Park Board Advances Claxton Field Redesign Plan
Other Committee · Meeting of September 24, 2026
Needham's Park and Recreation Commission unanimously backed a near-final design for five new pickleball courts and a skate park at Claxton Field. Commissioners Cindy Chaston, Karen Pierce, Jim Rosenbaum and Michelle Geddes voted 4-0 to approve two unrelated special event permits, including a "No Kings" rally at Green's Field expected to draw 1,000 to 1,500 people, contingent on a police-coordinated traffic plan. Landscape architect Cassie Bethany of Weston & Sampson presented the Claxton Field concept, built around a quarry-sited skate park and five pickleball courts with roughly 23 new parking spaces.
Skate park designer Brad Sedlake said, "In my 25 years in 500-plus parks, I've never built in a rock quarry." Resident Meredith Farwell pressed for more courts given pickleball's growth, but Bethany said stormwater mitigation requirements and wetlands buffers leave no room to expand. Construction funding goes before Town Meeting in May 2027, with a best-case 2027 start.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,502 words
Source: the Other Committee meeting of September 24, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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