HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-22 ad Hoc - Library Landscape Committee MinutesRECEIVED
��. Town of Reading By Town Clark (RA) at 8:15 am, Oct 27, 20I5
Meeting Minutes
Board - committee - commission - Council:
Date: 2025-05-22
Building: Reading Public Library
Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue
Purpose: General Meeting
Attendees: Members - Present:
Ad Hoc Library Landscape Committee
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Conference Room
Session: Open Session
Version: Final
Desiree Zicko, Chair (remote); lake Soucy, Secretary; Elaine Stone;
Members - Not Present:
Cherrie Dubois, Vice -Chair; Andrea Hogan; Cappy Popp
Others Present:
Amy Lannon, Library Director; Meaghan Clemente, Library Administrative
Assistant; Ryan Percival, Town Engineer; Stephen Crisafulli, Activitas
Associate; Meghan Donahpe, Activitas Landscape Designer; Patrick Egan,
Board of Library Trustees Vice Chair and Reading Public Library Foundation
President; Linda Anderson, Resident; Michael Karim, Resident; David
Monahan, Resident; George Monahan, Resident (minor); Mary Soucy,
Resident; Kathryn Geoffrion Scannell, Collection Services Librarian (remote);
Christine Exner, Reading Garden Club Vice President; (remote); Chris
Baptiste, Resident (remote); Lynne Cameron, Resident (remote); Karen
Flynn, Resident (remote); Wendy Robbins, Resident (remote);
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: lake Soucy, Secretary
Topics of Discussion:
I. Call to Order 7:02 p.m.
11. Open Forum Regarding the Library Terrace Project
A quorum of the Ad Hoc Library Landscape Committee was not present at any
point during the meeting. These minutes are for informational record purposes
only.
Ms. Lannon, Mr. Crisafulli, and Ms. Donahoe introduced themselves and
provided background information on the Library Terrace project. The Ad Hoc
Library Landscape Committee has been working with Activitas, a landscape
architectural firm with experience on other local Town projects, on proposed
improvements to the exterior Library grounds.
Activitas previously completed an initial feasibility and design concept for
revitalizing the Library's outdoor spaces. The design concept incorporated
programming needs, neighborhood connections, universal accessibility, signage,
lighting, and a review of existing vegetation.
Activitas conducted a community survey and created a word cloud diagram
based on commonly identified response concepts. Project priorities include
seating, shade, native plantings, gathering areas, and accessibility.
Activitas presented various concepts to the Committee, which identified a
preferred concept. However, the approximately $1.3 million cost for completing
multiple phases at once was too high. The initial concept included an additional,
larger patio area with covered pergola seating, new lighting fixtures, and more
substantial regrading of the existing topography on the School Street hill.
The Committee identified amphitheater seating and an outdoor terrace patio
performance area as priorities to be completed first in the project's current
iteration. The terrace includes four sections of tiered straight -stone seating, built
into the hill, located outside the Library Community Room along the front
driveway. Seating will have a 72-person capacity. Natural grass will be present
on each layer of seating, allowing patrons to spread out or bring folding chairs of
their own. An ADA-accessible walkway will provide access to the first row of
seating and the performance area.
New native plantings will create an intimate space around the performance area.
Activitas will collaborate with Ms. Lannon and the Committee to select durable
paver materials that match well with existing stonework.
Ms. Lannon clarified that the existing walkway at the top of the tiered seating
leads to an emergency exit door in a non -handicap accessible stairwell landing
and will remain in place. The Reading Garden Club's memory tree is mature and
will remain in place toward the bottom of the slope.
Ms. Lannon clarified that the Reading Public Library Foundation, which is a
501(c)(3) charitable organization, is generously funding the entire project. Past
capital projects supported by the Foundation include computer labs, Children's
Room carpeting, the book bike, exterior holds pickup lockers, historic Reading
Chronicle newspaper digitization, and more. The project will not have any cost to
local taxpayers.
The Town is involved in the project and will assist with maintenance and
sustainability going forward. Municipal employees from Engineering, Fire, Police,
Facilities, and the Department of Public Works have reviewed the proposed
designs in detail.
Ms. Lannon explained that existing lighting will remain in place throughout the
current project. Although the goal is to lower lighting and achieve dark sky
compliance while maintaining safety, this requires a substantial future
investment. Lighting automatically goes out when the Library is closed.
While additional phases of the project may be possible in the future, the Library
intends to see how the community uses the new space before implementing any
further changes. Other Town space projects will also be a priority in the
upcoming years. In the past, outdoor Children's events have taken place in the
area, such as story times under a tent, a Farm Day, and an animal extravaganza.
Moveable tables and chairs allow for more casual gatherings as well. Wi-Fi
Pane i i
internet access is available outside from approximately 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. each
day.
The Library welcomes programming suggestions and hopes to serve the
community in collaboration with the Recreation Department and the new
community center.
The Community Planning and Development Commission (CPDC) will conduct a
minor site plan review. Although this is not required by law, it is best practice for
all Town projects to undergo this detailed review. Activitas will then handle the
procurement process for the construction bid. The Committee will continue to
meet and will provide public updates. Ideally, the project will be underway this
summer and fall and completed by the winter. Hopefully, new plantings in
October will have time to get established by the Spring of 2026.
A new water spigot will be installed outside to facilitate ease of maintenance for
new plantings. Future improvements may include a more extensive irrigation
system. The possibility of extending electrical power to the new outdoor platform
area was discussed. Power may be pulled from an existing light pole. The Library
is working with the DPW and the Tree Warden to add new shade trees on the
lawn, especially as existing Bradford Pear trees are struggling.
III. Adjournment 7:22 p.m.
Re/s'/p7�ectf`u`ll'y' Submed,
J27te Soucy, Secretary
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