Lexington Recreation Department's Summer Brochure Now Online

And it'll be in the mail to all residents next week.

You Ask, Patch Answers: Lions Club Carnival and Hastings Park

Who foots the bill for post-carnival cleanup at Hastings Park? Will the park become the annual Fourth of July carnival’s new home? You ask, Patch answers.

Over the past few days, a few followers of Lexington Patch have asked about post-carnival cleanup at Hastings Park and whether the carnival will continue to call Hastings home moving forward. The Short Answers: A Little Bit Longer Now Due to ongoing renovations and repairs to playing fields, the Lexington Lions Club’s annual Fourth of July Carnival this year relocated to Hastings Park from is previous location by the Center Fields across Worthen Road. The configuration and size of the carnival were altered slightly, but, for the most part, the arrangements were the same. Which means the Lions Club, as has been the case in the past, is financially responsible for any repairs and/or rehab for the grounds occupied by the carnival. (Yes, like …

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Week in Review: March 18 to March 24

A look back at the week that was in Lexington.

Monday was the day many had been waiting for: The Board of Selectmen decided about a use for the Busa Farms property and moved to move forward with a request for proposal to operate a community farm on the town-owned parcel in East Lexington. Later in the week, Patch caught up with Recreation Director Karen Simmons to get the recreation reaction to the selectmen’s decision not to include a playing field on the nearly eight-acre parcel. Simmons said they’ll keep looking for land elsewhere in town, and consider some out-of-the-box ways of improving utilization of existing playing fields. Our Best of Patch Readers’ Choice poll this week sought your favorite place to work out in Lexington, and Get In Shape for Women edged out Fitness Together…

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Recreation Reacts to Busa Land Use Decision

Playing fields are not in the future plans for the town-owned Busa Farms property.

The Board of Selectmen’s decision Monday night to move forward with plans for a community farm on the bulk of the Busa Farms property and affordable housing along Lowell Street left no room for playing fields on the almost-eight acre parcel. While disappointed, recreation supporters haven’t spent the past few days sulking. Rather, they’re already moving on to the “out-of-the-box thinking” they anticipate must be done to meet the recreational needs of the Lexington community, particularly as it pertains to playing fields. “Tuesday was another day,” said Director of Recreation Karen Simmons on Wednesday afternoon. “You get knocked down, you get back up and start looking.” They’re looking for land, yes, but there’s a limited availability of …

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A Farming Future for the Busa Land

The Board of Selectmen officially decided Monday, March 19, to pursue a community farm on the bulk of the town-owned Busa Land.

For several generations now the Busa Land in East Lexington has been a working farm, and its newish owner—the town of Lexington—doesn't plan on upsetting the status quo anytime soon. The Board of Selectmen officially decided Monday, March 19, to pursue a community farm on the bulk of the almost 8-acre parcel, which the town purchased for a little more than $4 million in 2009. The remainder of the property will be used for affordable housing, but the size and scope of that project is yet to be determined. Earlier this month, the Board of Selectmen had designated uses for the property as open space and affordable housing, as is required under the Community Preservation Act, which was used to purchase the Busa property. On Monday, the …

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Busa Uses Land Back Before Board of Selectmen

A second discussion about future uses for the town-owned Busa Farms property could provide a clearer picture of the affordable housing and open space uses.

Earlier this month, the Board of Selectmen decided on uses for the town-owned Busa Farms property, and designated a portion for affordable housing and the remainder for open space uses. Tonight, they might take another step toward defining what that means. A stretch along Lowell Street toward Arlington has been locked in for affordable housing, but the selectmen’s March 5 vote kept the door open for a community farm, playing fields or both on the remainder of the approximately eight-acre parcel. At the March 5 meeting, many supporters of a community farm cast the “open space” designation as the selectmen’s disregard for the recommendation of the Busa Land Use Proposal Committee, which supported a community farm and some affordable housing …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: March 12

Community education, public meetings, summer jobs and more today in Lexington.

1. An Evening with Mary Catherine Bateson: Composing a Further Life: Appearing at Follen Community Church tonight in a Lexington Community Education event, Bateson will discuss ways in which all of us, at any age, can approach our further lives with imagination, curiosity and enthusiasm. The program begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $10.  2. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, public meetings posted for today include the Tourism Committee at 4 p.m. at the Town Office Building; the Counicl for the Arts at 7 p.m. at Cary Memorial Library and the Appropriation Committee at 7:30 p.m. at the Cary Memorial Building. 3. Rotary Club of Lexington Meeting: The Rotary Club of Lexington is scheduled to meet at 12:15 p.m. today at Waxy…

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Busa Land Uses to Include Affordable Housing and Open Space

Down one member due to a medical condition that sidelined its chair, the Lexington Board of Selectmen on Monday voted to designate a portion of the town-owned Busa Farms property for affordable housing and the rest for open space uses.

After more than 20 meetings discussing the subject, the Board of Selectmen has made a decision about future uses for the Busa Land -- sort of. Down a member due to a medical issue that sidelined its chairman, the Board of Selectmen voted Monday to designate a portion of the town-owned Busa Farms property for affordable housing and the rest for open space uses. While a stretch along Lowell Street is now locked in for affordable housing, the March 5 vote doesn't close the door on a community farm, playing fields or both on the remainder of the approximately eight-acre parcel. That'll be a conversation for another day, according to the selectmen. And the decision—or indecision, depending on who you ask—didn't sit well with everyone. Farm vs. …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Sept. 28

Public meetings, fall-winter activities and a little history today in Lexington.

1. Events-wise, looks like a relatively slow day around Lexington, but some public meetings posted for today on the town website include the Bowman Site Coucil at 7:45 a.m. at the school; the Retirement Board at 8 a.m. at the Cary Memorial Library and Minuteman Career and Technical HS Advisory Board at 6 p.m. at the school. 2. If you haven't already, check out the Lexington Recreation Department's Fall-Winter Brochure, which is available online. 3. Might be time to think about attending this Friday's girls volleyball match between LHS and Reading, which doubles as the second Volley for Molly, an Ovations for the Cure of Ovarian Cancer fundraiser in memory of Molly Eisenberg, a former LHS student who passed away in October 2009 from ovarian…

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Aug. 30

First day of school, a Busa Land meeting and more today in Lexington.

1. It's the first day of school for LPS students K-5 and in grades 6 and 9, as well as students at Minuteman Career and Technical High School. LPS seventh- and eighth-graders and high school sophomores through seniors return tomorrow. (The full LPS back-to-school schedule is posted to your right, as a PDF.) 2. The Board of Selectmen are meeting at 8:30 a.m. this morning at the Town Office Building to hear Recreation's presentation regarding re-sse of the Busa Land and to have a discussion about turf for the Center playfields. 3. Other public meetings posted for today include the Permanent Building Committee in the Public Works Building and Sustainable Lexington at the Town Office Building. Both meetings are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. 4. …

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