Listen to this articleREADING, MA — Vice President and Director of Development Chris Collins from the Edge Sports Group presented ideas to the Select Board on Tuesday regarding the development of the town’s Symonds Way property adjacent to the Burbank Ice Arena. The Symonds Way Exploratory Committee (SWEC) engaged Edge Sports Group through a request for information inquiry. Collins shared that his company develops public/private partnerships with communities to help provide indoor sports facilities for public use. “It all starts with an idea,” Collins explained.
Collins began by reminding the board of sample ideas for the property from previous work, which include an outdoor dog park, a lacrosse field, a skate park, pickleball courts, and some parking. After completing their review of the entire property, Collins suggested that the dirt parking lot behind the Burbank Ice Arena is the most developable space for a building in the complex.
sports24small“[Placing a building on the dirt lot] is the best way to maximize space at the site,” Collins affirmed.
He then presented a graphic showing that an additional ice rink with an adjacent aquatic center would fit on the current dirt lot. Additional parking could then be built on the land east of Symonds Way.
Collins was quick to point out that the use of the building was open for discussion, based on the town’s needs, and that a multi-use field house type structure, for example, would fit just as easily on the site.
SWEC member Angela Binda questioned the plan’s lack of outdoor recreational space, asking if Edge Sports also engaged in that type of work. Collins indicated that Edge Sports primarily deals with indoor spaces. SWEC member Chuck Robinson suggested that there are better uses than an additional ice rink for a building, considering that the town already has one. He continued, stating that he envisions using the space to provide the town with amenities it does not already have.
SWEC will continue to review Collins’s proposal in-depth at its next meeting.
In other business, the Select Board voted 6-0 to approve a liquor license amendment for the Meadowbrook Golf Club, updating the officers on its board. Select Board member Mark Dockser also reported to the Select Board that the Meadowbrook board would be voting this coming Monday to authorize its president to sign an easement agreement with the town allowing access to the Town Forest from the recently acquired lot on Grove Street. The lot is currently being developed into parking for the forest. Once signed, the easement agreement will be presented to the Select Board for approval and vote on February 6.
Select Board chair Jackie McCarthy reminded the public that interviews with the finalists for the Town Manager position would be this coming Saturday starting at 9:00 am in the Select Board meeting room. These interviews will be aired live on RCTV. The board will discuss the candidates and vote on a new Town Manager on February 6.
The Select Board adjourned at 8:40 pm.
