My Turn: Moving forward with plans for a community center

By June Matthews

Things have been strangely quiet on the community center front — perhaps everyone is exhausted after the November 30marathon town meeting and the preceding torrent of posts on Lincoln Talk. Now that the CCBC has the authority to spend $325,000 to study the previous two proposals for a gold-plated Community Center at Hartwell, along with a direction to explore lower-cost options, including placement of some services and facilities at other locations, I request that the Committee pay serious attention to the last point.

It is clear that the after-school programs of the P&RD should most sensibly be located at the schools, as that’s where the kids are. But I assert that it makes little if any sense to locate the activities of the COA&HS there. There has been much discussion of the virtues of a multigenerational community center. But I have my doubts as to the extent that intergenerational mixing would occur at such a center, given the present structure of the P&RD and COA&HS programs.

As others have pointed out, there are already opportunities in town for social contact among families and people of all ages — think First Day and Winter Carnival, for example, plus programs at our library and at Codman. I would like to request that the CCBC use some of their time and energy, and perhaps funds, to “think outside the box.” What do Lincoln seniors (I am one) really need, want, and value?

My vision is of a community center conveniently located at Lincoln Station — walking distance from the Ryan Estate as well as from other high-density residential areas which cater to mixed ages and mixed incomes: Lincoln Woods, the Ridge Court apartments, the Greenridge and Todd Pond condominiums. Not everyone will walk, of course, but those who are there with their cars will have convenient access to other essential services, e.g., Donelan’s and the post office, plus two restaurants, two dry cleaning establishments, a bank, Something Special, etc. Not to mention the train station, for those wishing to venture farther afield.

A new building on the site of the commuter lot has been proposed, as commuting has dwindled with many people still working remotely. One would have to ascertain whether adequate parking would remain. Others have proposed utilizing vacant space in existing buildings, on both sides of Lincoln Road. There has been much talk about “revitalizing” the town center, with zoning changes possibly attracting new businesses. Given the experience in other towns, this might or might not happen.

Alternatively, I can envisage a community center as a magnet to draw more people to the true center of our town. One objection has been that would essentially be a senior center rather than a true community center. I contend that it doesn’t have to be: P&RD activities which don’t involve the school’s athletic facilities could take place there. (And maybe a senior center is not such a bad idea after all?)

It was pointed out at the Special Town Meeting that attendees at the previous meeting overwhelmingly voted with their “dots” for the Hartwell site. However, there have been many changes since then in technology, the economy, work, shopping, socializing, and health. Let’s not bury our heads in the sands of the past.

June Matthews lives on Greenridge Lane.

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.