Re: [LincolnTalk] Community center marriage of COA and Parks and Recreation

[Sara Mattes]

So, in fact, the lower level of Bemis, which can be reached by stairs an elevator, and has 2 handicapped accessible bathrooms, a large  furnished meeting room with a large flat-screen TV,  several offices and storage area, is available for use? Sent from my iPhone On Nov 30, 2022, at 8:57 AM, Barbara Low <barbara_...@hotmail.com> wrote:  The flying up ceremony has been held at Bemis Hall but not regular troop meetings. Barbara Low Bemis Hall Coordinator From: Lincoln <lincoln-boun...@lincolntalk.org> on behalf of Sara Mattes <samat...@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2022 8:45 AM To: DJCP <djcp0...@gmail.com> Cc: Peter Buchthal <pbucht...@gmail.com>; lincoln@lincolntalk.org <lincoln@lincolntalk.org> Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Community center marriage of COA and Parks and Recreation   We were told the Girl Scouts use Bemis Hall. Sent from my iPhone On Nov 30, 2022, at 8:24 AM, DJCP <djcp0...@gmail.com> wrote:  My kids enjoy plenty of indoor parks and rec activities, including gymnastics, minecraft/coding classes, art, science, and theater.  And, in fact, when those classes run, my Girl Scout Troops often have a hard time finding a place to meet in the Pods.  WE had to meet in the breakout room in the school recently and we were basically locked in b/c once you leave the building after hours, no one can let you in.  Plus we were not near an easily accessible playground where the kids could burn off energy.  And I'm not entirely sure I want to be responsible for a bunch of kids meeting in a classroom after school hours and ensuring they keep their hands off all of the classroom materials and projects. Diana Giles Rd On Wed, Nov 30, 2022 at 8:17 AM Peter Buchthal <pbucht...@gmail.com> wrote: Now is the time to vote NO on Warrant 1.   I believe it is a false choice to think there are no other options for the town except Warrant #1, for $325,000. People seem enamored with the name "Community Center" without really looking at the space needs of both the COA and the Rec Department together.  As the parent of three kids, most of the Parks and Rec Department programming that we use and love today is outdoors on a sports field, tennis court, pool, or school gym.  I can't imagine allocating a new indoor 12,500 sqf  facility  (1/2 of the Community Center) to the Parks and Rec program offerings.   Most indoor oriented Parks and Rec usage forecasts appear aspirational, not addressing defined needs.  Most of the offerings that are indoors, could surely be located in the new school after school hours at minimal extra cost.  From the 2018 Community Center Final Report "The PRD runs some programs on weekdays during school hours, such as exercise classes for adults, but most of its offerings are held for children after school, on weekday evenings, and on weekends."    It is clear that the combination of Parks and Rec with the COA is a marriage of convenience and may not be a good use of tax dollars.  With few indoor activities outside of facilities provided today by the Gym, Parks and Rec hasn't justified their need for 12,500 sqf of new space. I propose a 2nd Warrant of 50K-75K that could be voted upon that would fund a proper current needs analysis.   The output of this study should be a slimmed down COA that is no longer an architectural statement but a functional, clean and enjoyable COA.  This building could be a renovated Pierce, Bemis or new facility at Hartwell.   A No vote on Warrant 1 is not a NO for everything, just this oversized, ill conceived marriage of COA and the Parks and  Recreation department called "Community Center" -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.

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