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Lakeville approves removal and sale of materials from Ted Williams Camp; parks commission and selectmen to seek return of proceeds
Summary
Voters authorized the Park Commission and Board of Selectmen to remove and sell surplus materials from the Ted Williams Camp property to expand recreational facilities; commissioners said topsoil will remain and removed gravel and trees will be sold, and they estimated material quantities and potential revenue.
Town Meeting on Dec. 8 approved, unanimously, a motion to allow the Park Commission and the Board of Selectmen to dispose of surplus materials from the Ted Williams Camp property so the material may be removed to expand recreational facilities.
The article anticipates that proceeds from the sale of removed material would be appropriated at a future town meeting to expand recreational facilities and repair structures at Ted Williams Camp and other park facilities. Park Commission members and selectmen explained that topsoil will be reused on site, while gravel and trees would be removed and sold. A Park Commission member said the removed material must go to the highest bidder under state procurement rules and that the town owns the land and is subject to Article 97 constraints on park land.
During discussion, Barry Evans of the Parks Commission expressed concern that proceeds might be deposited in the general fund and not returned to the park enterprise; selectmen responded that the warrant article and future town-meeting appropriation were intended to put voters on notice and to secure a commitment to return proceeds for park use in a future vote. Selectmen and park commissioners said topographic work will determine how much material will come out; one town official estimated approximately 100,000 to 160,000 cubic yards of gravel could be removed and suggested a market value roughly $2.50 to $4.00 per cubic yard under current market conditions, though the town did not commit to a specific revenue estimate.
The finance committee did not treat this as a money article. After discussion the moderator called for a vote and declared Article 9 passed unanimously.
Why this matters: the action authorizes removal of non‑topsoil materials on a town park property to create additional fields and facilities; the discussion reflects public interest in ensuring proceeds are returned to parks and in understanding the scale of extraction and reuse. The town will return to a future meeting if and when proceeds are available for appropriation to park projects.
