Capital Projects

5-Year Capital Plan

Athletics

Lincoln Park Athletic Field #1 Improvements

The Recreation Committee 5-year capital plan includes an FY2024 request for improvements and enhancements to the Lincoln Park Athletic Playing Field #1 and the installation of athletic lights at Fields #1 and #3. This project was approved during 2023 Annual Town Meeting and funds have been appropriate. More details on this project and the 5-year capital plan can be found online.

Community Engagement:

The Recreation Committee held two Community Meetings to share the proposed project details and received input, comments and feedback from the neighborhood and community at large. Each meeting highlighted different aspects of the project; Meeting #1 discussed installation of athletic lighting and Meeting #2 discussed the athletic playing surface on Field #1 which is at end of life.

Presentation Slides (PDF)
Lincoln Park Abutters Letter - February 1, 2023 Meeting (PDF)
Meeting #2: Athletic Field #1 Project at Lincoln Park: Evaluating Field Materials: Presentation Slides (PDF)
Lincoln Park Abutters Letter - March 1, 2023 Meeting (PDF)
Related Documents:
Presentation Slides (PDF)
Presentation Video
TMMA Bus Tour Video (go to 25:05)
Background & Meeting Information (PDF)
Sports Advisory Council Position Statement (PDF)
Article 10i Working Group Position Statement (PDF)

You may also share your feedback by emailing Department staff at recdept@lexingtonma.gov or the Recreation Committee at recreationcmte@lexingtonma.gov

Fiske Athletic Field Improvements

Bowman Athletic Field Improvements

This renovation will include a complete reconstruction with the installation of a new natural grass Little League field, new irrigation system, new backstops, signage and park benches. Additionally, a trail that leads to the abutting Dunback Meadow conservation area will be restored, and based on the recommendations in the ADA Compliance Study, the end curb that runs parallel to the dugouts will be cut back to allow access to the ball field from the parking lot and an accessible path will be installed from the dugouts on the parking lot side of the field behind the backstop to provide access to the dugout closest to the playground.

Hard Court Surfaces

Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Requests

Center Recreation Hard Court Reconstruction — Gallagher Tennis & Farias Basketball Courts

The project mobilized on Monday, June 19th and is expected to be complete in November 2023.

This project will include the construction of post tension court surfaces for tennis/pickleball and asphalt for basketball at the Center Recreation Complex. In addition to new courts, the project will provide new fencing, athletic equipment, storage shed, shelter, site amenities (park and player benches, receptacles, etc.), tennis practice backboards, and signage.

The project timeline was determined using several factors:

The Tennis Courts needed to remain online for the LHS Spring Tennis Season
Mobilizing the basketball and tennis courts separately would be cost prohibitive
The project will take 4-5 months to complete and the temperatures have to be 40 degrees and rising in order for the courts to properly cure. Typically in New England, courts are not surfaced after October 15th (this was similar to the Center Track installation)
The area behind the courts from Mass Ave to the Center Playground will remain open as a dead end. The walkway will be closed at the end where it typically opens up at the restrooms due to the restroom/maintenance and hard court projects both being active, there is not a safe way to create a public opening.

There are Tennis, Pickleball and Basketball courts available in town at several of the neighborhood parks.

Project Updates:

Week of October 2nd - The shade structure at the basketball courts in completed, stone drain trench has been dug and fabric and stone will be installed early this week. Sidewalks are being graveled and site clean up is beginning (dumpster on site).

Week of September 25th - The shade structure at the Basketball courts is being installed, work on the court fencing is underway, grading of walk ways and preparation for French drain begin this week and the Precast concrete sports practice boards will be installed on 9/27/23.

Week of September 18th - Color coating on basketball court to start, weather dependent on 9/18. Classicturf on site forming mow strip. Plan on pouring Wednesday and Thursday. Precast backboards are expected to be in 9/28. Shade structure pad poured last Friday near the basketball courts and will begin to install structure end of this week

Week of August 14th - Due to the inclement and weather, the seal coating of the basketball courts is delayed. The current timeline to have this completed in late September, depending on weather conditions. The (7) basketball hoops have been installed. The pouring of the post tension concrete for the Gallagher Courts continue on 8/14 and 8/16. It is expected that the concrete slab for the shade shelter will be poured on 8/16 as well.

Week of August 7th - Due to the poor weather conditions, Classic Turf did not begin to pour the concrete as scheduled. The new date has been set for Monday, August 14th

Week of July 31st - The Post Tension concrete and asphalt is anticipated to begin this week. On Monday, July 31, installation of (4) of the (7) basketball hoop foundations will be installed as well as forming the bench pads at the Farias Courts. Paving of the Basketball Courts is scheduled for Tuesday, August 1st. On Thursday August 3rd, the net posts will be set. The Gallagher courts # 1 and 2 will be poured and finish forming and the cables pulled the remainder of the week The next two courts are planning to pour beginning next Tuesday.

Weeks of July 10th - July 28th - Laser grading at the courts begins on the 10 court surface and compaction will be ongoing during the week of July 24th. Compaction is a very important step in the preparation process for the asphalt and post tension material installation. All court surfaces have been fine graded.

Week of June 26th - July 7th - all demolition will be complete, reclaiming the materials, start laser grading the basketball court areas and prep the locations for the hoop installation. Work will not take place on Tuesday, July 4th.

Week of June 19th - the project will mobilize both hard court surface areas. This includes the installation of temporary fencing and site preparation. The site preparation will take approximately one week including reclaiming the asphalt, removing of fencing fabric, poles, etc.

Community Engagement included three community meetings and two public meetings with the Recreation Committee. In addition, stakeholder meetings were held with members of the Battle Green Tennis League, LPS Athletic Department, LPS Health, Wellness and PE, DPW and Recreation Staff and led by Activitas, Inc. Through the stakeholders discussions and community meetings, the final design was brought forward. Below is the timeline and documents from the process.

Wednesday, March 16, 2022 - an update was provided to the Recreation Committee
Wednesday, March 2, 2022 - the second community meeting
Wednesday, February 9, 2022 - the first community meeting
2022 Annual Town Meeting - Article passes and funding appropriated (and was included in the 5 year capital plan since 2018)
Tuesday, October 25, 2002 - the third community meeting
Wednesday, December 21, 2022 - The final design was presented to and approved by the Recreation Committee

Memo on Review of Siting Criteria for Pickleball Court Construction/Lining - August 31, 2023

Tennis & Pickleball Working Group Report

Tennis & Pickleball Working Group Summary Report Presentation Slides

2023 Tennis/Pickleball Updates

Valley Tennis Courts Resurfacing Project

The Valley Tennis Courts, located on Valley Road, have been resurfaced. The project included the resurfacing, painting, and restriping of the courts for tennis and pickleball as well as the installation of new equipment (tennis posts and nets). The court resurfacing was completed in Summer 2021. The ADA upgrades at the site have yet to be completed.

Master Planning & Assessment

Lincoln Park Master Plan

Will result in an independent review of the entire facility, outlining deficiencies and opportunities of all elements with a final report of the findings and prioritized recommendations.

The current 5-year capital improvement plan (FY23-FY27) includes several requests specific to the Lincoln Park which include, end of life replacement of; the (3) synthetic turf athletic fields, the outdoor fitness stations and play structure. Additionally, the parking lots and traffic flow continues to be a concern and needs to be assessed for spaces and access.

At a time when there is a great need to provide access for residents to stay active and to engage in and maintain healthier lifestyles, understanding the town’s ability to maximize its infrastructure and plan for future improvements is critical. Aligning projects and minimizing reduction of services and access to facilities is a priority. In anticipation of the Lexington High School project and the loss of the Center Recreation natural grass fields for up to 4 years, maintaining our existing infrastructure is critical.

Community Engagement includes stakeholders meetings and community meetings. Stakeholders include representatives from Town and School staff in addition to abutters and park users. Representatives from the Recreation Committee, Lincoln Park Sub Committee, Lex United Soccer Club, Lex Youth Lacrosse, Hayden Recreation, Lex Public Schools Athletics, Temple Isaiah, Lex Youth Baseball along with Town staff from Recreation, Public Works, Planning, Sustainability, Conservation, Public Facilities, Library and Equity.

Email us at recdept@lexingtonma.gov with any questions.

Abutters Letter (PDF)

Athletic Fields Feasibility Study

This project is to complete a feasibility study of the Town-owned athletic fields. This study will determine the feasibility of expanding the capacity of Town-owned athletic fields and other recreation facilities by determining which fields/facilities could be improved upon. A total of 20 Town-owned properties are included in the study and improvements that will be taken into consideration include (but are not limited to) converting natural grass athletic fields to synthetic turf, installing athletic lighting system at existing fields or reorienting existing fields that would allow for increased play without compromising the quality of the field conditions and a prioritization of the proposed improvements would be included. The feasibility study will serve as a living document and resource for the Recreation Committee and be incorporated into future capital plans.

Athletic Fields Feasibility Study (PDF)

Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) Update

In partnership with the Conservation Department, Lexington is updating its 2015 Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP). Help plan the future of Lexington's Open Spaces and Recreation Areas. As we embark on the Update, we invite you to join the planning process, share your thoughts, and check the webpage for project updates.

MISC.

Parks & Playgrounds

Justin Playground Replacement & ADA Improvements

The scope for this proposed playground replacement at Justin Park, located on Justin Street, will include the replacement of the existing playground, swing set, and safety surfacing, and other site amenities such as signage and park benches will be considered. Additionally, an accessible route will be installed between the accessible parking area and the playground.

The second community meeting about the Justin Playground project will be held on Monday, October 16th at 7:00pm via Zoom (passcode 437989). Be sure to complete the Justin Park survey as well.

Muzzey Field

$155,000 was approved at the 2021 Annual Town Meeting for irrigation upgrades, laser grading and the installation of new natural grass at Muzzey Field. The updated timeline for this project is to go out to bid in November/December 2023, mobilizing in March/April 2024, and an anticipated completion date of June 2024.

Abutters Letter October 2023 (PDF)

Center Recreation Complex Bathrooms & Maintenance Building Renovation

This project is one that will support the improvements to the Center Recreation Complex and overall Park system. Access to safe, clean and accessible restrooms is an important amenity at a Community Park, such as Center. This facility has not had significant renovations or upgrades in many years, while the use and demand for public restrooms increase. The Feasibility Study for this project was presented during the Recreation Committee meeting on Wednesday, July 7 at 7pm.

The request for construction funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2023 capital budget and was approved and funds appropriated during the 2022 Annual Town Meeting. The bid opening was held on September 1, 2022 and the bids came in substantially over-budget. As a result, a request for supplemental funding was requested at the 2022 Special Town Meeting and the supplemental funding was appropriated.

The project mobilized in mid March 2023 and is anticipated to have substantial completion in 12-16 weeks. The Center Recreation Complex will have portable restrooms placed at the park during the construction.

Below is an overview of the plan for addressing storage and restrooms during the project.
- The (5) storage trailers that are located next to the restrooms have been relocated as they are currently within the construction zone.
- The LLL (1) and LYL (1) trailers will be relocated next to the Center #4 Little League Field (Fitzgerald Field) and run parallel to the right field fence. The LYL trailer will be up against the fence and the LLL trailer will be placed next to it. The trailers will be placed so the doors open towards the Center Track.
- The two LHS trailers will be placed by where the old shot put area used to be. This is to the right of the path that leads to C2 and doors will open towards the path.
- The Town trailer is going to be emptied and removed from the site altogether.
- These locations for the LHS, LYL, and LLL trailers are temporary and will be reassessed once the Center Recreation Restrooms and Gallagher/Farias Courts projects have been completed.
The Recreation Enterprise Fund will be providing and subsidizing (6) portable toilets at the Center Recreation Park (4 standard and 2 ADA-accessible). They will be located at the end of the Park Drive cul-de-sac where the path that leads from Park Drive to C2 begins.The portable toilets will remain on site for the duration of the project.
Project updates week of 6/20/23:
- The Metal doors and doors frames are a bit of a Lead time
- Plywood may be added to the bathroom access points in order to allow the mechanical, electrical and plumbing work can continue inside the bathrooms, with less risk of vandalism.
- For more information, please call 781-698-4800 or email the Recreation Department.
- Abutters Letter 3/6/2023 (PDF)
- 90% Construction Drawings and Cost Estimate (PDF)Project-Related Documents

Kinneens Playground Replacement

The scope for the playground replacement at Kinneens Park, located at the intersection of Burlington Street and Grove Street, will include the replacement of the existing playground, swing set, and safety surfacing, and other site amenities such as signage, park benches, and a bike rack. Additionally, poured-in-place (PIP) safety surfacing would be installed at specific locations, which would greatly enhance accessibility to those play elements.

The kick-off community meeting for this project was held on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, the second community meeting took place on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, and the third community meeting was held on Wednesday, December 7, 2022.

The final design for the playground replacement was presented and approved by the Recreation Committee meeting at its February 15, 2023 meeting. Here is a copy of the presentation slides.

Installation of the new playground is scheduled to begin the week of October 9th and will take approximately 2-3 weeks to complete.