Osler ”Pete” Peterson
Medfield Select Board member
I started this blog to share the interesting and useful information that I saw while doing my job as a Medfield select board member. I thought that my fellow Medfield residents would also find that information interesting and useful as well. This blog is my effort to assist in creating a system to push the information out from the Town House to residents. Let me know if you have any thoughts on how it can be done better.
For information on my other job as an attorney (personal injury, civil litigation, estate planning and administration, and real estate), please feel free to contact me at 617-969-1500 or Osler.Peterson@OslerPeterson.com.
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Category Archives: Medfield Park & Recreation Commission
ONYX presentation hand out as a PDF
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Posted in Bellforge Arts Center, Buildings, Development, Medfield Park & Recreation Commission, Medfield State Hospital, Select Board matters
ONYX’s presentation
Last night ONYX Partners Ltd. (Anton Melchionda of Dover) presented the following proposal to a joint meeting of the Select Board, Warrant Committee, and Medfield Park & Recreation Commission.
Points from my notes:
- ONYX’s entity as the developer would be a for profit real estate entity owning the land and the 80,000 sq. ft., 8 court basketball facility.
- Medfield Park & Recreation Commission gets a 20,000 sq. ft. facility.
- ONYX would still go ahead if the # of courts were reduced to as few as four.
- ONYX’s prime tenant (30-40%) would be the non-profit BB program for kids K-12 Anton runs.
- ONYX would pay property taxes.
- Structures could be moved around on the site.
- Bellforge Arts Center stated it is also interested in acquiring the use of the same 12 acres for purposes related to its cultural arts center.
My initial thoughts:
- The town needs to know the financial details, but those are only likely to come much later, after the annual town meeting (ATM) and responses to a town request for proposals (RFP).
- The large amount of traffic generated would severely impact residents.
- I would place any structures next to the RR tracks, as far as possible from Hospital Road, so they are as hidden as much as possible from Hospital Road by the elevation change, in order to protect the view scape from the top of the hill as much as possible.
- If an RFP is put out, it should be for any and all uses, so the town can evaluate all possible options for this precious town asset, including one from the Bellforge Arts Center.
- Finally, as an alternative, I encourage Medfield Park & Recreation Commission to consider doing its own building, on the basis that the town borrows the money for MPRC’s building and MPRC commits to paying the debt service on that building out of the fees MPRC charges for programs they run out of the building. A former director of MPRC opined that the program revenues could financially pay the debt service.
MFi 2025 Camp Fund Needs Your Help
Medfield Foundation 2025 Camp Fund Needs Your Help
Adults and children throughout Medfield have happy memories of summer camp. From a traditional experience in the woods, to skill building, to specialized camps, many Medfielders cherish these summer camp experiences and the friends they made there.
Before the summer camp season begins, the Medfield Foundation is asking Medfield residents to help make summer camp accessible to all.
Since 2017 the Medfield Foundation’s Camp Fund, thanks to the generosity of our Medfield donors, raised well over $55,000 to benefit more than 60 local families in offsetting costs in order to send their children to camps. Thanks to Medfielders’ generosity, scores of children from our town experienced the magic of a variety of summer camp sessions and swimming at Hinkley Pond. Some of our camper families’ related, “The program was a godsend that allowed me to keep my son with special needs in camp a few days a week so he could benefit from social interaction with his peers” and “Thank you so much for the generosity that helped give my children a chance to have fun and be happy during summer.”
This year, the goal is to raise even more as we expect an increased need for assistance.
The Medfield Foundation encourages you to make a tax deductible donation to help Medfield children attend summer camp! There are two easy ways to make your donation:
- Use this link to donate: http://medfieldfoundation.org/donate/
- Send your check to the Medfield Foundation, PO Box 745, Medfield MA 02052. Please make your check out to Medfield Foundation, Inc and then please write “CAMP” in the memo line!
Want more information before donating? We invite you to reach out: info@medfieldfoundation.org
Medfield Foundation Inc. PO Box 745 Medfield MA 02052
We hope you will consider donating to the Medfield Foundation Camp Fund to send a Medfield child to summer camp.
And if you are need of financial assistance for your children to attend a Medfield based summer camp, please contact Medfield Outreach by calling 508-359-7121 x3421 or x3422 or via email: medfieldoutreach@medfield.net
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Posted in Charity, Children, Medfield Foundation, Medfield Outreach, Medfield Park & Recreation Commission, Recreation
Sports facility proposed for town land South of Hospital Road area to NW of McCarthy Park
The town has been approached by Anton Melchionda of Dover about building a basketball facility on the town owned land at the part of the former Medfield State Hospital site that is South of Hospital Road and to the Northwest of McCarthy Park – at the left side in the aerial view above. He is scheduled to present his proposal at a February 25 Select Board meeting, but I thought people would want to know more about the proposal now where it came up at last night’s Select Board meeting in relationship both to its potential to increase the traffic on Hospital Road and the annual town meeting (ATM) warrant article place holder created for it.
Anton has met with Town Administrator, Kristine Trierweiler and all three Select Board members. I am sharing below my notes of my telephone call with him.
Per the town’s agreement with the state when the town purchased the former MSH property, the town may develop up to 12 acres of its 38 acres of land South of Hospital Road. Plus we have to pay half of any sales price we receive to the state.
My current thoughts:
(1) it would have to be a hugely advantageous project to the town to interest me, as I am currently in no rush to develop the land. I think that land will only gain a lot of value once the Trinity project is built. NB that the town also retains the 12 acre Arboretum parcel at the front of the former MSH site, which could be exceedingly valuable if the town adjusted the zoning;
(2) if the project assisted the Medfield Park & Recreation Commission with their programs, that would be important to me. I am currently unclear how much value the proposal would provide to MPRC, as the details are lacking. I did sense that MPRC would get time to use the facility when the developer’s groups are not using it, but the problem with that is that everyone wants to use the facility at the same time, namely, when the kids are not in school.
(3) any buildings should be in the back field that hugs the railroad tracks (at the bottom left in the aerial view above) so as to be as far from Hospital Road and the view scape from Hospital Road as possible.
(4) nothing should be built on the sledding hill or near Hospital Road.
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Telephone call from Anton Melchionda
December 17, 2024 (1:03pm)
- Avenue Restaurant partner with childhood friend Josh
- Grew up in Amherst
- Lived on Tubwreck in Medfield
- Works in Needham
- Happenstance with MSH due to walking and sledding there
- Runs a club program for about 1,000 families around Boston –
- One year in to looking to build a facility
- Public private partnership for South of Hospital Road
- His core business is RE development, office in Needham – Onyx Partners – does
a. Retail
b. Warehouses and logistics
c. Multifamily Housing
d. Mainly outside Massachusetts – land too expensive - White Mamba BB
a. With Brian Calabrini = former Celtic - Bay State Jaguars = young woman’s program, national, but Massachusetts focus
a. Programs are for grades 1-12 - Operating both programs are 501c3’s
- BB is their focus – kids are multi-sport athletes
- Would not compete with Kingsbury Club’s pickleball and tennis
- Courts could be available for community uses
- Plan to provide outdoor fields
- Provide training, athletics, and comfort for people using facility
- Would make an 8 figure financial commitment
- Medfield Park & Recreation Commission could be part of their project – ? Specifics
- Needs to know what they need to present to town
- Wants to get decision by annual town meeting (ATM) this year
- Have tried elsewhere it sounded like
- I cautioned about municipal projects taking longer
a. They are self funded, unlike Trinity
P&R commissioner opening
The Medfield Park & Recreation Commission has one open commissioner position that will be filled on June 11. 2024 by a joint vote of the Medfield Park & Recreation Commission and the Select Board at a joint meeting of the two boards.
Interested candidates must submit an expression of interest by June 4, 2024.
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Posted in Medfield Park & Recreation Commission
Hinkley Helpers reports status
Mon, Jul 31 at 11:00 AM
Hinkley Helpers Reveals Fun, Inclusive Playground Design to be Built
$10,000 left to fundraise, final deadline to buy a brick is August 31st
Medfield, MA, July 31, 2023 — Zipline! Friendship swings! Ninja Wall! Oh my! Nearly a year since launching its fundraising campaign, Hinkley Helpers, an initiative of the Medfield Foundation Inc., has revealed the final playground design to become a town destination at Stephen Hinkley Memorial Park. After thoughtful deliberation between the Medfield Parks and Recreation Commission and Hinkley Helpers, the two committees selected local New England playground expert Childscapes to build a fun, inclusive playscape for generations of children, parents and caretakers to enjoy. To add the zipline, Hinkley Helpers needs to raise $10,000 and will extend its buy-a-brick campaign to a final deadline of August 31, 2023.
The playground design was chosen for the diversity of play offered for all ages and abilities and considerably updates the nearly thirty-year-old playground currently at Hinkley Park. The new playground will allow for progressive play, aging up equipment to accommodate and challenge children of all ages and abilities, which was significantly requested by the Hinkley Helpers’ initial community survey. With these modern components, accessible poured-in-place ground cover, and additional benches and tables, every child and caregiver will have the opportunity to enjoy a new town destination.
“Buy a Brick” Deadline is August 31, 2023
To buy a brick, please visit https://tinyurl.com/Hinkley-Helpers, select the $150 (4×8) or $250 (8×8) option on the “Hinkley Helper Brick Campaign,” and complete the informational form on the same site.
Mail-in forms for the bricks are also available at The Medfield Town House (459 Main Street). Please make a check payable to Medfield Foundation Inc. with a note in Memo: “Hinkley Helpers Brick” and drop it off or mail it to:
Medfield Foundation
c/o Medfield Town House
459 Main Street
Medfield, MA 02052
Bricks must be inscribed with names only (e.g., The Roberts Family, Barbara Millicent Roberts, In Honor of Barbie, In Memory of Kenneth Roberts, etc.). “Founding Family” donors ($1,000 Giving Circle) will have a special designated engraved paver denoting Founding Family, when a paver is purchased. Hinkley Helpers aims to preserve the bricks currently at the playground from when it was last built in 1996.
Donate today! $10,000 needed to fund Zipline!
Every contribution counts! Donate any amount – $10, $25, $500, join the “Playground Pals” or “Founding Families” by visiting www.hinkleyhelpers.com. Checks can be made to The Medfield Foundation with memo “Hinkley Helpers.” To date, “Gold Level” sponsors include The Blue Moon Bagel Cafe, Roche Brothers, and Park Street Books & Toys, and many businesses, individuals, and families have also kindly contributed. For donations and sponsorships of more than $5,000, please email hinkleyrebuild@gmail.com.
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About Hinkley Helpers
Founded in 2022, Hinkley Helpers, an initiative of the Medfield Foundation Inc., is driven by a mission to fundraise, plan and rebuild a safe, fun and inclusive playground at Stephen Hinkley Park. To learn more, visit www.hinkleyhelpers.com and www.facebook.com/HinkleyHelpers.
38-168569-5_1_TP_HinkleyPlaygrou.jpg
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Posted in Charity, Children, Medfield Foundation, Medfield Park & Recreation Commission, Recreation
Hinkley Helpers releases survey results
From Ashley B. Leduc of the Hinkley Helpers (www.hinkleyhelpers.com) –
Hinkley Helpers’ Launch Survey Results Show Community Supports New Playground
Respondents provide insights on the biggest issues, hopes for a new playground
Medfield, MA, July 12, 2022 – When Hinkley Helpers first announced its mission to fundraise, plan and rebuild a fun, safe, and inclusive playground at Hinkley Park, it also launched a survey to learn more about what the community loves and hopes for a new playground. Even kids participated with one respondent commenting, “Whenever I say ‘Let’s go to the playground,’ my five-year-old daughter ALWAYS replies ‘Not Hinkley. I want to go to a different playground!’”
Condition of the decades-old playground forces the community outside of Medfield
Over the course of about thirty days, more than 300 respondents provided insightful feedback, helping to inform Hinkley Helpers’ plans, and nearly all respondents support building a new playground. With a 2.7 out of 5 satisfaction rating (which is an awful Uber driver or passenger rating!), 75% of respondents take their children to playgrounds in neighboring towns, and 60% shop (e.g. run errands, dine out, etc.) in those towns when they visit, taking business out of Medfield. In fact, one respondent noted “Compared to other playgrounds in Medfield it’s consistent. Other towns blow us away.”
Hinkley Helpers aims to resolve the community’s biggest issues and priorities
With a goal of providing a fun, safe and inclusive playground for all ages and abilities, Hinkley Helpers plans to tackle the issues and priorities voiced by survey respondents.
Biggest issues include:
- For ⅔ of respondents, broken and worn elements and outdated design are the biggest issues
- For ½ of the respondents, the ground covering posed an issue
- Nearly ⅓ noted the playground was not accessible, inclusive or adaptable, which directly relates to the outdated structure itself and the inaccessible ground-covering
Biggest priorities include:
- Nearly 80% of respondents want challenge elements appropriate for children of many ages and sizes and many commented on aging up the playground with more challenging elements for older kids (e.g. ninja warrior elements)
- ⅓ of respondents wanted more seating and picnic tables
- ½ of respondents wanted areas of shade and cover from the sun
So, what’s next? How can the community support?
From Hinkley Helpers’ research on playgrounds and their cost, the community needs to raise significant funds to address these issues and priorities. Hinkley Helpers has done extensive research on the cost of playgrounds, which you can read about here, and is now asking the community to help support this monumental initiative. There are a variety of ways to support:
- Have fun! Come to a Fundraiser hosted by The Pottery Place at Park St. Books to “Paint for the Playground.” One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit Hinkley Helpers! Thank you Park Street Books and Jim James for continued support!
- Join the Community! Join the Hinkley Helpers and the Medfield community and provide a gift of any amount – $10, $25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000, $5,000 – which will directly help to build a fun, safe and inclusive playground. Hinkley Helpers is an initiative of The Medfield Foundation. Please include “Hinkley Helpers” in the Designation line when you donate here.
- Learn more! Email hinkleyrebuild@gmail.com to be the first to learn about updates before they are released to the public or to inquire about volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.
# # #
About Hinkley Helpers
Founded in 2022, Hinkley Helpers, an initiative of the Medfield Foundation Inc., is driven by a mission to fundraise, plan and rebuild a safe, fun and inclusive playground at Hinkley Park. To learn more, visit www.hinkleyhelpers.com and www.facebook.com/HinkleyHelpers.
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Posted in Children, Hinkley Helpers, Medfield Foundation, Medfield Park & Recreation Commission, Montrose School, Recreation
Hinkley Playground Rebuild Launch Event – 5/15, 11-2:30
Medfield Foundation supports new town initiative
Hinkley Helpers aims to improve playground at Hinkley Park, hosting launch event on May 15
Hinkley Helpers, an initiative of The Medfield Foundation, Inc. has announced it has launched. The group is raising funds to contribute to a rebuild of the Hinkley Playground in coordination with Medfield Parks and Rec.
Hinkley Helpers was formed by a group of parents and residents to fundraise to create a best-in-class, new, safe and creative playground at the current Hinkley Park site.
According to Kelly Fallon, Hinkley Helper’s Founding Chair,” We believe all children deserve a safe, clean and inclusive place to play.”
“The mission of Hinkley Helpers is vital to support the thriving town of Medfield and this initiative plans to raise private funds for public good and an improved playground at Hinkley Park”, said Kirsten Poler, president of Medfield Foundation.
Hinkley Helpers invites the public to attend the Hinkley Playground Rebuild Launch Event on Sunday May 15 from 11 AM – 2:30 PM at Hinkley Park, 51 Green Street Medfield featuring events for kids, face paint, and local food vendors Chubbs’ Ice Cream, Medfield House of Pizza, and The Hot Dog Wagon.
About Hinkley Helpers
The Hinkley Helpers are a group of passionate parents and frequent Hinkley Playground visitors who are eager to fundraise and design a new playground at Hinkley Park in Medfield, MA. The committee is open to all and actively seeking new members.
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About The Medfield Foundation (MFi)
The Medfield Foundation (MFi) is a 100% volunteer run 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable corporation whose mission is to enrich the lives of Medfield residents, build a stronger community, and facilitate the raising and allocation of private funds for public needs in the town of Medfield. Its signature initiatives include the Angel Run, Volunteer Awards, Legacy Fund and Youth Leadership.
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Posted in Charity, Children, Events, Medfield Foundation, Medfield Park & Recreation Commission, Recreation, Volunteers
Saturday storm damage
Trees line the Pfaff Center’s northerly property line, and one lost a limb in last Saturday’s late afternoon thunder storm, landing on the Medfield Park & Recreation Commission’s van..
Ironically, Town Administrator Kristine Trierweiler had approved the cutting of the trees shortly before. The tree closest to North Street in that line had fallen on the neighbor’s fence earlier this year, causing the trees to be re-examined. Even more ironically, those neighbors had requested several years ago for the town to allow them to pay to have the trees removed for their solar installation, but at the time the town declined, feeling that the trees were healthy.
The Medfield Park & Recreation Commission van was dented slightly.
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Posted in Medfield Park & Recreation Commission
An appreciation of our town employees
An appreciation for a job well done
I have been thinking this morning about the Town of Medfield employees who provide we residents with the services that allow our lives to continue with as much semblance of normalcy as possible at all times, but most especially in these truly unsettling circumstances we are currently experiencing. Our water goes on, public safety continues to serve us, the Transfer Station even added Sunday openings, and all the town government systems continue to function, if behind a digital curtain, all so that we residents can continue our lives.
The town employees are providing essential services, so while they likely share the same unease that envelopes us all, they continue to work their jobs. I wanted to publicly share with the Town of Medfield employees my sincere appreciation for their efforts and to thank them.
I am extremely appreciative of what all the town employees are doing now, working under difficult circumstances – I want to let them all know just how much this one resident, one who tries hard to observe closely the functioning of the town government so as to understand it as well as possible, truly appreciates what our team of town employees are accomplishing for we residents.
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