HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-07-23 ad Hoc Birch Meadow Planning Committee MinutesI EH
Cl
IVE
READING, MASS.
FAX: (781) 942 - 5441
Town of Reading 2005 MAY g P 2: 51
16 Lowell Street
Reading, MA 01867-2685
RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942 - 9075
Ad Hoc Birch Meadow Planning Committee
July 23, 2007 - Town Hall Community Room
Meeting Minutes
Attendance: James Bonazoli, Roger Frechette, Mary Ann Kozlowski, Shannon Fratto,
Gary Gresh, Jamie Maughan, Ben Ream, John Feudo
Gary Gresh called the meeting to order at 7:04PM.
1. "Open" areas to be considered:
A. 3 softball fields and former Imagination Station location
B. Higgins conservation land
C. Behind Coolidge
D. Ropes course/ circle of benches
E. Basketball/ volleyball courts
F. Castine field
II. Committee goals:
A. To have a plan in place that will channel future funding appropriately
B. To make efficient, flexible use of the land
C. To address the wants and needs of Reading constituents
III. Opening Discussion points:
A. New access road behind stadium planned; existing road will become
emergency access
B. Path $ for Higgins already approved/ earmarked
C. Current snack shack could become restrooms
D. Storage trailers should go away; ample storage in field house
E. Babe Ruth league has picked out storage area by "ropes hill"
F. We should honor "ropes hill" as the only topographic relief
G. There is a shortage of ball fields in town for current uses
H. John F. recommends site visit to Tewksbury
IV. Possible activities to be considered for the Birch Meadow area:
A. softball/ baseball
B. soccer/ football/ field hockey/ lacrosse
C. kickball/ dodge ball ("gym class games")
D. ice skating
E. playground, target age group ages 8- 14 (similar to Imagination Station)
F. rest rooms/ snack shack
G. Wiffle ball field
H. open play space
1. multi-purpose: street hockey, dodge ball, basketball
J. water park/ community pool
K. paddle boats (leverage existing dampness)
L. lighting
M. 2-sided scoreboard
N. tetherball
0. paddle tennis
P. parking
Q. shade/ water fountains/ benches
R. ropes
S. hiking/ cross country skiing
V. Survey
A. Would be useful to get community ideas and "buy in"
B. Not much time; draft due Labor Day
C. Leverage school's email listings to "master blast"?
D. Mass mailing?
VI. Rec center possibilities:
A. 1,000 sq. ft.
B. Aimed at 5th -8tn graders
C. Maybe pair up with bathrooms
D. Pool tables, ping pong, fooze ball
E. Would need to be staffed rec center
F. Should follow "best practices" currently used by Tewksbury rec center
VII. Committee member action items:
A. Each member needs an 8 %2" x 11" map of area - John will provide?
B. Roger will fill out committee member application - will meet w/ Selectmen or
James will "vouch" for him
C. Jamie will talk to Fran Fink and find out what is and is not possible in the
Higgins area and with regard to Castine Field. Jamie and Gary will attend the
Conservation Meeting August 22"d and discuss potential uses for these areas.
Finding out where and how much "touchable" land we have is key driver for
project.
D. John will provide a project template for committee to fill out: dates,
milestones, etc.
E. Mary Ann will coordinate town survey
F. Ben will write up meeting minutes and submit to Gary
VIII. Ben Ream departed at 8:36. The committee selected the field behind Coolidge
Middle School as the first area for discussion. The Coolidge field is not full size. James
B. said the cost of converting the field to a youth size turf field would be approximately
$500,000. The main problem with the field is the quality of the playing surface, and its
drainage issues during wet weather. The committee discussed several options for the
space, including:
• Making it a turf field - The committee decided against converting the field to
turf because it is not full size-turf could potentially limit its future uses. The
cost was also a consideration.
• Using the location for an outdoor community swimming pool - The
Committee felt that this location was not appropriate for an outdoor pool.
• Using loam from the field at Parker (when it is converted to turf) to re-grade
the current field. The committee agreed that this was the best option for the
Coolidge Field. This option would also enable the town to revisit the use for this
field in the future if other possibilities for the field are desirable.
The Committee also agreed to investigate the potential for a multi-use hard top surface in
the corner of the field on the YMCA side that is not currently usable space. The surface
could potentially be used for gym games (dodge ball, basketball, street hockey).
IX. The next Committee meeting will be on August 6 at 6.OOPM. We will meet at the
former Imagination Station location for a site visit of the area from 6:00-7:00, followed
by a meeting from 7:00-9:00. John F. will look into the possibility of holding the
meeting at the YMCA.
A motion to adjourn the meeting passed 5-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:04.
Respectfully submitted by:
Benjamin Ream and Gary Gresh