LtE: RECREATION IS SO MUCH MORE THAN ORGANIZED SPORTS
To the Editor,
At the 7/15/25 Select Board meeting, the Select Board was tasked with apportioning $20K appropriated by Town Meeting to Town boards, committees, and commissions. The Select Board received requests from 5 boards totaling $29K, including a request for $6,500 from the Town Forest Committee, a request for $10,480 from the Conservation Commission, and a request for $5K from the Trails Committee. In his request, the Chair of the Trails Committee wrote of the “wealth of green spaces for recreation, habitat, and community aesthetics” and noted that there are “over 15 miles of trails” and “25 boardwalks and bridges” on those trails. He requested $3K for materials and $2K for tool purchases and rentals. He mentioned removing fallen trees and replacing eroded and unstable boardwalk as work that could be accomplished with this funding, to keep the trails safe. Funding for the Conservation Committee would go to invasive species management, signage, supplies, tools, and the construction of a new deck at Mattera Cabin.
Several Select Board members acknowledged the hard work of dedicated volunteers who work to maintain these important recreational and natural spaces, and the tremendous benefit they provide to the town. Select Board member Karen Rose Gillis acknowledged all the progress that had been made in invasive species management, and the need for this funding, as we “can’t have this progress reversed.” Select Board Chair Chris Haley noted the tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of labor that volunteers donate to the Town.
Select Board member Carlo Bacci’s comments throughout the discussion differed greatly in tone and sentiment from his board colleagues. Mr. Bacci suggested cutting the funding that Town Meeting appropriated from $20K to $15K, to “set the right tone” for forthcoming override discussions. He stated early in the discussion that, “I want to set an example, that as a board, everyone’s not going to get what they want this year.” Mr. Bacci suggested only funding half of the Conservation Commission’s request. Conservation Administrator Chuck Tirone asked specifically which items Mr. Bacci would cut, to which Mr. Bacci replied, “We all gotta feel the pain, sorry.” Mr. Bacci called the Reading Historical Commission’s request “a want, not a need.” He further stated that “Everyone has to cut back a little” and “We all want things, we don’t always get them.”
Not all residents participate in organized sports. For many residents, these natural spaces – the Town Forest, Bare Meadow, the miles of trails, other conservation areas – are where we recreate, not on courts or fields, and not with balls or racquets. My family is not “sporty” but we are “outdoorsy.” Both my (now adult) sons are Eagle Scouts, and we have spent many happy hours by the campfire in the Town Forest and on hiking trails. My sons have helped maintain trails and built bat houses and boardwalks. They have camped overnight in the Town Forest, an awesome experience!! People hike, walk their dogs, teach their children about respecting nature, and participate in organized outings in our natural, recreational spaces. We are so fortunate to have these spaces! Our natural recreational spaces need to be maintained like other recreational spaces. A significant shift in mindset needs to occur so that the recreational spaces of all residents are acknowledged and properly maintained. I want my some of my “recreation tax dollars” to support the maintenance of the spaces enjoyed by the hikers and dog owners, and nature enthusiasts.
In the past few years, Town Meeting has appropriated many, many millions of dollars to build new, or to maintain, organized sports facilities in Reading, including over $5 million for the Birch Meadow complex renovations phases 1 and 2, and $3 million for the field house floor and bleachers. In April 2025, Town Meeting approved $1.5 million for 7 “premiere” lighted pickleball courts, a half million dollars more than the original expected cost. The article passed by just 5 votes, as residents contacted Town Meeting members and asked them to vote “no,” and Town Meeting members voiced their concern about the grand scope and cost of the project, as Town leaders are beginning to discuss a tax
override.
Mr. Bacci, a professional pickleball instructor and coach, had previously stated the proposed courts were “like nothing being built in the Northeast.” At Town Meeting, Mr. Bacci never stated that we don’t always get what we want, regarding pickleball courts. He did not advocate tightening his own belt, and removing a court or two, or putting off lighting for the courts until another time. He did not talk about wants versus needs, and he did not state that everyone must cut back a little. Mr. Bacci had the opportunity to set an example, but he passed it by. His concern for finances came after his desired project was funded. It appears that Mr. Bacci wants others to do without, but not himself. His comments on 7/15 about setting an example ring hollow to me.
Recreation in all forms needs to be respected, supported, and properly funded. The maintenance of the Town’s precious natural recreation spaces should not be left to whim, and the Conservation Division and these important Town boards need the funds to allow volunteers and staff to do their job. I urge the Select Board, Town Administrators, the Finance Committee, and Town Meeting, to properly support and fund our natural resource management in the future. These recreational resources are not the place to begin tightening the belt.
Sincerely,
Angela Binda, Town Meeting member
Orchard Park Drive
This LtE was edited from the original to include links to the Select Board meeting on July 15, 2025 and Town Meeting Night 3 on May 5, 2025.