2007

On June 14, the Town Council voted to allow Pop Warner Tri-Town Titans to use Lawton Farm for football and cheerleading.

 Do you want 80-300 extra cars on Seven Mile Road? Lights?  Grilling? Bathrooms?  On Scenic Seven Mile Road?

Special Interest and Conflict of Interest

Councilwoman Wendy Knowlton is ALSO President of the Tri-Town Titans, a private group NOT part of the Scituate Recreation Department. 

Lack of planning

In the meeting minutes, Councilman Budway asks "will this involve parking or just fields?"  Councilman Salisbury replied, "Just the fields, there is already a parking area."  Where will the parking be?  A vote before a plan for parking, traffic, watershed and well protection?

Valley Breeze of July 27, 2007 

Councilwoman Knowlton said about their current home of Chopmist Hill, on Rte 102, "300 cars, parking on the grass.  It was crazy." Chopmist Hill was bought in 2002, and 10 acres were designated for ball fields.  Why were those fields not fully developed for Scituate Recreation?  If Chopmist has 60 parking spaces, 3 entrances, lights, bathrooms, why would pristine Lawton Farm, with minimal parking for about 6 cars and only one entrance, be torn up? Chopmist residents don't want the noise and traffic anymore.  So their council members have tried to appease them by bringing the noise to Lawton Farm. 

Do YOU think Seven Mile Road can safely sustain this traffic? And retain its scenic character? 

A 2000 survey of Scituate residents revealed that the priorities of the respondents were:  Growth Management (72%), Open Space (58%), Environmental Commitment (4%), and Recreation (13%).  Does this ball field plan support the desires of the residents?  Is it prudent to destroy grassland habitat that supports 3 species of ground-nesting birds whose numbers are precariously low?

Is it fair to mislead for 17 years area residents and home buyers? The signs at Lawton Farm do NOT indicate that this is the "future home of athletic fields."  Instead, signs ONLY indicate the many restrictions of use, including those that would be violated by the Pop Warner's activities. (lights, cooking fires)  How would a home buyer know that his/her peace and quiet would eventually be disturbed by noise and traffic?  The deed does NOT stipulate donation of the 15 acres to Scituate for ball fields. Special note: A small sign was erected AFTER the 6/14/07 vote, which reads "Lawton Recreation Area".