Roberts Field Improvement Committee March Meeting. March 8, 2017

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1 Roberts Field Improvement Committee March Meeting March 8, 2017

2 Meeting Agenda Public Input Approve Meeting Minutes from February 22 nd Meeting Site walk update Review Additional Stakeholder Survey Information Review Feature Selection Criteria and Feature Consideration List Brainstorm and discuss new Park features Pros and Cons and deliberate use and locations Schedule April Committee Meeting

3 Site Walk Update Site Walk held Sunday, March 5 th at Roberts Field All Committee members, DPW, Howard Stein Hudson, Public were present. Toured property including Friendship Park, Athletic Fields, Walking Trails, Skating Area, Pollinator Park, Parking Lot, rear of Fire Station and DPW garage. Video available at

4 Additional Stakeholder Information Our Landing Zones have to receive approval from Boston Medflight to ensure they comply with their regulations. A typical Landing Zones is 100 Feet X 100 Feet (see diagram below) and an 18 foot access drive is needed for emergency vehicles. Chief Gary Ryan Chelmsford Fire Department

5 Additional Stakeholder Information I ran some numbers and I am pleased to report that we had very few issues at all involving any of our town parks. We dealt with a handful of suspicious activity incidents at Varney Park, no vandalism reported. Hart Pond had very little activity as well with only several suspicious activity incidents reported. I have no reports of any problems at Harmony Park at all. Finally Roberts Field had a handful of reports involving suspicious vehicles and people, and over 168 property checks. As far as possible installation of restrooms, we can certainly get together down the road but we would recommend placing any facilities near the parking lot out in the open to reduce the chances of unwanted persons or vandalism. With regards to surveillance cameras, great idea, but the issue would be which town server to handle the video data. I have spoken with Gary Persichetti and he advised their server is at full capacity. Something to consider down the road. When the time comes the Police Department can assist with suggested camera placement. Chief James M. Spinney Chelmsford Police Department

6 Additional Stakeholder Information The Chelmsford Community Band is interested in working with the Committee to explore the idea of building a band stand/multi use facility at Roberts Field. Their Board has discussed the idea and would like to collaborate on the development of the idea. Their interest includes design input (including photos of structures in other towns that would be sufficient to service the Band), meeting attendance, and a possible regular series of concerts. Lisa N. Michaud Chair of Publicity Chelmsford Community Band

7 Organization Name: Chelmsford Community Band Contact: Lisa Michaud Mailing Address: P.O.Box 431, Chelmsford, MA Please describe how your organization uses or would use Roberts Field, including the number of your current enrollment participants using the park, if the field is a planned primary or overflow use, the estimated number of parking spaces needed, the seasonality of use, the frequency, days and times of use during your season, and the sizes and areas of Roberts Field that your organization requires. The Chelmsford Community Band consists of two groups: 60-member concert band, and a smaller 15-member jazz ensemble, both of which typically perform outside during the months of June, July, and August. We can attract audiences of 100 to 150 people, although summer attendance (with the exception of the July 3 concert) is usually smaller. Frequency of performances would depend partly on demand and how the proposed concerts interact with our current arrangements with the town and the performances on the Common. Please describe any improvements or maintenance that your organization has done or plans to do at Roberts Field. We have not been involved with Roberts Field in the past. What improvements would your organization like to see, or not see implemented at Roberts Field? Do you have any design input? A shell for musical performers would be the best solution if the field committee wanted to see the CCB perform at that location. Currently, we require sound amplification to perform on the Common, but this might not be required if we had a shell to direct the sound. A band member who has performed in other towns is collecting information on suitable structures. Is your organization willing to commit financially or otherwise to improve and maintain Roberts Field? If so, please describe. Unfortunately, the CCB does not have the financial resources to assist with the field.

8 Additional Stakeholder Information KDK Foundation We are interested in continuing our support of the project and would like to learn more about the new plan. The Kurt Kelly Memorial has donated to the Roberts Field Renovation Project (2014) and has taken particular interest in helping with the playground. The KDK Memorial Foundation was created to honor the life of Kurt Kelly, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident on September 21, Billie Jo Kelly

9 Additional Stakeholder Information Met with Chelmsford residents Manas Sahu, Kumar Putravu, and Rupam Chakraborti who are interested in hosting cricket matches at Roberts Field and developing a local youth cricket league. They are members of the Merrimack Valley Cricket Club. Formed in 2007 by a group of cricket enthusiasts in the greater Boston area and part of the Massachusetts State Cricket League (MSCL).

10 Additional Stakeholder Information Weston Nurseries is interested in learning more about and discussing Stakeholder or Community Partnership opportunities at Roberts Field and will discuss this with their corporate management team to identify the financial implications and their desired level of participation. The Chelmsford Garden Center Manager was interested in attending a future Committee meeting and was sent a Stakeholder Survey form to complete. Garden Center Contact Jim Connolly, MCH, MCLP Weston Nurseries Garden Center Manager, Chelmsford Facility 160 Pine Hill Road (978) Store

11 Additional Stakeholder Information The Chelmsford Agway offered to host a BBQ in their parking lot and supply/donate all the burgers, dogs, soda & water and charge $1 for each item, with 100% of the money collected to go towards Roberts Field Improvement. The BBQ would be held from 11:00AM to 2:00PM on April 8, They are also interested in learning more about Stakeholder or Community Partnership opportunities at Roberts Field, including signage opportunities, and were provided a Stakeholder survey form. Chelmsford Agway Contact Lisa Bougoulas Owner, Chelmsford Agway 24 Maple Road

12 Feature Selection Criteria Use features with low long-term maintenance needs Maximize Park s natural open space Maintain neighborhood family-friendly park theme Mitigate impact to abutters Design with multi-use facilities and features Use ADA compliant features Utilize wildlife-friendly, native, non-invasive plantings and design elements Properly protect inventoried trees during Park improvements (see guidelines) Create baseball fields designed for younger players Incorporate existing features where possible (bricks, markers, etc) Develop phased plan with potential for long shelf life Minimize duplicative recreational features Maximize safety and security of Park and Park features Maximize traffic safety of parking lot and Park roads

13 Inventoried Tree Protection Guidelines Protect the inventoried trees Critical Root Zone (area around the tree trunk that extends outward from the trunk with a diameter of 12 times the diameter of the tree trunk). The tree trunk is measured at a point 4 ½ feet above ground level. Construction Standards A protective 8 foot high chain link fence will be installed before any construction work begins. The fence is to remain in place in good condition and not be removed, even temporarily, until after all construction work is completed and equipment removed from the work site. The fence is to be located completely surrounding the outer margin of the Critical Root Zone. Nothing is to be stored, even temporarily, inside the Root Zone including surplus soil, supplies, equipment, machinery, tools, vehicles, or anything else that could potentially harm the tree. There will be no fires to be allowed within 100 feet of the Protection Zone. When there is to be a grade change adjacent to the Critical Root Zone, a trench, located 1 foot outside the protective fence, will be dug by hand to a depth of 24 inches. The exposed root ends are to be cleanly cut on the side toward the tree with sharp pruning tools. Do not make slanting cuts. The roots are not to be chopped, crushed, ripped, or torn. The roots are not to be allowed to dry out. Cover with moist soil as soon as they are properly cut. If necessary for safety reasons, dead branches over 3 inches in diameter should be removed from the tree before work commences by properly trained and qualified tree workers. Trees are not to be topped or to have the canopy thinned or reduced. The tree should NOT be fertilized before or during construction but one year or more later if necessary by soil & tissue test. Underground utilities such as water or electrical lines or irrigation pipes are not to be installed by trenching through the Critical Root Zone. If necessary, by boring at a depth of 35 inches or greater under the tree from one side or the other.

14 Park Feature Consideration List Q3 What features would most improve Roberts Field? (Select all that apply) Answer Choices Responses Bathroom Facilities 71% New larger, updated, age-appropriate playground 60% Water Splash pad for children 43% Walking track 41% Picnic Pavilion 36% Interpretative nature trails 28% More natural beauty and open spaces 26% Basketball court 25% Protected areas for wildlife and native plants 25% Small outdoor ampitheatre or bandstand 21% Surveillance video cameras 18% Sports field house and snack-shack 18% More parking 15% Larger pony sized baseball field 11% Other (please specify) 10% Beach volleyball court 9% Bocce ball court 9% Tennis court 6% Other Feature Improvements Wi-Fi, electric car charging stations Horseshoes Control the bitter sweet aggressive vine along the woods A playground that also includes space/equipment so handicapped children can participate with their peers. Soccer field Better ice skating facilities New Location for planned Bandstand, instead of on the Town Common Shaded seating near the playground. Consistent mowing & grounds keeping Maintain and fix up the baseball fields properly If large enough a disc golf course More security lights, if more economical than cameras