OSRC minutes_05.03 City of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee
May 3, 2023 Meeting Minutes
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CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee
SUBCOMMITTEE: None
LOCATION: Beverly City Hall Council Chambers
DATE: May 3, 2023
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair David Alden-St. Pierre, Gregory Sharp, Todd
Callaghan, Charlie Mann, Marilyn McCrory, James
Passanisi, Alison Dudley, Elizabeth Dunne
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Vice Chair David Brewster, Amber Redmond, Wayne
Miller
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Ken Clawson
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECORDER: Naomi Moca
1. Call to order
Chair Alden-St.Pierre calls the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
2. Public Outreach
Alden-St. Pierre states that he advertised the planned trail work on Norwood Pond on Sunday,
May 7 from 9 am— 11 am on social media. Alden-St. Pierre states that the volunteers will meet
at North Beverly Elementary School's soccer field. The Committee discusses that Passanisi's
child's Cub Scouts group is welcome to join the project and that gloves and pruners are
recommended. The work will entail the cutting back of overgrowth of invasive species, such as
multiflora rose, and trash removal. Clawson provides waivers for adults and children.
The Committee discusses that work in other areas, such as Gloucester Crossing, is appropriate as
well, especially trash pickup. The Holcroft Park on Gage Street has new wood chips, has been
cleaned up, and that the streets leading up to a park are part of the purview of open space. The
committee discusses that the dog waste bags are a particular issue being thrown over the fence
into the GU school property, and whether signs are beneficial for common sense, courteous
behavior by residents or dog owners. The Committee discusses creating a rotating schedule,
perhaps by Ward, to gather volunteers to do work in public open spaces, starting tentatively on
Sunday, June 25, 2023, at 9 a.m. at Holcroft Park. Dudley states that she will confirm the date
with Ward Councilor Crowley.
Alden-St. Pierre states that presentation for City Council Ix/year every fall, summarize number
of hours and total# of people in the presentation.
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City of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee
May 3, 2023 Meeting Minutes
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Mann states that he walked the land with Mike Coughlin and Sgt. Henebury removed no parking
signs on Webster at the Glen Urqhuart School. Alden-St.Pierre states that he attended a North
Shore Trails Summit and that the topic of parking was discussed with the representative from
GU School, and now the signs are gone.
3. Updates from Boards and Commissions:
a. Planning Board
Clawson states that the Planning Board is to write a letter of support for the seven-year OSRC
plan so that the plan can get finalized. It has conditional approval and next it needs to be
finalized.
b. Conservation Committee
Materials added to the record:
• Email update from Amber Redmond
Clawson summarizes that in the email, Redmond states that the Commissioners conducted a site
visit at Sally Milligan on April 22, 2023 with Mann to discuss options for stabilizing the bank.
At the April 25, 2023 meeting, the Commission approved the option to settle the wood directly
into the bank. The Commission also approved the cutting of the white pine tree using hand tools.
Mann states that the trail will be closed. Landscape pavers notch into bank
Alden-St. Pierre states that he will confirm the materials list for the new bridge and email it to
Clawson.
The Committee discusses Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 8 a.m. as the date and time to assist with the
bridge construction at Sally Milligan. The Committee discusses that the funding comes from a
MassTrails grant, and making the bridge look "official"with signage such as Beverly Trails
stickers. The bridge will not have a railing. The trail has been getting a lot of use so the trail has
been set up so as not to interrupt soccer games at the Cross Lane Soccer Fields.
c. Community Preservation Committee
McCrory states that the predominant topic was the Birch Plains pickleball courts project.
McCrory expresses dismay at the public process and that it was done in a very compressed time
frame. For example, the City provided the CPC with materials at the meeting instead of in
advance, and that the project plan had been modified since the last CPC meeting. McCrory
states that the City's request for funding for soundproofing passed non-unanimously.
The Committee discusses that players may use the sound mitigation wall to practice pickleball
skills inadvertently causing more noise, and that planting shrubbery in front of the fence may act
as a deterrent.
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d. Harbor Management Authority
Callaghan states that the Authority is designing Phase III blue signs directing people to the
waterfront. Ideas: Sign near Bass River, steps to walkway behind car wash, sign behind softball
field, sign at public walkway behind Stop and Shop parallel to the Stop and Shop access road.
Kiosk at both ends.
Sign at 127 toward Beverly Farms, Brackenbury and 127 but no parking. The Committee
discusses not adding more signage so as not to attract more people causing problems for the
neighborhood. Sign at Prince Street,the eastern edge of Brackenbury beach, no parking, very
narrow, City owns access road to public beach, not a great idea for a sign. Brackenbury
ownership to mean high water. Sign at Rice's. The Committee discusses ways to convey that
there is no parking available, such as icons of a car or a pedestrian. Sign public walkway
Woodbury beach on both ends.
Binocular stand at Hospital Point.
New Harbormaster Peter Dickman Overlap with Parks and Recreation, for example binoculars
and kayak racks
Independence Park has a new square concrete platform at the end of Central Street that is not for
a kayak rack and could possibly be for a new bicycle rack.
4. Open Space Conditions/Issues
a. Ward 1
Mann states that at Green's Hill wire mesh fencing will be installed. The Committee discusses
whether doing an opening would be appropriate, or just posting photos of signs and kiosks like
what was done last fall on social media.
Chris Lapointe of Essex County GreenBelt Director re: 27A has sent multiple notes and voice
mails to owners, Mann willing to try to knock on the door.
b. Ward 2
McCrory states a resident on Abbott Street has placed mulch on the sidewalk. Rowand's
property is to be torn down and made into parking lot. Trail access and walkways will be
landscaped in a way to ensure continuity. Clawson states that Historic Preservation is redoing the
steps going down to the water at Gillis Park and the work is scheduled to be done before the end
of June
c. Ward 3
Clawson states that there are no updates for the Simon Street parks other than playground
equipment has been ordered
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d. Ward 4
Alden-St. Pierre states that Sally Milligan has already been discussed and that Fox Hill is in
decent shape. Clawson states that there has been no contact for some time regarding an easement
with Endicott College and he will reach out and re-start the conversation.
e. Ward 5
Norwood Pond trail cleanup was previously discussed. The topic of public access to Moraine
Farm was brought up and Clawson stated that the Planning Department conducted a site walk
last week to catalog the existing conditions of the areas that are being acquired.
L Ward 6
i. Trail maintenance issues for Beverly Commons
Clawson states that a concerned citizen emailed the city two weeks ago regarding trail building
at Bald Hill, used heavily for biking, including clearing of trees to build an unauthorized trail.
Clawson states that he, Mayor Cahill, and the Chief of Police met with the citizen and came to an
agreement that there shall be no new trail building. Clawson states that temporary signs were
installed and the citizens were satisfied with this solution.
The Committee discusses that there is a real need for a delineated bike area, such as a bike park,
in the City, as the activity is very popular. The Committee discusses issues with the
establishment of a bike park including finding a site and building a park thatencompasses lots of
different features for skills and ages. At a meeting two years ago at Bald Hill, Alden-St.Pierre,
Jenna Pirrotta, citizens, and the police, it was discussed with Kathy Feldman about how to move
forward with a bike park. The hangup was where to build it. Obviously there is a need for it.
Mann states that the ideal placement for a pump track park is near a parking lot or near an easily
accessible point.
The construction of bike ramps and jumps at Beverly Commons Trails is discussed. The issue of
who actually owns the land is brought up and the idea that if kids think no one owns the land
then no one will care and no one will see them. Dunne states that families donated land to City
and deeds never got transferred.
The Committee discusses possible locations for a proper, official bike park, even just a
delineation without building a formal park. Alden-St. Pierre states that he will reach out to Tim
Flaherty Executive Director of Sterling YMCA, to discuss property behind the Y.
Mann states that there is money for trails in the Norwood Pond area that may be available,
depending on how it's worded. Clawson states that he will look into the wording for Cummings
Properties in the Dunham Road area, contribution to the City for trail work.
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May 3, 2023 Meeting Minutes
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Encouraging cyclists to maintain trails of a certain width, considering width of tires turning
radius, widening with heavy use, creating lanes, and taking input from cyclists. Alden-St. Pierre
states that NEMBA is willing to do trail work.
Mann states trail to GreenBelt land at Webster. Possibly cut Norway Maples to widen the
shoulder, and establish parking for eight to 10 cars. Need to get a work day together later in June,
no date yet, stewardship group from GreenBelt coordinate date with Beverly guys.
5. Staff Updates
a. NOI for trail work
Clawson states that he has been working on NOI, researching other cities, but does not think it
can be done in-house. And that a consultant is the way to go. Carol Lloyd Director of Essex
County Trails Association may be a good resource.
b. Easements/Parcels of Interest
i. Pole Swamp
Pole Swam got 9 more parcels of City land transferred to Conservation Commission control.
6. Approval of minutes
a. April 5, 2023
Members review and offer edits to the April 5, 2023 draft meeting minutes.
Callaghan Motion to accept the April 5, 2023 meeting minutes as amended. Passanisi
March: seconds. Motion carries (9-0).
Callaghan Motion to accept the April 5, 2023 meeting minutes as amended. Passanisi
March: seconds. Motion carries (9-0).
7. Adjourn
Callaghan: Motion to adjourn. McCrory seconds. Motion carries (9-0).
Meeting adjourns 8:33 p.m.
Next meeting: June 7, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
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