By Sally Kindleberger
Recently I attended a Community Center Building Committee meeting in an effort to learn more about the process and the objections to a new building. I believe that we need to work together in a cooperative way.
When the schools were rebuilt, it was a huge cost to taxpayers. My taxes went up significantly, but I was willing to pay them because I believed that it is important to pay it forward to support the generation that is coming behind us. I have no kids, but I know education is one of the most important things we can do for our children, our future, and our country.
During the time that the schools were being built, folks that use the Recreation Department and the Council on Aging and Human Services were told to be patient — “once the schools are built, a community center will follow.” But low and behold, there has been a huge pushback. There are a number of people who want to reduce the building size significantly! This will make it difficult for the current programming to happen.
We have been told that activities could be housed elsewhere. That would put huge stress on the employees of all three departments, who would have to drive all over. We were told that people are being forced out of town because they can’t afford the taxes. I have talked to others who dispute this assertion. There are those who are demanding that the Parks and Rec Department and the COA&HS provide data proving the value of the project. This puts tremendous strain on the four full-time employees at the COA&HS. How can they do their real jobs if there is continuous demand that they prove their value? Perhaps those asking for and needing additional data could come and gather it themselves.
I attend many events at the COA&HS and before the pandemic, I was at the Rec Department taking classes twice every week.
I think it would really help those who question the value of this new building to take the time to attend classes and activities at both the COA&HS and the Rec Department. By attending programs/activities over time and talking to participants, you will see the real value of what is provided as well as some of the concerns about the current spaces. This can’t be done on a drop-in basis; one needs to spend time in order to fully experience the programs that are provided.
And there is so much more programing that could be provided. Off the top of my head I can think of five or six new classes that would be great — story telling, improvisation, sign language, Granny and Grandpa reading programs with little kids, support groups for struggling kids, tech support provide by the middle schoolers, self-defense, and much more. But we need a building with enough space to accommodate programming and to meet the needs of the hordes of baby boomers who are knocking at the door.
I do understand the concerns of people about costs, but if a building continues to be put on hold, or a new building can’t meet programming needs, what is the point? Costs will only go up and up. I don’t see them ever going down. Now is the time to seize the day and build something that everyone can be truly proud of. Lincoln is a town filled with creative and thoughtful minds. We need to work closely and collaboratively together to find a good solution to meet the needs of all!
Kindleberger is a Lincoln resident in North Commons.
“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.
Thank you Sally for this thoughtful article which encourages everyone to work together for the better good of the whole community.
As a Program Director, when it comes to planning programming, it is absolutely necessary to plan for maximum attendance in order to ensure the organization is truly prepared for the participants, and for the participants to have a high quality experience.
There are seniors in town who would love to participate in COA&HS programming, that currently cannot due to access / facility issues at Bemis. Being thoughtful about cost is incredibly important. We simultaneously need to ensure we are creating a community center with enough space to truly meet the needs of the community.
~Lori Leo
With all due respect to the author and 2 commentaries, the town, after intense debate, voted to proceed with plans that included full programming at 50% and 75% of $25 million. Those plans were supposed to consider dispersed programing, as we have now.
That is why we are having ongoing discussion about a number of schemes, not just one.
One will be selected later in the year.
Remarkably, we still have folks in town who are middle and/or on fixed income and who are already feeling the tax hike of recent years.
These neighbors are part of the diverse population that we claim is important to our community and we need to remain respectful and sensitive to their concerns.
Yes, we need to move forward and come up with plans. Those plans should be data driven, not based on anecdotal reports. Data is needed to determine what space and parking is needed for programs and services and where it can be delivered, remaining sensitive to costs and honoring the Town Meeting vote.
It must not be all or nothing, but plans that reflect compromise.
The town needs and deserves genuine choices for the next vote in order to move forward.
Thank you, Ms. Kindleberger. I could not agree with you more! Let’s get on with this project, and stop trying to cut it to the bone. A community center is just that –a place for people to come together as a community in one place, not to disparate locations all over town. The necessary studies have already been done, so let’s stop rehashing them. Let’s build a community center that can proudly accommodate our fellow townspeople for many years to come.
Ruth Hodges
I agree. Well said. Let’s choose the best path and get on it now.
Mary Ann Hales