Land Bank updates major projects: Lily Pond, 41 Jefferson accessibility, bike park and NRSA expansion

Land Bank staff delivered a roundup of ongoing property and capital projects and highlighted costs, permitting status and next steps on several high‑profile efforts, including Lily Pond, 41 Jefferson, a proposed bike park, the Nantucket Racquet Sports Association (NRSA) expansion and a multi‑site maintenance and housing facilities plan.

The commission received budget and timing details: Lily Pond invasive‑species work is underway, with about $730,000–$740,000 already spent; staff estimated the total Lily Pond project at about $5.5 million and said roughly $640,000 in grants have been secured, with additional grant requests pending. Construction for Lily Pond is not scheduled to begin until February of the following year, and staff reported delays in permitting that have slowed progress.

At 41 Jefferson (Fort/41 Jefferson), staff described fence removal already underway to improve public access and noted a pending conservation commission hearing to consider extending the town boardwalk and installing a platform and turning radius to improve wheelchair and ADA access. Staff said they are coordinating with the town and consider the proposal to increase accessibility a priority; property remains partially residential in the near term and parking arrangements are in planning stages.

On the bike park, staff said the commission has set a working budget “not to exceed $2,000,000,” with about $47,000 spent to date on planning. Staff revised the site layout and introduced a phased build (phase 1 and phase 2) and asked whether the commission wanted staff to seek a faster construction timeline; commissioners asked staff to explore options to tighten the schedule.

The NRSA (Nantucket Racquet Sports Association) expansion currently has a bid of approximately $1,700,000 that has not yet been awarded. The project plan includes four pickleball courts and two padel courts, plus expanded parking and circulation. Staff noted the NRSA is a not‑for‑profit organization that operates recreational courts on Land Bank property; commissioners asked NRSA representatives to appear at the July 8 meeting to answer questions about membership, public access, and operations.

Staff also briefed the commission on a multi‑site maintenance and housing facilities project that includes a duplex at 166 Hammock Pond Road and new storage/office barns at Somerset Road. Design contracts are underway; staff estimated the total cost across the housing and maintenance facilities program at about $9,000,000, with current expenditures of roughly $73,000 and $60,000 for the two identified sites. The farmhouse basement apartment remains under consideration; prior estimates exceeded $1 million, and staff said redesign options could substantially reduce that figure if the commission wants to prioritize it.

The commission recorded a planning note that it is committed to a 50/50 funding split with the town on the Washington Street/Brant Street boardwalk beach‑improvement work and is coordinating engineering with a new consultant (Par) for some coastal projects. Staff emphasized the long‑term nature of several waterfront and coastal permitting efforts and asked for patience while permitting is completed.

Ending: For items with outstanding bids and permitting (NRSA, Lily Pond, bike park), staff will return with updated cost estimates and tighter timelines; NRSA representatives are scheduled to attend the July 8 meeting to answer operational questions.