On the agenda at a recent meeting of the Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council were updates on the Levingston Cove and Crystal Lake projects. Luis Demorizi, Open Space Coordinator for Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture, reported that work on Levingston Cove is projected for completion in June, weather permitting. Newton Highlands Area Councilor Amy Wayne asked about the fishing deck at Levingston Cove and expressed concern that children might not be seen if they were to go under it. Mr. Demorizi said the fishing deck will extend ten feet from the wall and will be about thirty feet wide. In addition, the platform will be a few feet higher than the previous fishing wall, since the design called for raising the site. Mr. Fizek noted that the final project was controversial, with many feeling the project was “over-designed” and more expensive than it needed to be.
Asked about Levingston Cove costs, Mr. Demorizi said that the initial budget was for $1.44 million, but the actual price was $1.8 million and that ARPA funds paid for the difference. Highlands Council Vice Chair Nathaniel Lichtin asked about the fencing currently surrounding Crystal Lake because the area is serving as a staging site for work on Levingston Cove. Mr. Demorizi assured him that the City is making every effort to restore the area as soon as possible. Mr. Lichtin expressed concern that there was no general notice that the Crystal Lake Park is being used as a Levingston Cove staging area, and he recommended that the City send notices to the community. Area Council member Barbara Darnell asked Mr. Demorizi if the opaque windscreen fencing used to separate the construction site would be reinstalled, noting that it posed a visibility problem for pedestrians. Mr. Demorizi assured her that opaque fencing would not used again. He also said that the Parks, Recreation & Culture Department failed to solicit community input before beginning the design process.
Following the first community meeting dealing with the revamping of Crystal Lake and the area known as the “Left Beach,” both projects are now on hold. Mr. Demorizi promised that the Parks and Recreation Department will host a community-wide meeting and workshop to seek input and to discuss the process – and at a time when the area is at peak use for maximum community participation. Highlands Area Councilor Srdjan Nedeljkovic asked if the Left Beach would be accessible without having to use the boardwalk, to which Mr. Demorizi responded that there were a number of options under consideration. Area Councilor Fizek asked how considerations for the use of Left Beach were determined before the first community meeting. He and others suggested that community input should guide design concepts rather than presenting a finished project to the community. Mr. Demorizi replied that the first meeting was to present the initial “concept” and ask for feedback.
In a follow-up discussion with Mr. Demorizi, he acknowledged that the webinar model used to introduce projects was not ideal. Going forward, he suggested that zoom sessions would allow for more immediate citizen input, although he noted that “zoom bombs” are always a risk. At the same time, he is planning in-person, on-site community sessions. He urged people to send comments and feedback by email to CrystalLakeProject@newtonma.gov.
