[Music] in the nice text I sent yesterday. >> Don't ask me why. on my train ride home. I'm like, "Let me let me throw this on because like the Facebook thing pops up for the I'm like, "Oh god." I watch it.
I'm like, "Oh." >> So, I'm walking out the door for this meeting and I see the the Milton Times lages, which I haven't read, but >> what about you? >> Not too bad. >> You mean about the emp? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. They're like
>> other We're being recorded. We're being recorded. >> We're being recorded. Um cuz uh when Nick set this up, he pre he set the record button early. So >> he's very experienced. He knows the scuttlebutt that happens before a meeting. >> Yeah, he wanted to capture that.
>> Usually >> he was helping me out. >> Anyways, >> open access usually um just the part that's >> when you Yes. >> All right.
>> All right. So, let's um let's call the meeting to order. Um I am Tom Callahan, the chair of the preservation committee. Um and um representing the affordable housing trust. Uh Peter
Jackson large member and I act as treasurer. I >> Jenny Russell, vice chair and citizen at large. Cheryl Tugayas, representative from the planning board. >> Rob Leash, representative from the
parks. >> Kathleen O'Donnell at large member. >> All right. Um, so, um, just committee updates. A couple of things. First of all, I apologize for my I just had a very busy work season, so I
want to thank Jenny and Pete particularly for stepping in the last couple weeks uh, in my absence. Um, so, um, I appreciate that. Um, and fortunately that work is over and successful and we're past that.
So, I'm back even though I never left. Um, so, um, so a couple of committee updates just to get it on everybody's calendars. Our next two meetings are Monday, um this coming Monday, the 20th,
um at 7 p.m. Um and uh Pete was saying earlier, it's going to be at our usual meeting place in the Cronin um conference room and town hall. So, >> so Tom, um I have a a work public
meeting that lasts until 7:30. So, I'll join by that's on Zoom. >> Okay. and I'll join as soon as sometimes they don't they don't run until full time period but I'll hop on as soon as >> a project that we've been working on a
very long time is finally getting over the last >> getting there. So um so yeah I'll join as soon as I can but it won't be I doubt it will be 7 o'clock >> and I'll be in Miami but I will try to join at some point. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um
second meeting >> I'm just um >> November >> because the Zoom this laptop just got disconnected from Zoom. Oh no. >> Oh
Zoom. Well Tom, wait let me see >> that just >> Oh did did it come back? >> It's it's circling. It's connecting. It says I don't know why. Yeah, we had a meeting on the 5th, didn't we? >> Yeah, the next meeting >> November 5th. >> November 5th.
>> Yeah, which I won't be at. >> So, we're we're back. We're back. Yeah. >> Let's see if we can reserve this. >> Um Okay. So, anyways, those are the two next meetings. Um um October 20th and
November 5th. Um so, who's who's not able to make November? Okay, I'll have another annual meeting in Boston. >> And is everybody else? >> I'm good for the >> because that would be >> that was slated to probably be our
deliberation meeting. >> Um, so >> I can send you notes on >> Yeah. And we probably like last time we'll make >> Yeah. And we could I don't know. We might Yeah, notes would be good. Yeah. >> Okay. >> And hopefully Rob Powers will be sworn
in and active by that time. Yeah. So, we have a new member um representing the housing authority. Robert Powers Jr. um has um agreed to serve the housing fill the housing authority seat um replacing Joe Duffy. Um so, um so I have had email
communications with him in the past week or so and he could not make tonight, but he is planning on being here Monday. So, um I think he needs to get sworn in, but uh that will hopefully get that done and he can participate as a full member. And
then the other committee update is that Linda Weld has resigned um from the committee. I think she's resigned her seat on historic commission um I believe. So um so we I'll write something more formal to Linda, but obviously we want to thank
her for her three years of service. um she's been I've learned a lot from her and um she's been a really great and consistent and valuable um committee member. So, thank you, Linda. >> Um so, >> I have a question, but on the next
meeting, will we have a list of what um we would be deliberating on the list of the applications? Yeah. So, Jenny has um done a spreadsheet um um of all of all of them and um you know, obviously we're going to hear some presentations tonight and then
>> again on Monday. Um but that's yeah >> and they're all in our shared folders all the >> place that I can ever figure out how to get to >> I can I can send you SharePoint. Um the only other sort of committee
updates uh that I would I would just uh let people know is um we're obviously currently without staff and the I talked to Nick this afternoon. So we have a new town planner as I think folks know. Um I
think there's some progress on hiring an assistant town planner and um there's um yeah progress but on hiring an administrative assistant for that position but I think expected progress
soon um on that. So, um, so right now we're without formal staff, but I think there's some wheels in motion to try to, um, sort of address that, um, um, in the coming months. So, so I there's more to
come on that, but um, I want to just >> assume that that person would be >> not necessarily. We could also, you know, choose to independently. >> Yeah, exactly. But you know I think it's we have a budget as we know and >> we could to couple it with the
>> there was some advantages to us to couple it with the administrative person at the planning department. Um and maybe even more so now because of the the new planning dire uh um Tom Planner is
somebody who uh among her duties in Brainree before she came to Milton was >> um the CPA >> manager >> of Brainree's CPA program. So she's very familiar with CPA. Obviously I have not met her yet but um but I think that
inter the interaction and the just the um the um advantages we get of having somebody from the planning department are doesn't mean we have to go that route but I think there are some advantages and maybe we get a little more time out
of the other staff too of the planner and the assistant town planner um eventually. So >> some we're going to be like, "Ah, we need somebody." >> Yeah. So I think let's maybe put it on the uh potentially on the agenda for one of our next two meetings to have a more
wholesome discussion, but I just wanted to provide a brief update on where we were there. Um are there any other updates from committee wise? Um >> just that the minutes will be approved at the next meeting. >> Yes. We don't have minutes to approve
this meeting, but Oh, we um we will have minutes. Did you find that? >> Okay, great. >> Oh, yeah. I just wanted to add um >> minutes on for uh approval for next meeting. >> Um we um had new town council um as you know. And so um uh there was a grant
agreement that was bouncing around for Sustainable Milton with the um Pine Tree Brook Association. Um, prior town council had objected to the grant agreement because sustainable Milton wanted to run the money priere wanted to run the money through sustainable
Milton. They weren't mentioned in the article and so they said uh prior town council said that it didn't work. I said sustainable Milton was acting as an agent for an unincorporated association and I thought it worked. Um, so we have new town council. they think it works
and so they revised the grant agreement finally to reflect the you know different language. There's just a few >> clauses that got added um to sort of cover the situation where Pineree Brook can't accept any they don't have an account. I mean they can't cash a check.
>> They're not incorporated. And so that's a reminder for us for the next round of grants and stuff that we need to be making sure that somebody exists. take the take the checks >> and the and that the town meeting
>> language >> reflects who's going to be the recipient of it. >> Yeah. >> So, as far as >> Thank you for your I mean I thought that was an elegant solution to and >> the right solution you know something that was stuck >> and is that has that been executed now?
>> I believe it's been it's been forwarded around I think it >> was forwarded just yesterday I think. So, I don't think it's been fully executed yet by the all the parties, but >> they're really anxious to get a check because they owe some money. >> Yeah, I I talked to Deb Milbar yesterday
by phone and or by text, I guess. And um so I think things are worked out. Yeah. >> But yeah, so as I said, it was sort of bouncing around and >> changing council didn't, you know, >> hiding back there. >> Didn't make it easier.
>> Come join us. It's a public meeting. >> You're welcome. Sorry if we didn't uh I I thought I could hear voices out there. >> So, why don't you your first we actually it's perfect timing because we're we're
ready for you and um yeah, take a seat right up here and then we will um >> we will have you introduce yourselves and um >> we have a slideshow. Do we want how what's the best way to connect to
>> So if if you log on do you have a device to log on to run the slideshow or you can email it to me or >> maybe email it to you. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Let me see if I can get on.
>> There is public Wi-Fi here. >> Meeting house public. >> Okay. >> Found it myself. >> Yeah. I was connected over there. That's why >> I was connected to the other one. >> That's why it was like really your
choice. I should get laptops. >> Okay. I just tried to send it to you, Tom, but if not, I'll try to get on the Zoom. [Music] At least thank you. I got the I got the minutes. Callahan 16 atgmail
perfect patience. So the PDF for Good. Nice. >> I know. Do you want to try to get on Zoom? Um, I'm just trying to
um download it. So, >> okay. Oh, perfect. Awesome. Thank you. >> I appreciate it. >> Thank you for panic. >> I know. We're like, >> "Oh, time's up." >> Yeah, I know. A little prepared. Um, so thank you for
inviting us to share with you our proposal for the CPC funding for the Tucker Playground renovation project. My name is Leslie McMurthy and I'm the uh past president of the Tucker PTO and I'm here with Haley Byron and Raa Goldman Silva Silva. Um the two current presidents of the Tucker PTO. Um as our
application states, we are requesting 120 $102,000 of CPC funding for the design phase of our renovation project. Um our project goals are to build a safe, accessible playground and community space for Tucker School neighbors in the Milton community. Um
that is ADA compliant. Um you can probably go to the next slide. Sorry, the next slide. Um, Tucker's current playground is 20 years old um with asphalt um with outdated structures and ground surface
of wood chips and asphalt um that really is not accessible to all students and community members. The existing rock wall, one of the few features the children can enjoy. Actually go to the next slide. Um is actually broken and unsafe to use and cordoned off with caution tape. Um many of the children
play soccer, kickball on asphalt um on a rim on a field rimmed with curbs. Just yesterday, the latest injury was a split chin and chip tooth that required a trip to the emergency room for a second grader. Um and so given this space um our goal is to create a space that um
supports creative and active and social play for kids and adults um to help with learning, fitness, and emotional growth. Um, with Tucker's small landlock footprint, this redesign is an opportunity for the Tucker community to reimagine this outdoor space. One where sports were safe and imaginative play is
celebrated. Um, we really feel design phase allows us to really work with what with the small footprint we have compared to some of the other schools um, across town. Um, we want kids to enjoy recess and to take pride in the space where they play and learn together. Um, this is also a chance to support outdoor learning and
environmental awareness through gardens in our outdoor classroom while promoting public health and active living for the community. Creating a space where ch where teachers can use the school during the day um and the neighborhood can use for weekend activities is really exciting for us to think about um how we
can use that space. Tucker is a close-knit community not just with the students and families but it surrounding neighbors. Um it's a walking school so most of the people walk past the the students, families and neighbors walk past this playground every single day and a sense of pride. Um Mara will share
a little more about um but our mural I think was our first space in the playground renovation and it really brings a smile to everyone's face. So I can only imagine what revitalizing this entire space will do. Um, as our letters of support indicate, we have had the support of um, Milton Public Schools,
families in the community um, for this project and we're excited to share more about our timeline um, and where we are and how CPC can help. >> Great. Um, you can go to the next slide. So, this is our project uh, timeline. There's three phases. The first phase
one is complete. Uh we're currently in phase two, which is the design and construction uh preparation phase, and that will go through now through the summer of 2026. And then uh phase three will be the construction phase um which
we hope to be 2026 through summer 2027. Um I'll go in a little bit further into phase one in just a second. Phase two, right now we're um looking we're working on continued fundraising and grant solicitation. were um working with
various landscape architect firms um and getting design uh designs to look at um and then working on community outreach um and with the town uh Milton public schools in the town. Um and then the
this the final phase will be the you know contract and equipment manufacturer working with manufacturers installation and surfaces. um groundbreaking of the playground and then removal of other surfaces and installation. Um if you go
to the next slide, I'll go into what phase so phase one um which is complete. Um the first piece which Leslie mentioned was the public mural installation. Um this was uh done with
the students, our art teacher um and with community uh parent and teacher input. And then we had an artist Lee Beard who did the installation. Um and everyone worked together with the design. Um and we it was grant funded
through the NEA Milk and Cultural Mass Cultural Council and then the local cultural council. Um, and the goal was to really help improve the aesthetic of the outdoor space. Um, and providing the kids with additional art exposure through the residents art artist program
that we have at our school. Um, if you go to the next slide, we have um come together. We have a playground committee that has formed. It consists of parents, staff, and administration. Um, we have been meeting monthly and working with uh
Bill Madden, who's also a Milton Public School parent and landscape architect, to help research uh playground ideas. Um, working with staff. There was a staff survey conducted to get their feedback on issues with the current playground. Um, how they things that
they liked it, what didn't work, what worked. Um, just to get a full everyone's feedback on what we should be looking at and how we should improve it. We were using all this information to help decide if we could just
restore the playground to be uh you know more functional or if a whole new uh redesign was needed. Um if you go to the next slide um through initial brainstorming we had um several
um designs that came up and after looking at them and knowing Tucker's really small footprint um we realized that a redesign was really what we needed to do just to maximize the space uh and provide it's a very small space
um and there's some logistical issues with facilities uh and trucks need to come in and out. So just to make that footprint give us the most um functional uh play area, we decided that a redesign
is what we needed to um pursue. So we took um we took that concept that idea after these initial brainstorming sessions that and said okay we need to do a full redesign. So the next step was um we created requesttor proposals and
we sent those out. >> Sorry. >> Yeah. For this before we did that we sent we sent those out and then we found out quickly that we needed a site survey. So the next slide is that site survey um which the PTO funded
um before we could kind of go next steps uh they required that we do that. So that was done over this past summer. Um and that's all set. Then with that in hand, we were able to get some proposals back from different landscape architect firms to be able to figure out how much
this might cost and what what we were doing basically. Um so we got back four proposals. Um go to the next slide please. And um there was there was a lot of variation in what was provided but what stood out most to us were two key
areas. Number one is that um it became clear that it would be extremely important for the design firm that we wanted to work with to be able to meet with us at multiple points. Um that they would be cooperative and have more of a partnership and some flexibility because as we've talked about there's multiple
multiple stakeholders in in this particular redesign. Um we're going to have the neighbors, the staff, the students, administration. We have an existing outdoor classroom that is used almost every single day of the year. Kids eat out there. They have a garden, they do science work out there, there's
also the recreational space and all this is happening in a very small space. Um, so it was very important that we have um the firm be able to meet with the community on multiple occasions to be able to go back and work with us through these things. The second key piece that
stood out to us was um one of the proposals provided for helping us fund the project to secure grants. So the idea of being able to hire somebody that can then maybe help us pay for it, that was pretty attractive. Um so that is why
we are um making the request that we are because even if we don't go with this uh with this particular firm, we anticipate going back to all of the firms that submitted proposals and saying okay include this. We need we need your experience and your help in getting funding. Um and some of these firms that
we have dealt with have experience in more urban schools. And let's face it, Tucker is a more akin to an urban school given its footprint and getting funding and working in really small footprints. Um, so if we want to go to the next slide.
So that's what brings us to our specific ask which is the 102,000. that was the higher end of these proposals and that was because it was inclusive of these multiple community meetings, the collaboration, um the flexibility to take input and be able to make changes
and also the assistance with the funding requests. So that is the breakdown of the specific funding that we're looking for and what we anticipate that it will pay for um and and that explains um the how we arrived at that number.
the next slide and this is a more bird's eye view of how that particular request fits in with the total budget. So we have like we said paid for the mural um the site survey we are hoping to pay for the
landscape architectural services and after that we anticipate an additional approximately $475,000 for this project. Um it's it's an expensive project. Uh but all of that being true, we are not
stopping in sort of our our work in funding this project. So this is the first piece, but immediately after this, we plan to seek funding from foundations, individual philanthropists. Um we hope to go to the state and uh
pursue having a particular line item for for this project. um which has been done in the past and we are going to pursue it this time as well. As sort of a jumping off point for that, we are meeting with the superintendent tomorrow. We're hoping to get on the school committee's agenda at their next
meeting um and get a more formal blessing of this project so we can pursue uh vigorously these foundations getting on getting on the budget at the state level. Um as has been alluded to earlier, we've always had the support of
the administration uh particularly at Tucker where the principal sees what happens every single day and really wants this project to happen as well. and we have kept the superintendent all of the superintendent in the loop on this project but we are going to get a
more formal support. Uh you know the PTO wants to do this and move ahead but we want the support of all of the stakeholders and so that is our next step as we pursue all of these different funding avenues. Um, and I think
>> I think and then like just to add like the teachers and administration at Tucker, I think when there's a rainy day, they look forward to that because they don't have to worry about the safety of the kids going outside >> and we know that outdoor play and is so
crucial just to be able to learn too. So, this is >> just such an important project for Tucker. Um, and we want our kids to be able to safely be outside playing um, and getting the benefits that come with with out. >> Can you remind me how many students there are?
>> Just under 500. >> So, thank you. That's that's a great presentation. Um, questions from committe few questions. Um, first of all, great presentation. Um, I think I'm wondering from this standpoint, $102,000 for
design is a is a big chunk of money and then the project is another big chunk of money and you haven't secured any of that money. >> Um, I'm wondering like from a committee standpoint, would you be s like could do we could you go through design like like through a phase design like take it
through take it through like design development, right? as you go through that. Um, it may help you to like secure that funding through design development instead of going all the way through construction documents or whatever while you continue to raise money and get grant money. So, you get a designer on
board, take them maybe through like 50% of it or something, right? Whatever that is, and then secure the the rest of it later because through that process, it'll help you also like nail like drill down the final cost for your project,
right? Because right now it's like you're it's probably pretty accurate. It's it is a pretty big project, but I think it's like throwing darts at the wall, right? Like to figure out what that's going to cost. And my guess is it's probably going to be even low like for for what you're doing cuz you're you're basically like removing that
whole thing and putting back a whole new playground. And the committee knows like just the the the playground that's like over here was I think it's around like five or 600 and that's just playground equipment and like the surfacing. >> Pepper also, >> right? Yeah. Yeah, Pepper. That's what Yeah, that's what I mean. The Beverly
Park one. Um so anyways, it's it's just a question because like $102,000 is, you know, might be the largest. It might be the largest this committee's ever funded for for planning and design. >> Um which is fine. I think it's a great project. I think it's good. But like there's also a way to look at it as
like, hey, can we take you through a design development instead of going all the way through like CDs, right? And then that helps you like hopefully secure some money. I I'm worried about like where does the $621,000 come from. Um, and I'd like to see a little bit like, okay, let's see where
some of that makeup of like the the money to get there because like at least this and even this committee like the Beverly Park, we've heard about it for a couple of years and it's been continuing going on and we're like we're not there yet, you know. Um, so >> the just one thing and I and I take all
that in as helpful feedback and I think the distinction between Park and the Tucker playground is that this is a school and they have to have a playground and it's very very clear to everybody involved that this playground cannot continue. I mean the situation is fairly dire which is why from inception
of this idea and really actively planning it in just what 6 months time we've come from nothing to effectively having paid for a significant chunk of this project and I don't doubt our community's ability to I know it's a lot of money um and which is why we want the
design firm that can help us fund raise um and I'm fairly confident that as everyone we've spoken to has realized the dire need and for a very quick turnaround of this project that at the state level they can see the same thing. So I I take what you're saying and and certainly something to consider. But I
do think that because it is a school playground serving close to 500 children in this town, it does make it distinctly different from Beverly and sort of the impetus that the that can get behind getting it done. >> Given the timing of when we'd like to do
the work over the summer, we have some time constraints. So, as much as we can do on the early side to get, you know, design and constru and construction documents ready that way when we can maximize what we can do on an April break and then hit the ground running in June so we're not disrupting the kids as much as we can. I think there will be
some work that that seeps into the school year. >> Jenny and Cheryl, >> um really great presentation and proposal covered the basis. So, congrats on that. That's good. That's sort of the information we need. Um one comment and one question. The comment is that uh I
think it was on page uh three you referenced a potentially a synthetic field and just so that you know that the CDC cannot fund astroturf. So you know that so and and anything related to it. So yep. >> Okay. So you got that.
>> Um and my question is the PTO undertakes a lot of fundraising needs. So I'm wondering what else are you competing for in terms of projects going on? >> Yeah. >> That you are responsible for or expected to raise money for? So we have our operational budget which we fundraised for um and we have been fundraising for
and I would say that within the first month of school we raised more for our operational budget than we did in the entire first half of the year last year maybe even the first three quarters knowing that we would have to dedicate substantial time later to the playground project. Um so our we raising money for
our budget in addition to this playground. >> So that's covered now. I'm not quite sure the timing >> covered. It's not covered. We've raised more than half of what we have raised total last year in just the first month of the year. And >> so at what point do you switch to like
okay now we have to raise money for the playground. Would you be parallel? >> I think we're doing it par doing it somewhat parallel. And also the kind of the thinking was if we can raise our budget or at least what we spent last year within a few months then that gives us the rest of the year to raise either
exclusively for playground but also in terms of the annual appeal that was sent out and other things that have done have been kind of parallel tracks. The community is aware that we're raising money for the >> can I ask how much is that operational budget you're raising? >> It's 47,000. >> That's your goal or what do you
>> That is our goal. what we spent last year was less than that. It was 20 30 >> 36,000. >> Okay, got it. Thanks, >> Cheryl. And I just want to move this along because we have others waiting, but Cheryl, >> um, thank you so much. Great
presentation and congratulations on what you've accomplished in six months. It's very impressive. Um, and I just had a couple of suggestions for you to think about in your proposals from the uh, landscape architects. um cost estimating. I don't know if they've
included that, but it's an important um okay piece of the work. So that uh you should have it done not just at the end of the CDs, but beforehand so you get a design phase and have them do a um a preliminary cost estimate so you get an
idea of whether you're on track with what you budgeted so far. And then as it advances into construction documents, have them do at least one more at 50% and then you know maybe another one at 75 or 100 just so that if you are going to need to make adjustments to your
budget, either make some design changes, you'd rather know it along the way than at the very end. And along those same lines and thinking along those same lines, sometimes um you know you can have a firm work with you on some options on al alternates. So it maybe
different materials or different specifications and so make sure that they include that in their proposals as well so that you can get as much back and forth out of your design phase and so that you're not left with having spent all that money to to Rob's point on getting your final CDs only to find
that you're going to need to backtrack a little bit to make changes. So you want them working with you along the whole process. >> Those are great. And if the estimates come in higher than expect, you know, consider phasing a possibility. >> Um,
>> I was going to say, I don't know if you're aware, but the money >> with this grant, the money won't become available till July 1st. So, your schedule is very aggressive and showing a lot of work happening now, but you really there's not going to be money
available till July 1st. >> We've thought of that and I don't know if you want to speak to her. I'm happy to as well. >> It' be approved at if it were approved, it would be approved at time meeting. So you know, >> we would know and we have we have rainy day money that we could use to start the
project if we had the promise of funds. So we have the money to get it going >> that we feel like we need to put it back into the account that >> we we know it's we we we understand when it would happen and we think we could just we could get it going. >> You could live with that >> and then part of the partial fundraising
will go towards that. Exactly. Yeah. Keep us moving. >> And then the last thing I'd say is just to echo what everybody else said. This is a great project. And as you know, we funded the other elementary schools. So it's more than your turn. And you know, Tucker is a great school.
Everybody who goes there loves it. The community loves it. And so this is a great project. And you know, >> so thanks for bringing some alumni parents. letter to the lettering. >> We're coming for you. The letter is prepared. We're building our database.
>> Does any money come from the school committee at all? I mean, do they >> the school last week, two weeks ago, she's been a prize of the project and she actually did some playground with North Attelboroough. So, she actually gave us some good suggestions. She's the one who's s, you know, suggested she'd help
us with some of the state representatives. >> Is your PTO a nonpro? Like, are they nonprofits? Okay. So, then you don't, so then they can do whatever. >> We're a nonprofit. >> It doesn't have to go through like the public. >> Exactly. We confirmed that. You confirm that. That's good.
>> Saves a bunch of money. >> We would gift it we would gift it to the school committee and the school school committee would accept like our design request and then basically bless the PTO to keep on going project. >> Um, So, I'm just going to move us along because that's my role as chair. Um,
thank you. Um, I the one thing I would say um is you just mentioned it, but just the the the legislative component, you know, you know, Rep. Wells, Rep. U Fluger Reed and um Senator Driscoll will be key in that. So,
>> yes, we have. >> You can't start too early. >> Yeah, we're after we meet with Superintendent Failen tomorrow. Their next will be at their doorstep, I guess. >> Great. So, great. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You >> All right. Um All right, Georgia, you're up.
>> Um I am on your Zoom and so if you don't mind sharing allowing me to share screen, >> you should have sharing. >> Okay. Yeah, >> since you promoted your panelist. >> Yeah. Great. There it is. Thank you.
>> Okay. So, um I'm going to dive in. Uh have you all had a chance to read the proposal? Fantastic. Okay, that gets us to 75% of the way there. So, I'm going to start us with 2023 when we got our
first grant and we put that money to work right away. and we worked that very summer on our garden project which I am going to click through. Hang on a second.
Ah, I need to move this. Okay, you guys can see this. So, here is the um original community preservation plan. Um there are some of our workers. This guy donates services to the garden.
We got a lot of peie action, putting the money to work right away. So, we had a garden tour in the rain, uh, floral design, and there it is. There we have started our project. I didn't know that they were going to take every single stone out of the wall, but
they did. They wanted it to see what was behind it, to see what was going on. Turns out there was a chipmunk condominium back there, which they eradicated. And um this was the class unfortunately we had a class in a rainy
day. Um but the class came they learned about um free stone masonry in which the stones are laid without mortar and um together we started moving those stones into position um basically helping our
um guide Michael um who was the master mason we were working with. that we were hands-on that day with his guidance. And so we did feel like there was an educational component that day that, you know, everybody was pretty appreciative of. So
here's the original stone wall in 1926 from the steel archive. And I'm just going to have you note these trees back here because those are going to come into the narrative in a minute. So here we are working. Little video of us at work. Um, this is
the dirt manicure. absolute opposite of a French manicure and we had a lot of women um working and so we all had a laugh because all our nails looked exactly like that. Um the signage has been great. We the sign is
still up. We are still enjoying it and everyone knows how this garden came back together. So um we took out an ad. I don't know if you guys saw this in the Milton Times basically thanking the CPC after the project was finished. We really finished it right away. I mean,
we got to work that summer, we finished that summer, we did a tuneup on the wall the following summer, but we we we blew through that project, you know, and we didn't waste any time. And then we started here's an article in the Milton Times. And then we worked on public
engagement and we just started inviting people over. And public engagement has been, you know, a thing for us from the get-go. That's something we said we would do and it's something I believe we delivered on. Um, so, you know, now I'm
just flipping through real quick to show you guys, you know, where we are now. Sorry. Lot of celebrations at the garden. A lot of advertisements telling people about summer Sundays at Spalding. We did a program in December. We did a historic garden tour. Um, we did the uh
garden conservancy tour two years in a row. um more student volunteers. We've done that three times. Um this was another tour we did. Um and on and on. So now we're going to get back to now. Um hang on a couple more.
>> Milton High students or where are the students? >> Uh we have asked Milton High to partner with us, but we haven't received any volunteers from them yet. So Milton Academy has sent us volunteers every year for three years, which we appreciate. And they also send volunteers to the Trailside Museum,
which is also maintained by the Milton Garden Club and to other places all around town. They're really phenomenal. And I Milton is too. We have had Milton High School volunteers, >> but I got them through the uh Boy Scouts, not through
>> the school. So, they were Boy Scouts, but anyway. >> Uh, okay. So, we do a lot of garden tours. You guys can see that. >> Um, oh, this was fun. This was a thing we did for the first time this summer. Um, let me go back to the first slide.
Uh, sorry, that's one of our students who happens to be my son. This was, um, I had heard that people are more likely to come to your weeding event if you serve wine. And so this was something we called the
wine and weed. >> And sure, >> wine and weed. That Yeah, you better be careful with that. It's a we said um >> garden weeding. >> It's legal now. It's legal. >> This was the wine and weed and um there
were three people who had never been four sorry who had never been to the garden before who came we put it up on um Facebook through Ian >> and Ian's got a great megaphone and so we met some new friends that night who came to our wineweed and it was really
fun. >> Um so oh yeah those were the weeds. Um anyway, on and on and on. We got a sponsorship from Savatree. Have you guys heard of Savatree? We had the master gardeners had identified a some pests in
our garden and we honestly are on a shoestring budget. We run this garden mostly with volunteers and duct tape and uh they came they gave us a quote. I said can we just do a little piece of that quote? We can't afford to do this.
and they said, "Well, send us what you've got. Send us a proposal." And I sent them basically what I made for you guys in 2023. I sent them the package of the history and the cultural landscape report and on and on. And they agreed to take us under their wing and give us
full support >> as our garden sponsor. So, that's been game changer for us. um because now the trees and shrubs are getting the amazing care that they need and that we can't afford. We can do a lot but we can't do
tree work. Um and then this is just yesterday. We had more Milton Academy students volunteering and um this was yesterday. So the garden is really looking good right now if anyone wants to come visit. And one more thing I want
to say about the garden now that is very different from 2023 is now we have garden furniture. We solicited donations. Um some of these donations were in bad shape and we spray painted rod iron that was from other people's backyards. But um it's looking like a
place you want to spend time and it's looking loved and love matters. When you go to a space that hasn't been loved on for a while, you can tell. And now the garden feels different and and any of
you who went three years ago, you're going to see the difference. It's it's just clear. And that is part of that engagement piece that we said we would deliver and we deliver. So just want to give a shout out to that. So now we're to now. Um this is a current map of the
garden and the area in um orange down here. We had considered as a possible proposal. We talked to two masons about both of these projects and both of them steered us toward this project. It's just a more important project in the
scheme of things. This is a um European style brick bench which you all may or may not have seen in the garden. And this is the um the main walkway as you're going to the bowling green.
And as you can see here and here, uh the stonework is gone. And remember those trees I told you about in the very beginning of the presentation that we're going to come back into play. I'm going to show you. You see what happened? These trees were interplanted
in the wall. And so that was part of um see that giant tree right there. Um this was part of Fletcher Steel's original design. This is the original plan from the Fletcher Steel archives. Do you see the Bowling Green was at an allay of
trees and his idea, we're told, was to cut them down every 10 years and replant them so that they didn't get too mature. But what happened was that just quit happening. And so these trees got really big. And this is anecdotal, but it comes
from, you know, our landscape cultural landscape reporter. Um, so we we're pretty sure this is true. Um, the trees actually compromise the wall. So now we have this wall that needs to be addressed. And now we're going to get to
the proposal, which you know, you've seen the background, you know, Fletcher Steel was known for his stonework, his walls, his rooms. He created a lot of different features and this is a feature that at this moment really just needs
some love. I'm going to go back to that image because these images sort of speak to the repair that needs to happen. Um so this is work that is shovel ready. We can do this in the 2026 calendar year if
we get a grant. Um the work would be done to the interior secretary guidelines as always and we have submitted those guidelines with a checklist of how we would comply. Um we would source the bricks the
historic bricks for any of the missing bricks because there are some missing bricks. Um and we um would also in addition to so our objectives include restoring the stone wall and the decorative brick work and
also in this rear corner back here this wall also will be repointed. Um and then we want to educate the public. We did it last time. We want to do it again. And we want to talk about the importance of historic gardens. Why do they matter?
And this is a piece of Milton and it's a classroom. It's a place where we teach about horiculture where we teach about um yesterday's kids didn't know what a monoculture lawn was versus the lawn that we have which is interspersed with
clover and why that might be a good thing. Um but they they were they were into it. Um and then we want to create opportunities for community engagement including but not limited to sport. Um we do believe that this bowling green
has lots of I mean you could have a spike ball tournament there. Um so anyway there are a lot of things you can do and I have had actual requests for croquet from people who like to play ro croquet. I'm open to anything. Um okay.
So, we do hope that you agree with us that historic preservation is being served, that recreation potentially is being served, and certainly open space preservation. Um, and I'm just going to keep going. Um,
this 2022 CPPC uh plan notes, um, we would like to increase publicly accessible open green spaces. This good neighbor policy is needed for ecological protection, restoration, sustainability in the face of climate change and community
well-being. We believe that that is well said and we agree and we hope that this fits into that plan. Um work could commence as soon as summer of 2026. I'm just hearing about the checks coming out in July. Um,
I think if our contractor was willing to do net 30 or net 60, we could probably start in the summer. However, happy to do in the fall. And I've talked to our We've talked to several contractors. I'll be honest. Is one of them here? No. He was going to try and come and back me
up if you guys had like specific technical questions, but I see that he's not here. Um, and that's okay. Um, because you guys know him. Chris Pugsley from a Thomas um was one of the contractors that we talked to and the thing we like about Chris is that he's
local and he has worked in the garden before and he has also worked on a shoestring before and we like to do a lot with a little as you guys know. So um uh we're asking for about $15,000.
Um, that's 11% less than we asked for last time. And we believe we delivered a a project that was on time and on budget. So, I think we're probably on the small end of the projects you're you're likely looking at in this cycle
and we feel pretty confident that we could make that happen in the calendar year. So, I have excerpts from letters. I have our preservation philosophy, but I'm going to move to questions if that's okay because all of this is in the
report. >> No, and we need to move along once again. Thank you. Um, so questions from committee members. >> So, I just So, it's 15,000 is what? >> You said 10 to 15. >> I said 10 to 15. And I think that we all
agree that it's important to be conservative. And I think we don't know what we don't know in terms of because the 10 represents the labor >> and the buffer represents the cost of potential stone that we might have to
buy. Uh the cost of sourcing bricks and then the potential cost of reeding the lawn and and maybe doing some grooming. And then that far bed is going to have to be um re and filled and replanted. >> So you really want 15?
>> Yes. >> Just say you want fine. >> I think having had more conversations since uh September 25th when I submitted this. I think 15 seems more realistic um as something. >> Okay. >> So thank you.
>> We just need to plug in for our deliberations spreadsheet. So we'll plug in 15. I I think that's a great um I would love to to finish under that amount, >> but I but we won't go over that is for sure. >> You'll find a way to spend it.
>> Jenny, >> um you referred to this as phase two. Now, the first proposal didn't mention anything about phase one, two or anything. So, curious about how this became phase two when we didn't know phase one or there was going to be phase two and is there more phases you expect?
>> Absolutely. When we first had our conversation at the library back in 2022, that was maybe I I don't know if you guys remember this. I asked for $5,000. >> Yep. I did. >> And I said, "We're going to do as much as we can for $5,000 and we're just
going to, you know, spackle everything." And you guys were like, "No, no, no, no, no. That is a project." But the idea in that moment, and I didn't know, I know a lot more about masonry now. Um, but uh the idea was that we were going to start
a largecale masonry project that would take decades to complete because we're not going to ask you for $100,000. We're going to ask you for small amounts that we can bite off, things that we know we can do in one year so that we have pushed the ball forward on the garden.
And then we will come back maybe in three more years and in six years from the initial project, you guys are I hope going to say, "Wow, you guys did a lot with that money. You gave a lot back to the town. We see you as a partner. We see you as an asset and we're glad to
keep dancing." So, is there another phase three to this? >> So, remember that phase three, four, five, six. You >> remember the picture of the um >> orange and the yellow? >> Yes, the orange I would love to accomplish at some point.
>> Um and and honestly, I would lean on the the masons to tell me what the next project is. And when the masons came by to look at the garden, everyone agreed that this was probably the next project. this is absolutely what we should do next. There were two
walls, two retaining walls and one was badly need in need of being restored. That was why it was like the emergency project. Um the other wall is still stable. So that wall may not ever need to get done. We don't know. But for now it's stable. There's no reason to go to
the second wall. This is the project. So >> thanks. >> Yeah. The only comment I would make is, you know, we emphasized to you the first time about there had to be public access and things like that. And I think think it went over and above anything we could
have anticipated and, you know, made this a real open to the public community asset. And so, you know, we're delighted with how far you've taken that. >> Thank you. That was our goal. And we >> And when you first came, I've been a 30 Well, I'm now 30 year resident. So I was
a 27y year resident and I had never heard of Spalding. So that's and that's I'm not saying there's not residents that still don't know about it, but it but it's changed dramatically and we really do appreciate that that uh we appreciate
>> especially from a volunteer group too. I mean we recognize and also your your go steady and slow approach to as a volunteer. you're not, you know, biting off more than you can chew as volunteers. And, um, you know, that's
that's smart and appreciated, too. >> Um, any other questions for Georgia? >> Okay, read the letters of support because they're really good. >> We read everything. >> So, thank you all. And, uh, should I sign off the Zoom?
>> Yeah, probably. Unless you want to. >> Yeah. Okay. Great. Thank you all. >> Thanks, Georgia. All right. Um, next up is Balden Garden. No, >> I think it was Winter Valley. I
>> I'm reading I can read, but I can't read in order correctly. Winter Valley. Sorry. >> And I wish we had both of those >> and we read. >> So, Pete, do you want to what do you what are you doing right now? I mean, you want to explain?
>> I'll explain. Okay. Um, as the committee member knows and any public that are involved, I'm a member of the committee and um, so I volunteered to step away from the committee for this project in order to help Winter Valley take a more professional and more
comprehensive look at the resource that they have out there in order to identify projects. So, I'll do this presentation, but I will not participate in any of the deliberations or anything related, you know, to funding this or or anything.
Um, so that's kind of my my role here. Um, so working with Marita and several others, um, I prepared a historic landscape report which is part of our submitt. I don't know if anybody's had a
chance to look at it. Um, and if you want to, I I can pass this around while I'm talking if anybody hasn't looked at it or is interested in it more. Um, and based on that report, well, Tom, if you if you would get that up. So, the f the
first project that we uh look forward to talking with the CPC about is the restoration of the Pine Grove um on the property. Um, and we'll get to that. So, uh, the property is the Winter Valley
Residences Incorporated, um, is a, uh, senior housing residence, which you probably all know, but the original Winter Valley was the estate of, um, if you flip the next slide of
Jeffrey and Alice uh, Whitney, um, had an extensive property at the corner of Cantav and Hillside. side street, Highland Street, >> Highland Street. Um, and going as far as Homes Lane and and back in there. And it
was called Winter Valley because it really is two elevated areas going to a central valley um that floods go down all the time. Um, so um and it was also Winter Valley because
it was their summer, their winter estate primarily. He worked in town and in the summer they would be on the Cape. But we had I'm going to go through these real fast. There's no need to really look too much at them. This is the Winter Valley
mansion. It's the back rear view because I didn't have a good picture of the front view. But one thing to notice in the the lowest part of the building, you see those um what are they? 6* 3 18 windows going
across. That's a part of the Mstead design which is the garden room which is identified in that building there. Um but that's the house um which now has an outstanding uh garden historian and um
preservationist who lives there and has lovingly uh taken care of the house and done some restoration work. Next slide. Uh this is Henry Hubard, a very noted landscape architect who at one point had a business of his own and worked with
the Mstead brothers at the time that he worked on Winter Valley. He happened to live at 15 Spafford Street in Milton. Was very active in town affairs on committees and and town affairs. Um but a very well-known landscape architect
and educ educator in landscape architecture. Next phase. This is the plan for the terrace garden which is one of the main features of the historic landscape at Winter Valley. Um it was a series of three terraces, four terrace
walls, each one having a different character going down the hill into the valley. Next slide. So these are on the right there's the four terrace walls, the stone walls that create the terrace and you know the
water flows down from the top terrace um all the way down. Um and then on the left are a couple pictures um that kind of give the historic pictures that kind of give the character of the uh the terrace garden. On the upper picture,
you can see kind of a formal in the middle there's a pool that's kind of a formal cross, but on the right is the um pump house potting shed. Garden shed that's part of the property, part of this garden. Next slide.
There's the garden shed when it was first built in the drawings that were used to build it. And on the right is what it looks like today. That is going to be another um restoration project. Don't know whether it'll come back here or not.
Next slide. Um the second major uh element of the landscape that still exists out there today is what they call the naturalistic pool. On the left is the Mstead plan for the pool. It's a rock line. There was a little farm pond
there and they made um a larger more formal pool in a in a pastoral uh tradition. Um has rock lines along the edges and some very beautiful plantings and some lawns. Um very, you know,
gorgeous part of the of the whole landscape design. Um and the the residences, the Winter Valley residences have invested in the um dredging of that pond, which is an ongoing project. It's going on out there now. But for about
the past 3 weeks or a month, they've been dredging and recreating um the uh historic character and restoring some of the historic elements of the pond. Next slide. The Whitney children used to ice skate on that pond and they also had a canoe
that they used to use on a >> This is a current uh picture before the dredging. Um and it's uh the invasive yellow flag iris. Very beautiful, but it it's not good for the health of the pond or for the character of what the pond
used to be. Um, and that's no longer there because they've taken out on the right is the dredging plan um that the Winter Valley took to the conservation commission and got approval for and things like that and that work is under
um underway today funded by the residences. Next, um the gardener's house is um in the upper left there. Uh and that's the nearest part to the rock garden, which is the um third major design element
that still exists out there today. The the middle lower one is kind of the condition of a lot of it now. Uh but the two upper ones you get more an idea of the character of the rock garden which is adjacent to the pond. The right
picture on the right you can kind of see the edge of the pond uh in relation to the the rock guard. Next slide. The fourth major um historic element that's that's still out there today is
the pine grove. And these pine trees, large pine trees, um these are, you know, these photos are back from the 40s and they're quite a bit bigger today. And um and they pre-existed. They were in the farm and the property when the Whitneys bought it starting in the
1920s. They they built the house and um and bought the land. Um but the the pine grove um not only there's the pines and then along a lot of the faces there were a lot of ornamental plants, a lot of roodendrrons
um facing the what was called the farm road which is on the other side of the pine grove from here. But you can see the character of some of the um pathways that wound through the pine grove and around the pond and the uh plantings um
that were in the pine grove. And um that's been identified as the first phase project for restoration. Next slide. Um this is some vision some views of the Pine Grove today. Um the first phase um
is the road uh that you see in the foreground there is the major road that goes to the housing that are kind of the at the rear of the property and where the new building is going to be built. Um, but the the all the vegetation that you see between the road and the pines,
that's all just volunteer vegetation that's grown in there. It doesn't have any special character and it it hides the character of the the beautiful grove of pines and the um roodendrrons that used to line um along there. So for the
first phase um we want to remove all that vegetation back to where the pines are. uh keeping any of the existing roaded entrance that are still there and um do some replanting to kind of create the character along that main entrance
drive um that people see uh the kind of the historic character of that and then our proposed second FA okay the overall restoration plan I'm missing one important element on here and I thought I'd got it corrected but I didn't um dredge and restore the pond which is
underway now um restoring the the pine grove the road to Dendron Edge, which is what we're looking for um funding. Now, um we're talking about a volunteer effort to do vegetation management and planting along the the pond in the rock
garden. Whether we can accomplish it with um with volunteers, if we have volunteers like uh Georgia brings out, I think we can probably get it done. Um the other major thing that for some reason didn't get on this list is the
terrace garden. Um the terrace garden is very complicated. There have been um some in intrusions in it. Um there's a a large uh pergola shade shelter that's out not a pergola but a a shade shelter
gazebo that's out there that's very well used by the residents and things like that that interrupts the flow of the um so you know that's probably not going anywhere but I think we need some real good design uh to bring back and restore historic character. One of the things
that the Whitneys did um before they sold the property um partially for development of liquor valley was they converted um the second and third terrace primarily into a swimming pool. So they had an active swimming pool out there with a diving board and all that
and that that destroyed one of the terrace walls and has changed the character of that. And personally from my point of view, I think it would be great, you know, to work with um the the board at um Winter Valley and see
whether there might be some real restoration of the character of the terraces um out there again through removing the addition of that the swimming pool and doing some restoration there. And then we haven't done evaluation of you know a lot of the
masonry and things like that but it's amazing to look at and I would love if you know the committee would at some point either individually can make arrangements to go look at it or come as a group and look at it because it's it's something that's really special that
people didn't really know what general people >> kind of like the Spalding garden >> kind of like the Spalding garden a real treasure that should be preserved. Exactly. >> Um, and if you just go back one because I missed the last two there. Uh, design
and inter design and installation of some interpretive signage so we can show historically how it was developed and things like that and use it as an educational tool. And I think the residents would get a kick out of learning more of what they've got. I think the town is lucky that Winter
Valley hasn't done more destruction of this, you know, wonderful historic landscape and it's as intact as it is. And then also, you know, the possibility of a nomination of the state or national register. It certainly is appropriate. It certainly could qualify and it would
just be a decision whether the the board of winter Valley would like to uh pursue that. Last slide. So, just a question on that. If they did that, would that have make the property um eligible for grant funding
>> from for other grants? You mean historic preservation? >> Probably. Yeah. Um, so the current project, what we're seeing is phase one for the summer and fall in 2026. Um, at a cost of $20,000
to do the work that I had described from the road back to the there's been a lot of storm damage. So, there's trees that are down, there's dead trees standing, there's stumps, a lot of work. Um, Huntree uh came out and walked and looked with it and gave us a cost at
$20,000 for the first phase. The second phase is to do the rest of the pine grove that that extends between the road or between the work in phase one and the uh pond back there. And that's estimated at $75,000 or so. Um what we're asking
in this grant proposal is to get $20,000 um to start and to use as seed money to go out and try to get um some donation and additional funding so that we can do that second phase. So 20 20,000 >> we're looking for 40,000. 20,000 is
phase one and 20,000 to contribute to the $75,000 estimate for phase two. I guess there is one more slide there and it just says what I just said. >> All right, questions. >> I just typed in. Sorry, Tom.
Um, I think what we spoke about during the summer was this being open to the public, right? The question about or I guess I >> right >> the same kind of thing that was asked of Spart Spalding Garden. I know um since I
don't live far from there, I've walked and I've wondered about that. I guess the terrace gardens that you've talked about and I there must be a story to this that I don't know and um but I don't know if people think that they should be a they they're going on private property. I don't know like many
people would think that they they can go there. So how is would that be handled to make it public? And first of all, the the residents and their guests, you know, feel comfortable um walking around that property and certainly if it was
improved with the paths restored, they would feel that way. And I think the same to have special days the same as Baldin Garden does, I think be something that would be >> okay. But it certainly anybody.
>> So the ne your neighbor may actually want to help you with some of that planning. I would think so. Right. >> Truly, truly, you know, people do drive up and you know, it certainly could even just a drive by. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> But having some, you know, Sundays that
it's open or whatever that you know, or volunteers and invite neighbors and things to help volunteer with the rock garden or whatever it is, I think using kind of the same kind of imagination that George has brought to the iron club has brought to the Spalding Garden. Um I think you know within limits given you
know the nature of the residences there in but but we understand and and I've spoken to both the executive director and to Marita that this committee you know believes very strongly that this this is public investment that comes from everybody's tax bills. So there
really has to be an access uh element to the whole thing. Well, the garden tour down the street. Um, I think it's it's um, you know, if you think about like even the trough at um, the intersection
of Kant and Reed and Reedsdale as a piece of the history and then this is piece of history and Spalding's piece of history. Um, they tie it together in some ways, you know, in terms of you think of a historic walk in the area.
Um, so I mean I think um the research that you've done Pete looks really interesting and I haven't had a chance to read it. Um, but I am I do think u preserving historic landscape is as
important as historic buildings. Um, and so I I think this is a really great application. Okay, that's probably the accessibility is the is the number one sort of issue overriding thing around this one. But I had a couple of questions about the um
so when you remove the scrub brush and the logs is there to be replaced by anything or that just becomes like what what is that? Well, historically, there were some plantings and stuff along the edges, but in the interior, it was really just a pine woods with with
pine needles on the floor and pretty much open woods like you'd find in the Blue Hills, you know, around H Hotton's Pond. There's a beautiful pine grove on, you know, one side of that. And so, that that would be the character. But there were um
when it was actively maintained and things like that, there were wild flowers that were planted, you know, in the in around the edges and in there. Um but it would primarily be in open woods with some paths going through it that people could
>> taking out the invasives. Yeah. That >> preserving the native. >> So you guys and I definitely good. So um you got a quote from Hunt. Was there any other quotes that were requested? >> No, just because they've done, you know, all the tree work out there. They're the
ones who kind of know the property and know how to work uh in that environment. So, we haven't put competitive bids or anything out. And that was this is just to get, you know, >> right start on >> and that second 20 to get another 20. Am
I getting this right? Um would be to >> 75 >> 75. Yeah, >> 20 of what we anticipate 75, >> right? >> 20 is, you know, just to kind of get seed money so we can go to people and say we've got a project and we've started fundraising and we've gotten a
commitment from the town for 20,000 and trying to get some, you know, additional funding. >> So would that be sorry um to consultants or something to help you or what would that actually pay for? >> The 20,000 would be part of the construction cost. Oh, would be the work
>> to doing the work, >> but it's, you know, to see so that we can go to people and say, you know, you've got a project that there's already some public commitment to and, you know, we want to build on that. >> So, you would have a 40 if if you were fully funded, um, you would have 40,000
towards a $100,000 >> two-phase project. >> That's right. >> And would need to raise the other 60. >> Okay. >> That's a good way to All right. Um, any other questions? Thank you, um, Marita. Um,
initiating. >> Thanks for getting initiated. >> It was my lucky day when Pet help you with that. >> And actually, I just want to add one other comment is that I think a site visit would be appropriate for this one. >> Yeah, Marita has reached out to me and
offered to walk up there with me and but if the committee, we could set up a formal site visit. we'd have to post the meeting and stuff, but I think that would be >> I'd love to >> I think that would be appropriate. We've we've done that at a few other locations on other proposed projects and I think
>> so so let's we'll follow up and >> and we'll get a date on the calendar. >> Thank you. >> I guess I'm not >> um Yes. Um or I could just read winter rally and when I really mean geo geo
field. >> So and Kevin is on the line. Um yeah. So I can >> how do I uh >> to panelist here? >> I think you'll want because I have the presentation. >> So you want me I'll promote you to
panelist. >> Yeah. So I'm going to do what Pete did. I'll step myself out of the committee. >> Yeah. >> Can I just ask a question? >> And this came up a little bit at a
previous meeting. People who are on like representing park department representing the planning board or representing it seems >> I can see me because I don't represent Winter Valley or anything like that that I should step away. But is it
inappropriate for people, you know, if >> No, I think this is different. You're acting as your >> I agree. So you talked about stepping away. >> No, no, I don't think you have to because that means I couldn't >> vote on the affordable housing proposal. We haven't, you know, in their three or
four years, we haven't done that yet. So I don't think you need to >> to step away. >> Thanks. >> Yeah. No, thank you. >> Am I a panelist? Okay. Yes. >> Yeah. Everybody's a panelist. Kevin's on. Um, and um, >> how do I share my uh, screen?
>> Why are you not a panelist? >> Did you say yes when it asked you? >> It's gonna ask you a question. Okay, hold on. >> It did pop up. >> Did it? >> Okay, there we go. Join this pin. >> Sorry, I didn't I missed it.
>> Okay. Go share. >> Hey Kevin. >> Hey Kevin. >> Good evening. Thank you. >> Oh our first voice on the on the Zoom. All right.
It's taking some time. All right. So, this project in conjunction with Milton Parks and Recreation is requesting funding for infrastructure improvements to GEO softball field in order to construct a new pitching batting cage at the first base side of the field.
Currently, the area is overgrown, eroded from water, and the pitching rubbers and plates are in disrepair. The visitors dug out alongside the along this side is also hard to access without interrupting the home team and game play. This project will install a new retaining curb alongside this hillside to allow
for better access, water management, and to allow for proper safety netting for batting as well as pitching. The ground will prop will be properly replaced with new stone dust to allow for minimal ongoing maintenance. Um, and just yesterday, I I visited with Bill Madden
um out to the site. We looked at it and we since have amended our application a little bit, and I'll and I'll show that in the next few slides. um for an improvement for this project. Um it's basically to address a bigger access issue to the fields with a new
staircase. Um so just to just to kind of go over the project goals, this project aligns with the CPA goals to provide a stronger sense of community physical activity and promote a safe and accessible environment for all Milton residents. And then as noted in CPC plan page 38, this project specifically
addresses an upgrade to an existing town park geo field with an investment in athletic facilities to improve their utility, improve drainage, safety, fencing, and team amenities. And then of course place player safety is always important for for any of our teams. So
So just some of the the metrics of Milton softball, this this will affect over 450 plus players ages 5 through 14. Geo Field gets a lot of usage. It's probably the number one uh it's the number one field in in town for softball specifically. It gets about 15 games a
week in the spring, six games a week in the in the summer, and then it is our home for Milton High School as well as uh JV f five times a week. >> So, I wanted to just kind of address some of the issues and um with some of
the site access issues. So, if you guys know, if you've come here, which I do quite a bit for for any kind of sports, if you when you go to the parking area here, the the main majority of foot traffic is coming to the middle of the of the of the parking lot. And then
there's kind of secondary foot traffic either at the at the front part of the parking lot or the back part of the parking lot. And so, you'll know what basically is up on the right side is the soccer fields. And so in the fall right now that's that's going cooking pretty
well and and most people will actually still go down the slope that's in pink and and so we've highlighted this and probably on a future phase of a project. It is it is a dangerous thing. My wife and I have fell down this slope like two weeks ago and if you guys know it it's a
it's a major hill and there probably should be a staircase there at some point. Um but that's we're not going to address that um for for this project. If you specifically see right here, there's in in red here is around the first base side. You'll see this cage and I'll show you some existing photos, but this is
where like the new cage would be. So the ADA >> reached out from where the existing cage is. >> No, no, no. It would basically be where it is. And I'll show you and it's same footprint, but the access issue is all the way over to the left side. Right. And so I think most people go down that slope because of course the long ramps
and the ADA. I'm sure you know kids and parents are going down that slope and it's it's dangerous. But to go around this access, you still have to go all the way around there. And if I go to the next next slide, you'll see the major piece here. And what the the town and parks department, what we've done here
is like we basically closed off this visitor dugout. So it's not great where where you go down to this hill. The only way to access this visitor dugout and it would be to access this new cage would be to come through the field of play or you go through the home field and then
you either have to go so for today in the fall even to go to the soccer to go to the soccer fields most people go down this way go through the softball field goes across the goes across the the the dirt and then and then there's the fence up right now that's a temporary fence
Milton softball usually takes down that fence and so most people still go down that way and walk across the walk across the field. >> Why is it fenced off behind the visitor? >> I don't know to like maybe Kevin has a better like I think it
>> Well, the main reason though is I think because the like they didn't want parents like going like by like cuz it's a visiting bullpen, but it's I I must say it's it's terrible because you still have to go around to this access site. So, as we go through that, I think we've
been addressing that over like probably the last year. We don't it's not great. And I've also had like teams come over while there's like in field to play and it's not it's not a great thing. So when we went out and visited yesterday, one of the areas about 45 feet to where your ramp is, Pete, there's a there's a flat
landing and we could cut in stairs here. I was thinking originally to put stairs closer like behind the visitor uh dugout, but it's you've got the light post there and everything and we didn't and it's also really expensive to like dig out like basically you're in the hillside there. So, what we what we're
thinking is like where that where the one flat landing is, we don't have to touch the ADA ramp, but we would put stairs down from that to where the where the one flat piece is, and it would work out pretty well. So that um and I'll show you some pictures in a second. But what that would do is it now creates an
access alongside here which for this project it also provides like access for people that if there's a game going on people could also may like use the cage and they could be separate separated out but it also provides access to the
visitor dugout now as well. Um, so the getting back that's just addresses the access issue, but then the the the project itself would be a new cage here, which you'll see like in the bottom of your right right hand side. It would be we've done two similar cages at uh
Cunningham Park. So it basically has three posts and then they put up like a a netting around it and we wouldn't we wouldn't we wouldn't be changing any of the fencing which you'll see in a second. All that fencing basically stays there. Um and then we would do new stone dust. You'll see. So this is the
existing condition. This was photos from yesterday. This is the this basically is the project as today. The left part which you can see it's it's you know no one really maintains it today. It's overgrown. So we have enough. We originally thought
there was going to have to be like a pretty big high retaining wall on the right side, but it's when we looked at it, it only really needs like a curb with like some drainage behind. So, we think it can be like a little bit less of a curve, but like to to divert the water around it, we'd put new stone dust
in and then that that the net would go up. And then basically the the picture to the right is like you see that there's a there's a gate right here. So, that is like a hill and that's where we would want to put the the staircase down to go down to provide access to it. Um,
and so that is the right top the right pitcher would be like where we would want to come come through. We'd have to obviously, you know, take out some of the railings and then like make a landing. We we obviously it's just like thinking right now. So, we're we're we're hopeful that I think we have enough space to do it. It's just about
getting it in and and and getting it in and doing it. So, I get to the to the cost of the project and the CP CPC funding request. When we originally uh applied to you, we were looking for $80,000. So, as of
yesterday, we're trying we amended that bill. When I talked to Bill, Bill said, "I think we were going to need around $100,000." We have a $10,000 pledge for Milton softball and then in addition to that, we would put $10,000 from the Milton parks and wreck. So, we would have
20,000 altogether. So, the updated request would be for 80 to do the whole project. Um, and I think while we could do this project without the access, we think the access is really needed and I think it would make a huge improvement for the overall field
in general. So that's that. And then I do just want to Oh, just the timeline for this. This may be this may be ambitious to do like 16 weeks. I I think typically softball ends like early August would be like August 1st. Um and then it would go through
until like November. Um so that's around the the timeline that we wanted to be in. And then um Kevin and I we we just also we wanted to say too from the parks and recck department is we went forward with this application. We also pulled back our Andrews application because we
we thought it didn't make a lot of sense, but you all you you all know that we're going forward with a townwide recreational master plan which was funded by the CPC that's been going pretty well. We had a kickoff meeting here. Um some of you attended um and
we're working with Tying Bond on that. So, we didn't want to put like a $300,000 investment in that right away without like, you know, studying back that. So, we pulled that back. Um, and so that's why we're, you know, put this
one forward. Okay. Questions? So, one question I have, I don't, and maybe this is for Kathleen. Can we fund stairs? >> It's part of the project. >> Yeah. I mean, it's part of the whole >> access. It's part of the project.
>> So, I think as long as it's part of that. >> Okay. >> You couldn't do it on its own. >> Right. Right. Right. Okay. And related to that, you come up with a 20 grand figure as of yesterday. So, how realistic is it? >> I think I think it's pretty realistic
knowing that like Bill was just throwing out like throwing out linear footage for even the curb. So, I'm I'm going on his expertise, which I feel pretty confident in. Um similarly um you know someone
asked me a cost of construction I would feel pretty confident on know in knowing around a ballpark. Do I I you know what I think the next steps for this too would be to go with Kevin and Bill and maybe get a few get get some other
contractors out and and look at it and go over it >> because it would be useful to actually have paper on it as far as the application a supplemental budget. >> Yeah, we will. that would include that estimate >> if you have that sooner rather than later. >> Yeah. And I and I think it >> is supplemental.
>> Yeah. And I think in like the next uh in the next few like maybe two or three weeks try to get someone out there with us to look at it again. Um >> talk to full show. >> Yeah. Who's doing the Kelly field? Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know they're working on the
>> dugout Kelly. So they >> just need the roof. >> Yeah. >> Just need the roof. get the guidance. >> Two two weeks for the roof to come in. >> Oh, good. >> Two more weeks. >> What did he say? >> I would I would go out and when they were working on it, I was like, "When's the roof coming? When's the roof coming?"
>> Yeah. I talked to them today and Beacon the supplier was held up. So, that's the reason. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Supply chain. >> And then related to the to the major thing is did you get other quotes besides was it golf course management? Is that who it was that you
>> Yeah. So to be to be all fair, both Kevin and I didn't realize until we got Tom's email of the day of the funding. So Kevin and I like did did our wonders in one day to put a funding application together. Um and so we're lucky enough that Kevin was able to get that quote
from them. Um and then like we know Bill pretty I know Bill Mann pretty well. So, we we were able just to like wrestle through and then I like yesterday had time to go out there cuz I was like this has been bugging me for a while because I I know we constantly play and the fact
that we have no access to that dugout is terrible and then if we're going to be putting money into this I know we use this constantly and the one staircase to the right no family goes and uses that to go down to the field and I think >> going like just even going down this
that will help I think help alleviate some of the traffic and Maybe will help some of the safety issues, too. >> Because it's a parks department, do you need to do an open bid on >> Yeah, >> we will. Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. >> But, you know, we did the same thing for Kelly Field, right? And and um with
those with those dugouts and they're they're up. They're getting constructed right now and they'll be almost done few weeks. The roof the roofs will be on. So, we we know and yeah, we would do the same thing. So question >> um there have to be other teams that use
this field besides the girls softball, right? >> Uh men's softball also uses it. Um and they use it like at night like so that's the it's not just the Milton girl softball. It's also the high school softball, but it's a softball field.
>> There's a men's league >> that's using it right now. Yes. So, I was just wondering if there's any other potential funding opportunities for another group. That's all. >> Yeah. >> It's primarily a softball.
>> It's primarily a girl softball field. Yeah. I mean, maybe the men's. >> But if the men's league uses it, maybe they can kick. >> So, is it really then that the field's only used from a August through November and then the rest of the year just sits there? A lot of times
>> the >> No, the outfield's used for soccer, right? So with that that that fence is taking >> infield is the season is March late March. The high school starts practice mid-March. Okay. >> Through I just
>> No, I'm just just curious. That's all I'm sure. >> I mean it's like baseball. I mean it's like baseball, too. Like you know, everyone has a season. But the one nice thing about this field is that that fence that you see like that's taken down by Milton softball every year. So Milton Soccer uses it
>> and we're starting to see this right now like we just don't have enough space. Like there's not even enough soccer space. There's hardly enough fields. So >> finding better ways to get like multi-use out of fields is going to be important. >> That's that's why I was just asking feeling surprised that it was like the youth seem less.
>> The outfield is definitely soccer. >> So thanks. I I would like to note we're the only application tonight that has supplemental funding of $20,000 to our to our to our application. So I I would So what I would say too is like for any
other applications it's really good to get supplemental funding at least from from my standpoint. I I think it's it's really good to get that. >> Well, the Tuckers doing their own fundraising. >> Yeah. >> For the second phase, Winter Valley's got fundraising to do. So it's not
everything >> and Spalding Garden had the ink kind. >> All right, we're going to move on. Um, Rob >> and Kevin, thank you very much. Kevin, is there anything else you want to say? >> No, I'm good. Thank you for having me. Thank you. >> Thank you, Kevin.
>> All right, Jeff. >> Is it good to go last? I don't know. >> I It's It is. >> It is what it is. >> It is what it is. >> Okay. I just have one paper handout. Why don't you introduce yourself and your
>> Yeah, why don't you introduce yourself and your your guest and >> Yeah. Um first >> um so first of all, thank you very much for having us. This is Michael Klutchman of VHB. It was our primary uh project
contact and uh he spearheaded led the uh feasibility study which the CPC uh generously funded and which we think was an excellent report and an excellent effort uh giving us sort of a blueprint
and uh ideas for how we can move forward. So this is the last page. First of all, thank you very much for the work you do. I know what it is to do this kind of work. really appreciate the CPC's work. Um, so this is the last page of the
feasibility study and these are a variety of next steps not necessarily in in order. The one I want to call attention tonight which really your attention to which applies to the current funding request is the second
from the bottom of the bullet list develop. uh I think it's more 10% that we're >> on your application but >> yeah the application but design plans for a prioritized segment so as I think
you know the uh Milton Brook walk is conceived in uh seven six or seven >> seven segments uh running from really the Neponet River to Yulan skating rink potentially but Um,
and you had uh advised us in a letter to consider combining our request with the Pokes fund uh grantee which is the conservation commission and we're happy to do that to to work with them on improving accessibility which is the
emphasis of this whole funding request tonight. Uh but we haven't really got a handle yet from the conservation commission on the status and priority and where they are with regard to working on that trail. If and
when, well, when we do, we'll be happy to work with them. The important thing to us is that you can already walk around Poke's Pond. It needs to be improved. It is being improved. Uh we're going to have a foot bridge allowing total circumnavigation of the pond. Um
>> do you know when that's going to um do you have any update of like when that bridge is going to get funded? It's been a while, right? It was one of our first projects. >> That was one of our first projects as relatively recently and he did not have a firm date.
>> That'll have to be one of our agenda items because we've got a lot of projects kind of dragging. >> Exactly. So if you look at the segments, uh the two large ones that need to be constructed in order to uh for us to
have a threemile identified amenity uh a walk alongside as close as possible to Pinereebrook. The two segments are number one and number two. Number one runs really from the Neponet River, but as far as the trail is
concerned, it's uh Brook I always get Brookside. Thank you. Uh yeah, Brookside Park, which is you may be familiar with. It's a short street that's sort of divided with a an island in the middle. and um
Steve Ivis, the uh of the conservation commission, the conservation agent, uh Michael and I walked that route earlier this year from Brookside Park to um School Street and we had to kind of
bushwack. Somebody had already put ribbons up. They were I don't know what they were doing, but somebody had been there identifying that. Uh Steve didn't know who did that, but anyway, we walked through it. Um but the segment that
offers us the greatest opportunity right now is segment two, which runs from school street where her street comes into school street to Glover School. It is, I think, all townowned land either by the conservation commission or uh the
schools. And um we're proposing it may be expensive. >> It's also a beautiful section. >> Yes. >> Not that the whole thing is not beautiful, but that that's Yeah. >> We are proposing uh to probably put a b
a u a boardwalk of some sort. There are different styles of boardwalks, but a boardwalk uh on that stretch which would allow an amazing full 3/4 of a mile accessible
trail from Turner Turner Pond parking lot in Central Avenue for people who have limited mobility who use wheelchairs or other devices to make their way through nature alongside Turner's Pond. the little
squiggle around uh the exit of Turners Pond to um Glover School um and then on this proposed SE segment two all the way to School Street. So I think it is would be uh one of the best
features of this town amenity to have a large stretch of it be accessible to people who use wheelchairs or or a similar kind of u motorized access accessib access accessibility vehicles
which I've looked into uh a couple of French companies that build special motorized accessibility vehicles for which I'd like to get a grant but that's So, um I'm trying to think. So, uh you probably have questions. >> So, the same ADA accessibility as the
>> ADA as the Glover as the Turner's Pond um path. >> So, I understand you folks know better than I do the landscape architects around here. >> Yeah. is the ABA standards which are
less stringent but also I think acceptable in certain circumstances for outdoor >> I remember years ago and I think it's been maintained right Turner was improved there was a big campaign and I remember in town that turns was improved
to allow a more accessible path >> um and certainly one of the more accessible path you know compared to popes for instance >> Jack Turner is a lot more accessible Um, >> exactly. And we'd love to make popes more accessible as well, for sure. And,
you know, we want to work on that. >> Now, uh, as Rob mentioned, you know, it's the only, uh, proposal that has supplemental funding. We realize that we have to, there'll be a lot of funding that needs to be raised, and we had some
initial ideas at the bottom section of this handout. Um, and we're definitely willing to go after that. And I'm on the precipice of uh contacting 60 people have indicated support for the uh feasibility
study uh earlier on just drafting an email to those folks today to form something that I should have done earlier as a core committee uh to to work with people who have um their own expertise so they can help um figure out
how to do these next steps with me. >> One big um one big thing here. Um, just so you're aware of it, and I've been aware of it because we're doing this recreational master plan, >> we we got to push the open space and
recreation committee in town because it's still open. It's been over like two years now. And has it been at least three? >> So, we're not even eligible for park grants until we get that in until we get that report finalized. That report needs
to be updated and finalized. So, I'm trying to push on my end. I think I wrote to the planning board. Yeah, that's what I'm saying to you because I think because I think we just got to p Yeah, we got to push to get that thing consultant that's not producing and nobody consultant.
>> Well, we do it. Yeah, it's um >> who's the do we know? Yeah, Whitten is doing it was is doing the work for it. But and I spoke to them probably it must have been like a year and a half or two years ago. And I I just I don't know. It's It's falling to the wayside, but we
really should get it done because >> I was on it when I was on the planning board and that's the last time they did any meetings. >> Right. Right. I I think we all just like need to be talking more together because like there's like we have a recreational plan and Ty Bon who's on doing this. You're here right and like that is the
one piece probably that ties everything together to like look at all the parcels in town. One thing I'll say >> be part of that effort in any way >> because this responds to open space and recreation. >> So I'll just note that there was the
planning department had zero people in it until recently >> and that work was under the planning department >> and Tim Zerwinsky as the director left nearly a year ago. his replacement started about a week or two ago and they
are interviewing to fill the assistant director position and as we know there's still no clerk position. So there are things like this plan but an economic development plan and other things that are have been stalled out as the
staffing needs to get back up. So, uh, I will just say that because, u, you know, I serve on boards and committees that have been lacking staff support and it's impacted committee work. It's impacted a lot of work. >> So, u, I I just want to make people
aware of that. So um BHB in the person of Michael and his colleagues have given us uh a proposal for work they would do to do planning and design and uh suggestions
for segment two. >> That's for that three quarters >> the 3/4 of a mile. Well, the 3/4 would be the Glover School to School Street plus around Turner Pond. That would be almost continuous stretch of 3/4 in total. And the trail itself is
approximately three miles in total from >> Popes Pond or Mulan Skating Ring potentially. >> Yeah. >> Uh to the Ponza River. >> So, what did you mean when you said Turner's Pond? >> Sorry, >> I said Turner's Pond. That's section three. >> Yeah. So, so Turnis Pawn has already
been improved access from the parking lot on Central Avenue. >> I thought you were saying they were going to be doing work there. >> They're just connecting connects to Yeah. So, what this work, you know, represents and you know, we have a scope
there is really getting something that's lining it up for a mass trails grant and we do this a lot and this is sort of we know the level that needs to get there. I mean ideally we would go out there have survey flagging geotech and just
design it you know to to a higher level but you know for for what um Jeff is asking um we can get uh enough to satisfy sort of a 10% level of design which again is what um is a threshold. Do do we know who like
I'm just curious maybe you know like does that who maintains these trails cuz to your point like I I always I always go on that on like that trail as well. >> Which part? >> On the one uh on the Pine Tree brook >> on the Pine Tree Brook
>> the se segment two. There is no trail now. No, >> you're talking about between Thatcher and and um Park >> I don't think any Well, maybe the parks um >> DPW TPW
>> someone definitely came back there and did a bunch of work because to your point like there was it was like grown in. You couldn't even >> maybe the neighbors get out >> between Blue Hill Parkway and Thatcher Street. Some of the neighbors get out there and do some cutting to make it so they
>> does some work at times. maybe prodded by >> well there was there was extensive drainage work done what 15 years ago you know the >> um the drainage work um that was a big town project >> I don't know who >> right and the retaining this is all town
own land already >> this part is the conservation part of the land swap >> no the segment >> yeah that's conservation commission right >> it had been privately owned who evolved
to the town >> if that ever happened. >> It was considered sort of undevelopable for for housing >> because some of the other segments I think there's sort of a more concern that some private property >> segment one the long backyards of three
or four Canton Avenue homes >> go all the way down to the brook. So we're going to have to figure that out. >> Right. But this part doesn't have that success. But you do have the homeowners on Heric Drive. Have you had any conversations with them? >> No, but they um No, but um
this probably wouldn't I I want to put these words out. I don't think it would impact me. [Music] >> Don't say that. Famous last words. >> Famous last words. No, you >> I don't think it's on their property. Put it that way. >> It's not on their property, but it is
definitely >> And it's across the road. It's on the cross. the other side of the road >> with DCR to get the deposit greenway because of opposition of the backyards at Capen Street. >> Yeah, that was part of that fight, too. >> So, you know, it's neighbors are worried about people walking in their backyard,
>> right? >> And even for the concom to approve this, how difficult would that be? I mean, to I mean, this is conservation land of the town of Milton. So, >> yeah. I mean, >> who has to approve? What would be the layers? But they're already looking I mean it's the same situation that we're doing on the river
>> on the path at Artha Doyles that's you know that's got the same sort of situation. >> Yeah. >> So and this board asks and it's >> but I'm just curious what the process is who has to approve what what are the layers? >> I think of like the boardwalk that they did out by at
>> by Panka Punk um or at Hton Pond rather sorry. um that little by the playground or like it's really interesting for kids too. So you me you mentioned people who have uh physical um impairments but the kids you know if the families are
walking with their kids from Turner on this boardwalk it's a nature opportunity a real learning opportunity for the kids >> building there. Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, if they walk through here, too. >> Got all the interpretive signage up there. Yeah. Overlooking your gold. >> That's a key part of the Milton
Brookwalk proposal is the educational signage which we will for which we will engage Milton public schools teachers, science teachers, students to uh for seasonal flora and fauna science. So, uh,
>> it's one thing like at least when my kids were younger, I remember like the boardwalk where you feel like you're a little bit more part of it >> is different than when you're walking a path around a pond, right? >> Like, so I do think it's a nice um companion
>> to Turner Pond as you're saying like to add that as a boardwalk along the the brook. So, >> one question I had is just some my I've walked that area myself and and um the
most of that stretch my my memory um the homes are on the other side of the street as to where the boardwalk would be. Right. Right. >> Oh, yeah. There's only one that side of the street. So help me help me. The as
the as the boardwalk or the trail would get closer to Glover or closer to Turners, does it get closer to the homes at the end of her? >> Sure, but not close. >> There's a couple homes.
>> Okay, there two homes at >> Mike Roberts lives there. Yeah, the >> stay far enough away >> on the north is sort of the trickiest design, but I think we can stay on that side of the road and come right up at the top there. Maybe you need a new
crosswalk, you know, at the top. >> Okay. Okay, take this with me. >> Um, >> I mean, I agree it's the place to start given access issues and other other questions. Um I also agree that you know
what Jenny is is um implying I think with her comments is like you know neighborhood right you can never take it for granted neighborhood support until you talk to them and so that that's going to be that's going to be um you
know part of this I think um but it is helpful that it's tone >> it makes me think that sorry >> yeah no that's all right go ahead >> well it makes me think like if this is the most difficult Why would you flip it and do the easiest part first and then
>> this is the easiest the easiest part >> except funding. >> This is the >> funding and it's the biggest return for effort. Yes, the money involved >> but if we can make this stretch it it's it's the prize you know it's sort of the
prize segment in a sense of putting it all together. >> Yeah. >> It's one of the two. The segment one also is uh >> a key segment >> but a 3/4 mile long boardwalk. Do you have any concept of a cost >> what that cost 04? That would be
>> 300. >> That would be three and a half or four. >> This is 1700 linear the boardwalk right this one. >> Okay. So what does that translate to >> in in miles? >> A third a fourth. >> Probably a fourth.
>> Third mile. >> Third fourth. >> Okay. So, so there's that from from the Glover School driveway, which is sort of to the right of the >> Yeah. >> And then there's a stretch around getting to the to to Turner's Pond. You
have to go kind of around maybe on the sidewalk, but there's a grassy area that is also town or school owned >> on the other side of the front of Glover School. >> Yeah. >> But you can >> and then you section from Glover to Yes. It's not >> from the Glover drive only from the
Glover driveway street >> or Heric Heric school >> drive a lot of meetings with >> the butters who aren't happy about so I'm very >> so I'm working on a lot of um trails
rail trails and things there is also a flip side um there are people who all a sudden they have a rail trail in the backyard where there was abandoned rail line and all a sudden their property value goes up and then they they also have a different attitude
about it because it's built like the man the minute man trail in Lexington was classic when that first went up all the businesses put up fences and all a sudden >> they're like hey we can sell stuff out our back doors and so there there's another side to that I mean this is a
little >> different condition the houses are farther away, but >> you know, it's it's maybe not a complete negative if you're a neighbor that you actually have this nice place to go. >> It's an amenity, >> right? You go out, take a walk instead of going down the street and not if you
live there, you don't have a connection. >> I always like it once it's done, but they have fear before. >> It doesn't have to be. >> Yeah. >> Everybody's points are valid. I do a lot of bike riding or rail trails all around.
Eastern New England, I should say. And it's amazing. Sometimes you're right by people's backyards. It's like post and rail fences. There's their backyard. Beautiful homes. >> Um, and everything's calm and beautiful and you know, they have a nice amenity
and it's so but I can also understand that people initially, you know, who's going to be coming, you know, next to my backyard. Well, that's what they said about the Neponza when that was first going in was that everybody was going to come over from Madapan and steal all your TV. >> It was a huge huge
>> river trail extension greenway extension. It's like best thing ever. >> It is the I love it. It's my one of my favorite places. >> I mean the new >> Any other questions? Um >> sorry. Any other questions? just so we um
>> I think it's important what you said that this would get you to a level to qualify or apply for grants. Yeah. >> Which was something that >> I think and we would have like really detailed cost information for instance
and different different options for the construction of the boardwalks and things like that. That's what the larger grants want to see. They're like is this >> is this real? And just one question. Um Jeeoff, when
did you um present to the select board >> or it says report endorsement by the town. Is that happened or is that >> No. Uh >> next steps. >> Let's see. I don't know if anybody from the select board was present at our we Nick
Milano's been present, our town administrator and and Tim Suzinski and um and and other departments were representative parks and recck. So uh and uh PW
>> yeah I know from the first this is we we started the process with your previous planning department and then by the time it only it's less than a year all sudden there was a whole new >> bunch of staff which um was uh just I
think was good but it it took a while so it was almost like two two different groups there. I mean the first bullet point I just under next step is a report endorsement by town of Northland select board and I I if that hasn't happened yet I I get I think I would just given
the nature of this discussion um I'm personally very enthused about your selection of this section I do think it has like any section would have challenges this one comes with some challenges but um giving the select
board a both initially aware and two hopefully supportive eventually um will help with won't eliminate any challenges but it will help with some of those challenges. >> Yeah. So do you think just approaching them to get on their agenda?
>> Yes, absolutely. I I would I would think that would be a good thing and just so chair right now. Is it Ben or >> Benzel? So all right. Um thank you for both um for for this idea. I we knew when you we
funded the first report it was going to you know this would be a >> long-term effort uh to do this and it was a big idea uh from the beginning um but this is this is exciting that
>> just one other question the latest um >> spending of of funding it shows that um you still have $20,150 that hasn't been spent I don't know what you're referring to there. >> We had a follow
>> invoices in the mail tomorrow. >> I think it was all expensible [Music] from June. Yeah, we were paid in within the last month or month and a half. Less than a month. So last few weeks. All right. So that makes sense. We don't we're we don't have real time.
>> Okay. Um thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Work on this. It's great. >> All right. Um that is the end of our agenda for tonight. So I would entertain a motion to adjourn. >> So moved. Uh
>> second. All in favor? Nice. [Music]