-2915 1781) 326-2600 Memorandum 17 December 2020 Birch Meadow Mosier Plan Community Presentation Follow up Questions and Answers Page 2 o19 Question/Comment: What are the next steps here? Will there be more community outreach and what is the approval process for the proposed ideas? Question asked by: coi11irt N2 vahoo.Com Response: Based on the feedback from the Community Presentation on November 181h, Activitas is making some adjustments to the Master Plan and associated conceptual site plan.The next step will be a presentation of the updated version of the Master Plan,Incorporating community comments and suggestions, to the Reading Select Board. All Master Plan recommendations are a conceptual vision for Birch Meadow. Individual projects,whether they be new walkways, new lighting systems, installation of lacrosse wall, etc.,will need to be approved by the Town and receive all necessary regulatory approvals (including the opportunity for public comment) prior to actual construction/installation. Question/Comment: Where was community input acquired from? I live here at the end of Bancroft Ave and know none of my neighbors were asked for input. Question asked by: cot lin0621 @vahoo.com Response: Community surveys were performed in 2007, 2014 and 2019.The three primary results in all of the community survey indicated the desire for the some type of elements within Birch Meadow: lighting (sports field and pedestrian(, more passive recreation in the form of walkways and trails, and a support structure for concessions and restrooms. Stakeholder and user group interviews with Town Administration, Community Services, High School Athletics,Youth Lacrosse, Little League, Pop Warner Football, Reading Soccer, Base Ruth Baseball, etc.,were also performed. Notes from the stakeholder meetings and Master Plan Working Group meetings have been posted on the Recreation website. Regular updates on the master plan process have also been given at Recreation Committee meetings (which are open to the public(. BIKE FRIENDLY ACCOMODATIONS Question/Comment: Does the master plan include parking for bicycles in an equally convenient way as for vehicles? Question asked by: ericarodrioues04@amcil.com Response: The final master plan report will call for the standardization of site furnishings (benches,trash and recycling receptacles, bike racks, etc.( Birch Meadow.Maintenance planning and implementation is much more efficient for site furnishings when replacement parts for standardized elements can be purchased. Included in the recommendations for site furnishings will be multiple bike racks to be strategically located throughout the park and specifically adjacent to major park elements. ac t lv itas.com 70 Milton Street I Dedham. Mossoctl users 1 020262915 IJ811 326-2600 Memorandum 17 December 2020 Birch Meadow Master Plan Community Presentation Follow up Questions and Answers Page 3 of 9 Question/Comment: I didn't get to ask my question and was hoping you could pass it on. Has any thought been given to those folks and kids who ride bicycles in and around the park complex?Thanks in advance. Dan LeLacheur Response: The path surfaces proposed would be appropriate for bike riders.This excludes pathways Immediately adjacent to environmentally sensitive resource areas that would require a more permeable surface.The two primary paths linking Birch Meadow Drive to the southern portion of the site will be wide enough to support biking and walking simultaneous. BATTING GAGES Question/Comment:Jenna, I hope you are well. Looking at where the batting cages are proposed to moving, 1 do have concerns as I wasn't realizing they would move down towards the Ist base line of Morton. What makes them so great today is the central location, allowing RLL RBRL RSLL RM HS, and the general public to use them in an open area. Offen times they are used when RMHS or RBRL is having a game and the current location of the cages doesn't interfere with their games,spectators, etc. If they were moved, I am not sure if the grassy area adjacent to the tennis courts and hit wall would be an option. Funny, as I type this Pete Mosc. is saying something similar. Thanks, Mike Wondolowski Response: The updated site plan will adjust the location of the baseball batting cages.The proposed softball batting cages will remain adjacent to the softball/multi-purpose field but the location of the baseball batting cages will be relocated back to the approximate location of the existing cages to allow for access/use by both baseball and little league. STORMWATER Question/Comment: Overall I think the plan is pretty good but still have questions regarding flooding: l.) The area is prone to flooding and it also stores a lot of wafer that prevents flooding downstream. I wanted to ask if they had calculated the volume of run off from their plan vs what is there now. 2.) They have the opportunity to store a lot more and mitigate downstream flooding but I don't think they have taken advantage. The synthetic turf fields might produce more runoff and less infiltration than natural fields but they did not address this concern. .,h,tas.noun 70 MIRon Street I Dedham. Massachuse tis 1 02026-2915 17811 326-2600 Memorandum 17 December 2020 Birch Meodow Mosler Plan Community Presentation Follow-up Questions and Answers Page 4 of 9 3.) They did make reference to "storing"water under the fields but groundwater is within a couple of inches of the surface during much of the year so I am not sure how they would do this. Jamie Maughan Response: The goal of this master plan is to provide a spacial analysis and recommendations for potential future developments within Birch Meadow. A detailed stormwater analysis of the entire site was not part of the consultant's scope of work.The project team, however, has had multiple conversations about enhancing stormwater management measures within the park and the potential for mitigating downstream stormwater challenges. Synthetic turf fields,when properly designed, do not produce more run-off and less infiltration.They are designed and modeled as high performing natural grass fields that are required (per stormwater standards) to match existing runoff rates and volumes.As mentioned in the presentation, synthetic turf fields can also be designed to utilize the engineered base of the field for stormwater storage and the promotion of infiltration. Groundwater elevations at Birch Meadow vary significantly depending on location. Based on comprehensive subsurface exploration program conducted by CDM Smith in 2015, ground water elevations vary from 3.3' to over 9' below the existing ground surface. Borings in the location of the proposed softball/multi-purpose synthetic turf field indicate that groundwater elevations ranged from 4' to 9' below existing ground surface.The reported depth of groundwater would provide opportunities for the development of a synthetic turf field with low profile stormwater chambers.If the elevation of the proposed field was raised to be level with the elevation of Birch Meadow Drive, additional stormwater storage could be achieved. This master plan recommends that all potential future projects associated with Birch Meadow (especially those immediately adjacent to Birch Meadow Drive-Imagination Station Parking Lot and Softball/Multi-Purpose Field) explore opportunities to improve upon existing stormwater management practices within the park. SOFTBALL Question/Comment: I have a question about the phasing of all this. What are the dates that these plans will be approved/not approved? Will there be more webinars2 1 remember you going through pricing levels for all the changes and noticed that the Coolidge sport field was part of the highest pricing level. Is there a possibility that that part of the design concept won't be approved and therefore not get done?And if the multipurpose area gets approved where there is only TWO softball fields, does that mean we really do lose a aotivBas.com 70 Mount street I Dedham, Massachusetts 1 02026-2915 l7811 326-2600 MemrOntlum 17 December 2020 Birch Meadow Master Plan Community Presentation Follow up QuestOns and Answers Page 5 of 9 softball field? I ask because I have a daughter who plays in the RSLL and as was noted in the meeting, there is already limited time and field space for the girls. Thank you for your time, Lianne Stoddard, Reading resident Response: As previously mentioned, each project )or portion of a recommended project) needs to have funding approved and allocated, detail design performed and regulatory approvals and community consensus secured prior to breaking ground for actual construction.The master plan is a planning tool to develop recommendations for potential future projects. If the master plan is approved, it does not necessarily mean that all of the projects will move forward.This question, however,raises a good question about the recommended phasing of the two visionary projects (Coolidge Field and the Softball/Multi-purpose Field). It is recommended that the Coolidge Field be constructed first in order to maintain softball field access and reduce negative scheduling/permitting impacts during construction. Question/Comment: We play three games at a time now without a problem. Why do we need to change that layout? Men's softball does not overlap with RLLS or HS softball. Question asked by: audrahartCme.com Response: Based on statements from Reading Recreation and Reading High School, the location of the existing softball fields presents a number of scheduling challenges including high school softball and men's softball requesting the fields for similar times. Additionally,in our professional opinion the current locations and orientation of the softball infields presents a legitimate safety concern if all three fields are in use at the same time. Expanding the area between the fields creates more multi-purpose space and facilitates safer softball venues.The addition of one softball field (or potentially two youth softball fields) at Coolidge, further increases the Town's potential programmability at the Birch Meadow complex. Question/Comment:As it stands now, we can have 3 softball games playing at Birch Meadow, while youth soccer games are happening. So, while we still have 3 softball fields, it seems we can't play as many games at one. Question asked by: audrahartCme.com Response: This statement contradicts the information that was provided by numerous groups during the data collection portion of the master plan.As previously stated,the Master Plan promotes safe play with increased function.The soccer field illustrated on the conceptual site plan is a regulation field. Multiple youth soccer pitches could be painted (or coned-off) between the two softball fields proposed just south of Birch Meadow Drive. BANCROFT AVENUE/WOODLAND STREET/MORTON FIELD Question/Comment:I'd like some feedback on the idea behind placing lighting around local neighborhoods on Morton Field. Is the plan to start games later? acflvilas.cum 70 Milton Street I Dedham, Massachusetts 1 02026-2915 17811 326-2600 Memorandum 11 December 2020 Birch Meadow Master Plan Community Presentation Follow-up Questions and Answers Page 6 of 9 The non-sports related gatherings tend to occur under the current lights. I don't see this as a benefit when it is light out until 8:30 PM in the summers. Question asked by: coitlin062I @Yohoo.com Mike Lucey-246 Bancroft Ave - Additional Lighting at Morton Field will be an enormous issue for local neighborhoods. Currently the field at night is quiet and safe, Additional lighting will draw crowds and gatherings. This area is immediately adjacent to houses, unlike the other fields adding lighting. Question asked by: coitlin062I @Yahoo.com I am concerned about the proposed lighting at Morton field. Baseball games already create a huge parking issue on Bancroft Ave. As someone who lives directly next to this field, I am worried about the safety issue late night games will cause in this neighborhood. 1 am sure that the teams playing late at night will not be our local youth teams. Question asked by: coitlin0621Qvohoo com Response: The Master Plan provides recommendations for improvements and enhancements to Birch Meadow facilities and user experiences.The subject of installing additional sports lighting systems at Birch Meadow is not a new recommendation. In fact, the lighting of Birch Meadow athletic fields (including Morton Field) was approved at the 2016 Town Meeting. The funding, however,was rescinded when bids came in too high for the desired scope of work. Regarding Morton Field specifically, approximately 50%of the other high schools in Reading Memorial High's baseball league currently play at facilities with sports lighting.The image below is from Lexington High School's Center Playing Fields. Lexington is a peer institution in Reading High School's baseball and softball leagues. Please note the light control and cuf-off at the edges of the field. acflvlta s.com 70 Milbn Street I Dedham, Massachusetts 1 020262915 (781) 326-2600 Memorandum 17 December 2020 Birch Meadow Master Plan Community Presentation Follow up Questions and Answers Paye 7 of 9 The proposed sports lighting system at the athletic fields will increase programmability and utility of the Birch Meadow facilities, especially in the shoulder seasons of spring and fall.The sports lighting technology recommended is the some as the LED system recently installed at Turf II. The ability to control spill and glare is unparalleled and the lighting system design can guarantee that zero light spill occurs from Birch Meadow onto abutting properties.The master plan also called for planting additional vegetation behind the backstop and down the first and third baselines to create an additional visual barrier from abutting properties to the field. Due to Morton Field's proximity to resource areas,a new lighting system design would require,at a minimum, Conservation Commission approval prior to awarding a contract and installation. Funding for the lighting, if it were to be a Capital Improvement Project,would also need approval at Town Meeting. Quesilon/Comment: Is there consideration of how over-crowded the parking situation is on Bancroft Avenue during games on Morton Field? It always overflows so there is too much crowded parking with the tennis courts and playground. Question asked by: nelson llau@Qmoil.com Response: Yes, consideration was given to the parking and traffic flow at Bancroft Avenue. Expansion of the RISE parking lot at the high school and the addition of the turn-around/drop-off at the end of Bancroft will help to improve the current situation. Reading Recreation also currently requests that users of Morton Field park at the high school.A recommendation for improved signage and increased communication regarding parking at the high school for Morton users will be noted in the master plan report. Question/Comment: The baseball dugouts were paid for with private fundraising by Reading Babe Ruth not paid for by the town. Question asked by:laoierce 1 a9comcast.net Response: Thank you for the clarification. Question/Comment: We strongly oppose the creation of a formal pedestrian access point to Morton Field from Woodland St. This would significantly impact all the neighbors on the street, creating traffic and parking problems we believe the town would be unable to adequately enforce. It would also impact our property directly. Walker Larsen, 6 Woodland Street. Response: The pedestrian connection from Woodland to Birch Meadow via a pedestrian bridge at the end of Woodland was requested by several groups as an additional access point to the park.The addition of the bridge would protect the resource area that is currently walked through and would eliminate the use wooden pallets or other materials placed in the resource area )a clear violation of the Wetland Protection Act) to facilitate crossing.The original intention was to install "No Parking for Birch aativi t a s, 70 Milton Street I Decline m, Massachusetts 1 02026-2915 (781) 326-260D Morn....d,m 17 December 2020 Birch Meadow Monte,Plan Community Presentation Follow up Questions and Answers Page 8 at 9 Meadow Users"signs on Woodland to assist with enforcement of non- resident parking. Upon further review with members of the Working Group,the pedestrian connection at the end of Woodland will be removed from the master plan recommendations and conceptual site plan.The master plan report, however,will recommend that the Town continue to explore opportunities to provide additional pedestrian connectivity from adjacent neighbors to Birch Meadow via boardwalks over protected resource areas. Question/Comment: We also strongly oppose the addition of sports lighting and a PA system at Morton Field. Morton Field is close to the surrounding houses, and the addition of lights and nighttime sports activities would be a substantial impact to all the neighbors. A PA system would likewise be a substantial negative impact. We have had conversations with other neighbors and believe there is widespread opposition to these master plan potential projects. Walker Larsen, 6 Woodland Street Response: The objection to the sports lighting system was addressed in a previous response. Regarding the proposed PA system,this item was mentioned in error during the Community Presentation. Recommendations for upgraded, energy-efficient scoreboard systems should be considered but - the addition of a PA system was not discussed during the master plan design and development of plan recommendations.Addition of PA systems will not be included in the final master plan report. Question/Comment: We strongly approve of the proposal to add to the vegetative barrier between Morton Field and the surrounding houses to mitigate the impact of existing activities. We do suggest that an evergreen barrier is considered,so that fall through early spring the barrier is maintained even when foliage is gone. These are heavy-use times for Morton field. Walker Larsen,6 Woodland Street Response: The recommendation for the vegetative barrier will included a heavy concentration of evergreen trees. Deciduous frees and shrubs, however, will also be included in the recommendation (albeit of a lower concentration) to create a "naturalized" edge. BIRCH MEADOW DRIVE PARKING Question/Comment: Parking at the end of Castine field is not feasible given the sight lines and S-curve approach. Question asked by: richard.wllliams4ibiarouo com Response: Upon further review and consideration,the "head-in" parking on both sides of Birch Meadow Drive at the western end of Castine Field have been removed from the conceptual site plan. Parking to access the Higgins Conservation Area trails will be via the proposed off-street parking acllvRas.c om 70 Milton Street I Dedham, Masspchusette 1 02026-2915 I]811 326-2600 MBmodn&m 17 December 2020 Birch Meadow Master Plan Cann ity Presentation Far. ,aue5ril and Answers Page 9 at 9 lot south of the Birch Meadow School. Development of a trail head is now proposed instead of the originally proposed spots on the Higgins Conservation Area side of Birch Meadow Drive. Permeable surfacing is proposed with a vehicle control gate to allow for periodic off-street maintenance access to the frail head and associated trails. Question/Comment: We also agree with comments during the presentation about head-fn parking on Jahn CarverlBirch Meadow being unsafe given the curvature of the road. It does not seem necessary to have "trail head" parking for Higgins, unless this is an ADA compliance need. Walker Larsen, 6 Woodland Street. Response: This item has been addressed in a previous response. SUSTAINABLE DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS Question/Comment: I would like to echo Select Board Member Vanessa Alvarado's comments about planning for EV chargers and solar use in any future improvement plans for Birch Meadow. I would love to see the potential for a solar structure that could dually power lights and other maintenance tools or cars and that could also serve as shade or rain cover. What seems aspirational today-is well on its way to becoming a climate preserving reality. I have already spoke to the RMLD Board about"sponsoring"on EV initiative and the feedback was positive. Karen Gately Herrick Reading Select Board. Response: Recommendations for electric vehicle charging stations and photovoltaic panels will be explored in more detail and incorporated in the final design/report. If you have any questions or comments on the enclosed information, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at (781) 355-7043 or by email at mi nl�activitas.com. Respectfully, ACTIVITAS Mark Rovak, RLA Design Principal Distribution: Ryan Percival,Town of Reading Kevin Bohmiller,Town of Reading tw—ao1 Charles Tirane,Reading Conservation Stephen Crisafulli,Activitos Attachments: Walker Larsen Letter,24 Nov.2020 Revised Conceptual Site Plan activltos.cam 7D Mlnon Street 1 Dedham, Massachusetts 102026-2915 17011 326-2600 Hl Jenna, Thank you again for making sure we were aware oft he Recreation Committee community presentation of the proposed Birch Meadow Master Plan.Overall,the design and concept have some nice updates and enhancements.While we have some thoughts on the complete plan,we will focus our comments on those proposals that would directly impact us and our property. First,we understand that this is a master plan,not an actual proposed project.That said,if any of the projects that directly affect our property are ever proposed as actual projects we will need the opportunity to provide more detailed comments and engage with the Town as appropriate to mitigate potential impacts. We live atthe end of Woodland St j#6j;our property abuts Morton Field. It was not mentioned during the presentation,but the design drawing appears to indicate the creation of a formal pedestrian entry point to Birch Meadow from Woodland St to the back of the Morton Field backstop. We strongly oppose the creation of formal pedestrian access point to Morton field from Woodland St.This would significantly impact all the neighbors on thestreet,creating traffic and parking problems we believe the town would be unable to adequately enforce. It would also impact our Property directly. We also strongly oppose the addition of sports lighting and a PA systematMorton Field Morton Field is close to the surrounding houses,and the addition of lights and nighttime sports activities would be a substantial impact to all the neighbors. APA system would likewise be a substantial negative impact. We have had conversations with other neighbors and believe there is widespread opposition to these masterplan potential projects. We strongly approve of the proposal to add to the vegetative barrier between Morton Field and the surrounding houses to mitigate the impact of existing activities. We do suggest that an evergreen barrier is considered,so that fall through early spring the barrier is maintained even when foliage is gone. These are heavy-use times for Morton field. We know we live next to a high use recreational area that is a public amenity for the town. But there is a big difference between living next to a daytime recreation area and living next to a s ports field with lights and a PA system,and being on a dead end street versus a street with formal access to the recreation area. Please find below additional detail of our comments and concerns that we hope could be more fully addressed if these projects are ever proposed: • Field lighting for Morton o If sports lighting is installed at Morton Field therewill bea significant impact to us and the other houses surrounding the field, both in terms of light spill and the noise associated with sports activities taking place at night.Enhancements to the vegetated barrieraround Morton Field will help but will not fully block the light orsound. Ifsuch lighting is ever installed,we strongly request it operate on a timer and shut off by 10pm like thetennis lighting.The manual lights atthe currentsoftball field areoften on well past SOpm, contributing to both light and noise from the men's softball.We understand there maybe a need to accommodate the timing of games in progress,but if this comes to pass we would requestgames be started with the intention of finishing before 10pm. Morton Field is closer to residential houses than the other fields,and the impact of sports lighting should be strongly considered before proceeding with any installations. Please also keep in mind that very often(as reported to you by my wife)the manually controlled lights on the softball field have been turned on when they are not supposed to be, or left on all night.If the proposed Morton field lights are not on a timer,or if multiple groups area I lowed access codes tot urn them on,there will undoubtedly be many nights when lights are on well past 10pm,on when they shouldn't be,or left on overnight inadvertently. • Enhanced PA capabilities o As just stated,Morton Field is very close to houses.If it were equipped with a PA system that could be used for any baseball games held on the field,that would result in a substantial increase in noise for the surrounding houses.Whereas football is played on occasional Friday nights during the fall, baseball is played on Morton Field daily for much of the year,something like 7-8 months of the year,often with multiple games per day,warmups beginning before 8am,and not ending until well after 6pm or later.The cumulative impact of a PA system used for baseball would be substantial,and we would argue against its regularuse if ever installed. Whetheror not enhanced RA capabilities are added to Birch Meadow fields,we strongly requestthe Recreation Department and Selecteoard consider the cumulative impacts of amplified sound on the neighborhood surrounding Birch Meadow—consider the events as a whole, not singly. There are often multiple amplified sound events over weekend, leaving almost zero undisturbed time in our neighborhood. Also consider that the geography of Birch Meadow further amplifies sound in specific ways,meaning that sound carries over distances,and can be heard farther than one may think based on the placement of the sound system.Adding PA capabilities on top of existing conditions will exacerbate the impact on the neighborhood. • Pedestrian lighting for walking paths/access o The pla n drawing a ppea red to show pedestrian lighting a long a new pat hwayon the right field side of Morton,going behind the backstop to access both dugouts.This pat hwaywould be directly behind our house.if there is lighting,we would wonder about the timing of its use and whetherthese lights would be on all night.This would have a significant light spill impact for us and other houses along the lit route. • Batting cage location o This was discussed during the presentation,a nd we agree with the concerns expressed about the proximity of the proposed location to houses. Further,the batting cage is currently used extensively,often sta rting before or around 7a m,and moving it closer to houses would lead to conflicts. • Improved vegetation barrier around Morton Field o We were very happy to hear the proposed plan recognizes the need for enhanced vegetation to screen Morton Field use from the houses that surround it.We strongly support this regardless ofother projects,and request that it include both additional deciduous trees and evergreen cover. A wall of arborvitae would be great,but so would some evergreen tree options like eastern white pines.While the deciduous cover is good in the summertime,both sound and light from Birch Meadow are much more impactful in the early spring and late fall when there are few or no leaves on the trees.If the town adds vegetation around Morton Field, please consider adding evergreen options,and aIsothe size of the trees planted,since young trees would have no immediate mitigation effects. Westrongly support the town adding additional vegetatedcoverto enhance the barrier between Morton Field and the surrounding houses regardless of other Birch Meadow or Morton Field projects. Vegetation helps to mitigate sound and light impacts, and the trees slow and divert the trajectory of foul balls, which regularly land in our yard and might otherwise land in our driveway. • Location and design ofaformal pedestrian access from Woodland St to Morton Feld o Based on the master plan drawing,the access point would beat the end of our driveway and go along the edge of our property line. Currentlythere is no formal access at this location.There is a chain link fence in the tree line that runs the length of the Birch Meadow property,perpendicular to the proposed walkway.Directly at the end of Woodland St,an approximate 15-foot section of the fence's top bar has been removed by someone,and the chain link is bent to allow people to step over it.At various times I have considered fixing the fence but assume itwill only betaken apart again.Some people do cut through this way by creating a path through the vegetation and stepping over the broken fence.At various times they have also laid logs or other debris in the stream bed at the edge of Morton Field in order to cross the stream.This blocks the waterflow, sol tend to remove such debris when I notice it. o If a formal pedestrian access point is created,we assume it will be a crushed stone or paved pathway with a small bridge over the critical stream bed.If this project is ever proposed, we would like to work with the town on the location of the pathway,and request the town add both vegetative and structural privacyscreening to block views into our yard and prevent trespassing.Trash receptacles would also need to be installed at both ends of the pathway.If formal access point is created,we anticipate it would be heavily used,leading to a significant change in use for all four houses on our small street,and our driveway and yard in particular. • Vehicle and pedestrian traffic concerns associated with a formal access point o Most of the current cut throughtraffic is kids.However,adults occasionally attempt the cut through,and they park their cars on Woodland St to cut through and attends porting events.As mentioned above,if a formal access point is created,we anticipate it would be heavily used,resulting in a substantial increase infoot traffic, parking problems,and dangerous traffic conditions.The current dead end is used extensively by neighborhood children for relatively safe bike riding and similar play. o If a formal access point is ever created,the town would need to addsignage at the top of Woodland St(intersection with John Carver),at the bottom by the access point,and potentially at appropriate other spots along the street approved by the neighbors, clearly stating that there is no parking on Woodland St for access to Birch Meadow.It may also be necessa ryto post such signage along John Carver and on the other side of Woodland St. Restrictions would need to be enforced and neighbors would need to have away to notify the appropriate authority of violations. Regardless of whether or not a formol occess point is created on Woodland St we would appreciate the town adding signage at the top and bottom of Woodland St stating there is no parking for access to Birch Meadow and directing spectators to appropriate parking locations. • Town Day firework considerations associated with a formal access point o Town Dayfreworks are launched from the Morton outfield. If a formal access point is created we assume the town would take the necessary precautions to avoid unsafe access tothe launch area,andconsider crowd control measures fromthe likely high capacityuse of the access point before and afterthe show. Again,we strongly oppose the creation of a formal pedestrian access point to Morton Field from Woodland St. Comments on other parts ofthe plan • We agree with the comments during the presentation that parking around Birch Meadow is problem for sporting event attendees and a Iso leads to problems for the surrounding neighborhoods. However,adding a few spaces along Birch Meadow Drive does not seem like a solution. Rather,we suggest signage and wayfinding to direct event spectators to park at the high school,which has a large parking lot that does not appear tobe heavily used by field sport attendees currently. • We also agree withthe comments during the presentation about head-in parking on John Carver/Birch Meadow being unsafe given the curvature of the road.It also doesn't seem necessaryto have"trailhead parking'for Higgins,unless this is an ADA compliance need. � art,.f _.re_ N ` L . ii /l I