FRIENDS OF LEO J. MARTIN

LEO J. MARTIN SKIING MASTER PLAN

August 13, 2015

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The Leo J. Martin facility is the most densely-used Nordic area in New England. It serves families and recreational skiers of all ages while producing athletes of national caliber.

This plan is designed to place in Eastern Massachusetts on a sustainable footing and to support its future growth.

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Photographs in this plan are courtesy of Lauren Hefferon, Jamie Doucett, Chris City and Wikimedia Foundation.

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CONTENTS

Executive Summary 7 FOLJMS Mission Statement 8 Location and Use 9 Existing Conditions 17 FOLJMS Objectives 19 Physical Resources Development Plan 21 FOLJMS Directors and Advisory Board 27

Appendix I: Trail Map, Weston Ski Track 31 Appendix II: Snowmaking at LJM 32 Appendix III: Letters of Support 37

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Master Plan, developed by the Friends of Leo J. Martin Skiing (FOLJMS), outlines a vision for expanding and improving the cross-country skiing facilities at the Leo J. Martin golf course and ski center in Weston, Massachusetts. The Leo J. Martin facility is owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The ultimate goal of these efforts is to expand opportunities for the residents of Eastern Massachusetts to enjoy cross-country skiing.

The central location of the Leo J. Martin ski center and the facility’s proven ability to use manmade to provide reliable skiing in an urban setting creates unique opportunities for a public-private partnership that can meet the growing demand for this healthy outdoor winter sport.

Years of steady growth have brought the pleasures of cross-country skiing to increasing numbers of people in the greater Boston community: in the 2014-2015 season there were 42,000 paid skier-days. But this growth has also pushed the capacity of the Leo J. Martin ski center to its limits. FOLJMS seeks to work with the DCR to expand and improve the skiing experience for the full range of users, including recreational skiers, families, high school programs, youth learn-to-ski programs, racing programs, adaptive programs, and outreach to communities not traditionally associated with skiing.

As described in this Master Plan, FOLJMS envisions achieving these goals through investing in trail development, additional snowmaking capacity, and grooming equipment; by making other improvements to the facility; and by working with the DCR to use national best practices to exploit the natural synergies between summer golf and winter skiing operations at this dual-use facility.

FOLJMS envisions a public-private partnership with the Commonwealth in which FOLJMS brings significant private resources to these efforts. To justify fundraising and capital improvements, FOLJMS therefore seeks to enter into a long-term (ten or, ideally twenty year) lease with the Commonwealth in which FOLJMS manages the skiing operations, including snowmaking, grooming, ticket sales, rentals, lessons, and retail operations; the DCR adopts a dual-use management plan; and FOLJMS raises significant private funds to upgrade the ski facility.

FOLJMS is a nonprofit organization representing the institutions and individuals who use the Leo J. Martin ski center, with more than 600 individual members from throughout the Greater Boston ski community. FOLJMS is the operating name of the Boston Area Nordic Ski Association, Inc., a 501(c)3 entity incorporated in Massachusetts.

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FOLJMS MISSION STATEMENT

To promote and enhance opportunities for cross country skiing at the Leo J. Martin ski center; to promote public awareness of the benefits of cross-country skiing and encourage inclusive public participation in cross-country skiing in the Greater Boston area; and to develop the Leo J. Martin ski center into a facility that meets the full range of current and future needs of the Nordic skiing community in Eastern Massachusetts.

For more information about FOLJMS: www.foljms.org www.facebook.com/FOLJMS

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LOCATION AND USE

The Leo J. Martin ski center is located at the intersection of the Mass Pike and I-95 in Weston and is conveniently accessible for much of the Greater Boston population. According to Snowsports Industries America, Massachusetts has more cross-country skiers than any other state, with nearly 10% of the national cross-country skiing population. Leo J. Martin is the busiest cross-country ski facility in Massachusetts. Indeed, in 2013-14 (the latest year for which data is available) the number of skier visits to Leo J. Martin alone equaled 25% of the skier visits to all of the Nordic ski areas in New Hampshire combined.

Who at Leo J. Martin?

Families with young children. Aspiring and actual U.S. Ski Team Octogenarians enjoying some members preparing to represent the exercise. U.S. internationally. Visitors to Boston who have never High school freshman who took up skied before. the sport because their friends are Ten-year-old members of a youth on the team. club. Inner city middle-schoolers who are Adults getting some exercise after trying their first snow sport. work under the lights. College skiers training for their next 16-year olds getting ready for Junior race. Nationals. Twenty-somethings on a date. Adaptive skiers checking out sit- A broad cross-section of the greater skiing. Boston community! Back-country skiers preparing for an outing.

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Recreational Skiers

The LJM facility is used by recreational skiers of all ages. On a weekend day with fresh snow, the facility can see as many as 1,100 skiers.

In the 2014-15 season, Weston Ski Track gave novice and intermediate cross-country ski lessons to over 1,800 skiers.

The Boston Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) holds low-cost Novice Nordic ski workshops at LJM on a regular basis.

Back-country skiers can train and hone their skills at a facility near to their home and work and prepare properly for an outing.

Skiing Is on the Rise

In the 2014-2015 season, there were 42,000 paid skier-days at the Leo J. Martin cross-country ski facility, up from 34,000 just two years prior.

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Inclusive Programs

A wide range of inclusive programs are offered at LJM:

In the 2014-15 season, FOLJMS and Weston Ski Track partnered with the Boston Boys and Girls Club to provide lessons to kids ages 11-15, and local youth and racing ski clubs partnered with YES Kids (Youth Enrichment Services, a Boston nonprofit) to launch a new Nordic skiing program with urban youth ages 8-13. A major goal of both programs is to inspire a lifelong appreciation and respect of healthy activities in youth participants.

The Department of Conversation and Recreation (DCR) provides a Universal Access adaptive skiing program at LJM. The DCR makes Nordic skiing accessible for people with disabilities, friends and families by the use of adaptive equipment, supportive techniques, and provides assistance as needed.

The New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) adaptive XC ski clinics are designed for veterans and others with physical disabilities and target both first-time and experienced skiers.

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High School Programs

The Leo J. Martin facility is the primary – and in low-snow seasons, the only – venue for thirteen Eastern Massachusetts high schools with cross-country ski programs. Reliable man-made snow at LJM is critical to the existence and ongoing success of these programs.

The public high school teams typically have 20-50 or more skiers. All the teams are “no cuts/no tryouts” and encourage new skiers to try the sport. Many of the skiers develop strong skiing skills and personal growth as a result of taking the sport up as freshmen.

Massachusetts High School Skiing

Mass Bay West Mass Bay East Acton-Boxborough Regional High School Brookline High School Concord-Carlisle Regional High School Dover-Sherborn Regional High School Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Newton North High School Nashoba High School Newton South High School Wayland High School Weston High School Westford Academy Wellesley High School Winchester High School Private Belmont Hill School

The leagues operate under the auspices of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). The twelve public schools in Mass Bay East and West are approximately half the Massachusetts schools that have cross country ski teams.

A typical week sees 300-400 or more high school skiers compete, with races held on two days per week (one for Mass Bay East, one for Mass Bay West). Other days of the week, the teams practice on a staggered schedule because of capacity constraints.

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EMBK Youth Club Program (age 7 through 8th grade)

The Eastern Massachusetts Bill Koch (EMBK) Youth Ski Club introduces youngsters ages 7-13 to the pleasures and benefits of cross country skiing through a seasonal ski program at the Leo J. Martin facility. In 2014-15, EMBK had 230 registered skiers from 42 towns in the Boston and Greater Boston area. A typical Saturday practice includes 200 youth skiers divided into 15-20 groups, each with 2-3 adult instructors.

The club has been in operation since the 1970s and is an all-volunteer organization aimed at promoting the sport, the love of the outdoors, and an active lifestyle. EMBK is the largest youth cross-country ski club in New England, and one of the largest in the nation.

The club provides a fun, safe space for children to grow as skiers. EMBK focuses on affordable instruction and proper technique so that children can enjoy and continue the sport as they grow into high school students and adults, whether their interest is recreational, racing, or some of each.

In 2013, EMBK hosted the annual New England Bill Koch Youth Ski League Festival at Leo J. Martin, attracting more than 600 youth skiers (and as many parents) from New England and New York.

Membership, Eastern Mass Bill Koch Youth Ski Club Age 7 through 8th grade 300

250

200

150

100

50

0

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Junior Club Racing

Leo J. Martin is also the home of the Cambridge Sports Union (CSU) Nordic Ski Team. The CSU Junior ski program is for high school students in grades 8-12 that have a passion for Nordic skiing. The program serves athletes who don’t have a school ski team or who are interested in additional coaching beyond what they receive in their high school program.

CSU coaches up to 50 skiers in its year-round program. Students come from Andover, Concord-Carlisle, Lincoln- Sudbury, Dover-Sherborn, Reading, Wellesley, Belmont Hill, Wayland, Newton, Brookline and other schools. Graduates of the CSU program have gone on to ski for Williams, Dartmouth, Colby, University of Vermont, UNH, Bates, Middlebury Saint Lawrence, Saint Olaf, Bowdoin, and Harvard.

CSU is the largest and most successful non-school affiliated Nordic ski program in New England. It was named the New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) 2015 Club of the Year in recognition of its role in the regional and national Nordic skiing community. CSU holds dry land practices six days per week during the off-season, and switches of on-snow practices at LJM as soon as snow is available to get ready for the first New England Junior National qualifier race held in held December.

CSU skiers who have represented Massachusetts in National or International Competition (2010-2015)

Skier Town Skier Town Geoff Atkinson Norwell Olivia Meyerson Concord Cate Brams Belmont Lewis Nottonson Acton Leah Brams* Belmont Hilary Rich* Andover Charlotte Cole Brookline Hannah Smith Wellesley Eli Hoenig Sudbury Rebecca Smith Wellesley Sonya Jampel Newton Zoe Snow Weston Julia Kern* Waltham Chris Stock Lincoln Chris Koziel Needham Corey Stock* Lincoln Gavin McEwen Weston Gabby Vandendries Brookline Hamish McEwen* Weston

*International Competitor (U18/World Junior Championships, and/or World Cup)

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Collegiate Skiing

The LJM facility is also the winter training venue for the Harvard Ski Team. LJM hosted a large Eastern Cup race in 2011 in which many university and club skiers participated.

Many outing clubs at local universities use the venue for cross-country skiing, including Bentley, Boston College, Boston University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northeastern, Tufts, and the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Citizen Racing Each year, the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce of New England holds the Boston Vasalopp at the LJM. This is a fun race and festival of skiing for both adults and kids. Participants get the chance to try Blåbärsoppa (Blueberry Soup) and Semlor (delicious buns filled with cream and almond paste).

Adults of all ages and abilities race at LJM on Tuesday nights. Skiers rush to the track after work to make a 7:00 or a 7:30 start time and then ski under the lights for 6 to 8 km. The snow lasted so far into the spring in the 2015 that it was still light out for some of the Tuesday night races. Races attract fields each week of 60-90 skiers - in any weather.

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EXISTING CONDITIONS

Centrally located in Weston, Massachusetts, the Leo J. Martin ski center provides cross-country skiing in an accessible urban location. Thanks to snowmaking, its reliable skiing makes LJM an urban resource that is unique in the Eastern . LJM’s strengths, weaknesses and FOLJMs objectives are outlined below.

Strengths

Unrivalled location – centrally located for Greater Boston with over 5 million people within an hour’s drive. o At the junction of the Mass Pike and I-95, the two major arteries in eastern Massachusetts. o Close to public transportation (Riverside stop, MBTA Green Line). The only cross-country ski center with snow making within 90 miles. Open evenings with night lighting and safe parking. Wrapped around the Charles River, which provides water for snowmaking with minimal environmental impact. Co-located with the LJM golf course, sharing facilities and landscape improvements with the synergies that result. Nordic skiing matches the mission of the landowner, the Mass DCR (see box below).

The DCR’s Mission Statement

To protect, promote and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural and recreational resources for the well-being of all.

In meeting today's responsibilities and planning for tomorrow, DCR's focus is on:

Improving outdoor recreational opportunities and natural resource conservation Restoring and improving our facilities Expanding public involvement in carrying out DCR's mission, and Establishing first-rate management systems and practices.

The health and happiness of people across Massachusetts depend on the accessibility and quality of our green infrastructure - our natural resources, recreational facilities, and great historic landscapes. The DCR continues to improve the vital connection between people and the environment.

Source: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/inside-our-agency/mission/

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Challenges

1. Overcrowding The growth in skiing at LJM over the past decade combined with recent reductions in skiable area has strained the facility to its limits. The facility is one of the largest in New England as measured by skier-days, but one of the smallest nationally as measured by trail length, even when the full course is open. (The average New Hampshire resort has 51km of trails, compared to 15km at Leo J Martin.) Conditions are overcrowded, making it difficult for skiers with diverse skiing abilities to use the facility together: o A typical Saturday morning sees 400+ skiers – including 7 and 8 year olds, recreational skiers, high schoolers, and adults – sharing a kilometer of snow. o The growth of the high school programs makes it hard for recreational users to share the snow during high school races and practices. During the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, further temporary space restrictions significantly degraded skiing and raised safety issues for all users, especially novices and youth.

2. Inadequate trails LJM is a relatively flat ski area, so maximizing the use of the limited available hills is critical, especially to skiers who are training to also ski or compete elsewhere. DCR closure of the terrain surrounding the 5th green caused advanced racers to suffer the loss of the main hill on the course.

3. Inadequate facilities The parking and clubhouse facilities are strained beyond capacity on many ski days. In particular, on weekends with natural snow the parking lot fills up by 9:30 a.m.

4. Underinvestment The facility needs new grooming equipment, additional snow making equipment, improved and expanded trails, additional lighting and power, and better trail access. o Currently less than 1/6th of the total terrain is available for skiing with manmade snow. Expansion of terrain used for snowmaking would permit growth of the user base in low-snow years. o The existing electrical system does not provide enough power to permit even the current operator’s snowmaking equipment to operate at full capacity. The LJM ski center has been operated under a short-term lease from the DCR. o This short-term lease structure does not support the longer-term business investments needed to make significant improvements in skiing. o The leasing structure has prevented achieving synergies with the golf operations.

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FOLJMS OBJECTIVES

1. Promote Cross-Country Skiing in Greater Boston Promote public awareness of the benefits of cross-country skiing and encourage public participation in cross-country skiing in the Greater Boston area, including by adaptive skiers, disadvantaged youth and others with limited opportunities to enjoy cross-country skiing. Educate people from a variety of backgrounds about the health benefits of cross-country skiing as a way to promote physical activity and fitness, encourage appreciation of the environment, and benefit the community.

2. Improve the LJM Ski Center to Promote Growth Create a facility that encourages and supports expanded participation in the sport by all members of the cross-country skiing community. Expand and improve the available skiing terrain, both in natural snow and in low-snow, manmade skiing conditions. Expand snowmaking and grooming capability. Pursue other improvements as indicated in the Physical Resources Development Plan.

3. Partner with the Commonwealth to Support Skiing at LJM Enter into a public-private partnership with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in which FOLJMS would manage the skiing operations at LJM, including snowmaking, grooming, ticket sales, rentals, lessons, and retail. Entering into a long-term lease arrangement – ideally 20 years – with a clear dual-use mission would provide FOLJMS with the ability to raise substantial private funds for investing in the facility. Work with the Commonwealth to designate Leo J. Martin as a dual-use facility at which improvements and operations benefit both skiing and golfing, and which clearly delineates the rights, responsibilities, and coordination of the golf and skiing operations.. Implement the dual-use mission using national best practices to achieve synergies in facilities development, maintenance, and improvement. Bring significant private resources to this project through a private development campaign so that the envisioned recreational improvements result from a true public- private partnership that harnesses private funds to bring enduring value to the citizens of the Commonwealth.

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Comparison Case: Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis

The Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis is a publicly-owned cross country skiing facility in an urban location that caters to a wide variety of groups. Like Leo J. Martin, the facility is shared by golfers and skiers. The park provides 25 kilometers of groomed trails suitable for both classic and skate skiing. These trails include a lighted loop with manmade snow. Wirth Park is managed in partnership between the Minneapolis Park Board and the Minneapolis Loppet Foundation, a nonprofit with the mission of supporting Nordic skiing in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region.

Skiing at Wirth Park has thrived under this public-private partnership, and the park and its programs have achieved national prominence, including hosting the 2011 USSA Junior Nationals championships.

Theodore Wirth Golf Course and Winter Recreation Area, Minneapolis MN

https://www.minneapolisparks.org/p arks_and_destinations/parks_and_l akes/wirth_winter_recreation_area/# group_0_151973

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PHYSICAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Overarching Objectives

The overarching objective of the physical resources development plan is to support the recreational and racing cross-country ski communities and to exploit synergies with the golf course through:

1. An expanded and redesigned trail system that would: Support more skiers Improve safety and enjoyment of all users Provide areas for teaching beginners and children Provide quiet, scenic trails for recreational skiing and snowshoeing Provide more challenging terrain Improve suitability for racing, including supporting multiple race formats.

2. Infrastructure improvements to support: More extensive and efficient snowmaking Better and safer connections between sections of the course Additional parking Clubhouse improvements.

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Phase I

The primary goal of Phase I is to restore skiing functionality to what it was in the 2012-3 season. Changes would be implemented immediately where possible and, where grading or infrastructure upgrading is required, in time for the second season of FOLJMS operation.

1. Negotiate long term lease with DCR A long term lease of the facility enables the users to plan and finance the improvements needed. The arrangements between the DCR and Community Boating have set the template for this interaction and show what remarkable things can be achieved by aligning the interests and capabilities in a public/non-profit partnership.

2. Restore ski area with modest improvements and expansion Resume trail setting and grooming over the full course as in 2012-13 season. Make small additional improvements that are feasible in the one to two year time frame. Provide more challenging terrain for intermediate and advanced skiers while providing cutoffs to allow novice skiers to avoid the more difficult sections of the course. Increase teaching space through improving access to and use of the driving range.

Specific Phase I skiing restoration and improvements

1. Clear brush and grade terrain to provide wide additional direct climb (not side-hill climb) between green 5 and tee 6 (see photo). This would entail adding elevation to the top of the climb. Cart path over this section would be reinstated after grading. Width of 40ft would accommodate two-way skiing.

2. Create additional cut in driving range netting (hole 6 side, panel closest to driving range tees; see photo) to restore safe ski traffic flow through critical section in front of the clubhouse. Remove stump and move electrical stand from current location west of the driving range ball shed to a location that permits traffic in front of the driving range tee. (The main passage in front of the clubhouse is currently blocked by the wire holding up the newly-installed final netting pole on the right side of the photo, causing traffic constraints and safety issues. This wire should be relocated.) Also remove for the winter the black metal dividers separating driving range tees so that skiing can cross over the driving range tee and proceed through the new opening in the final netting section.

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3. Restore climb up hill to the south of Green 5 (see photo), with grading to extend the hill south and east of green 5 to ensure that skiing remains off the green. Alternatively, relocating the green 15 feet to the north would accommodate the climb while keeping skiing away from the green.

4. Extend snowmaking and lighting for 250m on fairway 4. The flat section on fairway 4 provides high-quality teaching terrain, but to be utilized fully requires snowmaking coverage the full width of the fairway (excluding green 4). This wide additional space would be a primary method for relieving congestion by segregating learners and lessons using the wide flat area on fairway 4 from recreational skiers and racers using the training loop that would go around the outside of this section and utilize hills elsewhere on the course (see 2 and 3 above).

5. Restore trail access and grooming on holes 12 and 13 (temporarily closed for 2014-15 season).

6. Restore and upgrade trail south of parking lot connecting trail around green 6 to Concord St. bridge over the Charles River.

7. Clubhouse improvements: work with DCR to improve the basement locker room.

8. Parking: Parking is inadequate on weekend days and some weeknights. (a) Work with DCR to expand parking in the existing lot and to create spillover parking in the equipment storage area across the bridge (near hole 10). (b) Work with Town of Weston and DCR to explore options for expanding spillover weekend parking capacity along Recreation Road, e.g. by plowing to permit head-in parking on one side.

9. Restore skiing on bridge over Charles connecting holes 11 and 12.

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Phase II

The goal of Phase II is to reduce crowding and allow for growth by bringing some attractive terrain under snowmaking. It should be achieved in three to five years.

1. Further expand and connect snowmaking terrain

Extend snowmaking to one of two sections that combine good hills with large flat fairways for teaching. Both of these areas combine appropriate terrain with proximity to the Charles River; however, both would require an additional pump, lines, and electrical upgrade. Either area could be accessed from the secondary parking lot (current maintenance parking lot). These two areas have comparable capacity to the current manmade snow area and would approximately double the extent of trails with manmade snow. The decision concerning which area to designate for expansion would be made in conjunction with the DCR based on detailed technical and cost assessments.

Option 1: Holes 16-18 provide good challenging terrain with areas suitable for teaching groups. They are contiguous with the clubhouse and holes 1-6 and allow for a trail connection to the MBTA at Riverside.

Option 2: Holes 12-13 also have good terrain although access to the rest of the course would require a trail of plowed-in snow in the absence of natural snow.

2. Additional trail and infrastructure development

Cut new trail in wooded section on river side of Hole 4 (down bank to river and return), accessible for extension of snowmaking on Hole 4. Connect the groomed ski terrain to within 200 yards of the MBTA Green Line stop at Riverside, dramatically increasing access. Construct 4m wide bridge adjacent to the Concord Street bridge to allow safe skiable connection between the current snowmaking area and holes 16-18. The bridge would also be usable by golf carts, thereby improving safety and access for all users.

3. In conjunction with DCR, explore burying snowmaking pipes as part of DCR golf course irrigation upgrade. Buried snowmaking pipes would save time (up to a week) for switching over from golf to skiing in the fall and from skiing to golf in the winter; currently the facility is unavailable for either activity or for snowmaking when temporary pipes are laid down and then taken up.

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Phase III

Phase III maximizes the potential of the site while improving the experience for both skiers and golfers.

1. Connect the sections of the course

Park Road Bridge – The elevated terrain at the area could be extended to provide one abutment of a bridge over the road with an open gantry ramp on the other side. The existing MBTA bridge over Park Road has a clearance of less than 12 feet, so in principle the bridge would not provide a new obstruction to traffic. While visually it would have a significant impact on the site and would be an ambitious project, it would have substantial safety and site access benefits to both golfers and skiers.

Intervale Road Bridge – A bridge adjacent to the MBTA embankment would provide skiers a connection between the holes 9 and 13 and a new significant hill. With a renumbering of the holes 10-15 it would reduce the road crossings required by golfers, improve safety, and produce a better flow to the golf course.

2. Additional snowmaking

Bring snowmaking to the remainder of the course.

3. Clubhouse

The clubhouse is woefully undersized for the number of skiing users. In particular there is not enough space for shelter, a particular need for High School teams, non skiing family members and community events. The footprint of the existing clubhouse could be extended, especially to the Southeast of the existing Snack Bar. Alternatively, a second storey added over part of the structure would accommodate a common room.

4. Rollerski trails

The Greater Boston metro area lacks trails suitable for rollerskis and inline skates that have varied terrain and are safe from traffic. It would require careful planning, but a trail can be constructed around the periphery of the course that avoids the tees and greens. If possible, this would be a useful facility for Nordic skiers and for the wider recreational skating community.

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FOLJMS: Friends of Leo J. Martin Skiing

The Friends of Leo J. Martin Skiing is an umbrella organization representing the users of the LJM ski center. FOLJMS has more than 600 individual members. FOLJMS is the operating name of the Boston Area Nordic Ski Association, Inc., a 501(c)3 entity registered in Massachusetts.

FOLJMS Board of Directors

Chris Doyle is Chair of the FOLJMS Board of Directors and the mother of a skiing family. Chris's three girls race at the college, high school and middle school levels, and all learned to ski at LJM. She and her husband coach in the youth club program. Chris was the local organizer of the 2013 Bill Koch Festival, which brought more than 600 skiers ages 7-eighth grade, plus their parents, from around New England to Leo J. Martin for the annual New England weekend of youth cross-country racing and recreational ski adventure activities. In her non-skiing life, Chris is a financial consultant to hospitals and colleges.

Alex Appleby manages equipment for the Eastern Mass Bill Koch ski club and learned to ski at Leo J Martin. His three daughters are all skiers – one for her (State Champion) high school team, one for CSU and one for EMBK. The younger girls regularly win or place at BKL festivals, and Alex helped run the 2013 BKL Festival at LJM. When not skiing or waxing skis he is an investor and has a background in financial markets including commercial real estate finance.

Chris City has coached Nordic skiers at both the NCAA National Championships and USSA National Championships. His skiers have earned spots on the podium in collegiate races and at the USSA Junior National Championships. In 2014, Chris was named Coach of the Year for the Eastern Independent Ski Association, the NCAA ski league for New England and New York. Over the past 30 years, Chris has skied at Leo J. Martin as a high school, collegiate and master’s competitor, and now enjoys skiing there both as a coach and recreationally with his family. He is currently coach of the Harvard Ski Team.

Jack Dawley is an avid skier whose two daughters have participated in the junior ski programs at LJM. He is President and CEO of Northland Residential Corporation, an award-winning residential development company based in Burlington, and is a past President of the Builders Association of Greater Boston.

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Andrew Hall has been an avid Nordic skier since 1974 and typically skis about 100 days a season. Since 1991 the bulk of his skiing has been at LJM. His wife and three grown children all love Nordic skiing. Since 1999 he has been a Type II diabetic and skiing is key to maintaining normal blood sugar levels in the winter. Andrew was instrumental in getting a FOLJMS pilot program started in the 2014/15 season for 19 members of the Boys and Girls Club of Boston, and will help the program expand for the 15/16 season. Andrew is retired.

James Jampel and his family of five all began Nordic skiing in 2010, after finally finding an outdoor winter activity they all could share. His kids have participated in EMBK, Eastern Cup, MIAA State Championship, and Junior Nationals races. His daughter Sonya was captain of the Newton North Nordic team and will ski at Williams College. James’ wife Sandy coaches in the Bill Koch League. When he is not skiing, James is swimming, biking, running and advising on investments as President of HITE Hedge Asset Management LLC in Newton, MA.

Amie Smith is the High Performance Director for the New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA). She is also a coach for CSU juniors Nordic Ski Team and was General Manager and Board Chair for CSU Juniors Nordic Ski Team, from 2007-2015. She was also the Massachusetts State Team head coach at Eastern High School Championships in 2014, and, the New England Junior National Team Leader 2014 & 2015. Amie grew up in Vermont and has skied and raced her whole life. She has two daughters who grew up in Wellesley and skied for EMBK, CSU juniors and Wellesley High School, and then for Williams.

Jim Stock is Head Coach of the Eastern Mass Bill Koch Youth Ski Club, which has members ages 7-13. Since he started as Head Coach in 2002, the club has focused on technique instruction and has grown from approximately 40 to 220 skiers. In 2013 he received the New England Bill Koch League Award of Excellence for his contributions to youth ski instruction. His two children were captains of their high school and college cross-country ski teams. Stock is Professor of Economics at Harvard. In 2013-2014, he served as Member of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, where his responsibilities included being the lead economist on the White House energy/climate team.

Elizabeth Wilcox is a life-long skier, formerly an alpine racer and ski patroller. She coached 7 and 8 year olds in cross-country skiing for many years. Her son races with CSU, and her daughter races cross-country in college. She has spent her professional life in communications as a journalist, writer, and consultant.

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FOLJMS Advisory Board

Liz Arky is a member of the Foundation Board of Trustees of the US Ski and Association, a founding board member of Fast and Female USA, and Principal of Arky Group Consulting LLC, a government relations and corporate citizenship consulting firm.

Rob Bradlee is the Head Coach of the Cambridge Sports Union Junior Racing Program, 2012 USSA Coach of the Year, Member, Board of Directors of the New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA), former Head of the NENSA Coaches Committee, current member of NENSA athlete development and coaches committee. Bradlee is a technical trainer in programing languages and operating systems.

George Cole, a long time Bill Koch and CSU parent, is a Principal in the Real Estate Strategy and Project Management Group of Stantec, an international design and consulting company.

Mark Doughty is President & CEO of Thoughtforms Corporation, a member of the Massachusetts Audubon Broadmoor Advisory Board, and an MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative Alumni Liaison

Jamie Doucett spent nine years coaching children in the EMBK program, followed by 13 years coaching the CSU Jr team. He continues to serve on the Board for the CSU Jr team and as treasurer for the CSU Masters team. Jamie competes as a Masters racer and is director of the Clean Energy Results Program at MassDEP.

Kathryn Graddy coaches in the Eastern Mass Bill Koch Club and is the mother of three Nordic skiers. She is Professor of Economics at Brandeis University, the Director of the PhD Program in Economics and Finance, and a former Chair of the Brandeis Economics Department.

Barrett Kitch, M.D. is Club Director of the Eastern Mass Bill Koch Youth Ski Club, and is Chief of Critical Care Medicine, Vice Chair, Department of Medicine at North Shore Medical Center.

Chris Li is the cross-country ski coach at Wayland High School and partner in the Bikeway Source in Bedford.

Fred Sears is the head cross-country ski coach at Dover-Sherborn High School.

Tom Simon is Treasurer of FOLJMS and Treasurer of the EMBK youth ski club.

Lucian Snow is a board member of the New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA), a parent of two Nordic skiers, and Managing Partner of Lumley Jacobs NA LLC, a customer engagement consultancy for the insurance industry.

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APPENDICES

Appendix I: Trail Map, Weston Ski Track

Note: ski terrain was reduced by 30% in 2014-15 due to temporary DCR restrictions. Phase I of the Master Plan envisions widening and extension of snowmaking on hole 4 (upper flats) by an additional 250m, and reopening skiing on holes 12 and 13 as shown in these maps.

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Appendix II: Snowmaking at LJM

The following charts show the hourly temperatures and snowmaking windows at LJM for the ten seasons from 2006-2015. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius (wet bulb) from Hanscom Field NOAA reporting station (KBED, Bedford MA, 9.2 miles north of LJM), adjusted for average winter differential between Weston MA and Hanscom Field. Snowmaking conditions in this chart are indicated by temperatures below -2oC (wet bulb) with wind speeds not exceeding 15mph. Areas in orange are periods in which snowmaking is not possible (too warm or too windy). Areas in dark blue are periods in which snowmaking is possible during daytime hours (7am- 7pm), and areas in light blue are nighttime snowmaking hours.

Inspection of these charts, along with supplementary data analysis and modeling, leads to three conclusions:

1. Most of the snowmaking windows are during night hours, especially in the critical period of early and mid-December. Supplemental modeling shows that if snowmaking were restricted to 7am-7pm, that in three of these ten seasons the ski track would not open until the third week in January, missing the first half of the high school racing season, eliminating the pre-race high school training period, severely impacting the youth and junior racing programs, and shortening the recreational skiing and instructional period. FOLJMS is committed to aggressive, early, around-the-clock snowmaking to ensure the earliest physically possible opening date.

2. There is considerable variability in early-season temperatures. December 2005 and 2010 had significant early cold temperatures, but in December 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, and 2014, short cold snaps were interrupted by protracted above-freezing temperatures, sometimes accompanied by rain (not shown). FOLJMS is committed to utilizing brief snowmaking windows to maximize snow coverage to ensure a full season of skiing for all LJM users.

3. In two of the ten seasons, cold Decembers were followed by a sharp January thaw (January 2006, 2008), sometimes with rain. To ensure a full course for high school races, club usage, and recreational skiers, FOLJMS is committed to sufficient snow coverage to weather a January thaw, and to make snow after the thaw ends to restore conditions. FOLJMS will achieve this goal by building snow to a 2 foot depth on the entire snowmaking course, and replacing January snow melt as needed.

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LJM hourly temperature and snowmaking windows December 1, 2005 - January 15, 2006 20 10 0 degrees C (wet bulb) (wet C degrees -10 -20 Nov30 Dec12 Dec23 Jan04 Jan16

No snowmaking 7am-7pm 7pm-7am

LJM hourly temperature and snowmaking windows December 1, 2006 - January 15, 2007 20 10 0 degrees C (wet bulb) (wet C degrees -10 -20 Nov24 Dec06 Dec17 Dec29 Jan09 Jan21

No snowmaking 7am-7pm 7pm-7am

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LJM hourly temperature and snowmaking windows December 1, 2007 - January 15, 2008 20 10 0 degrees C (wet bulb) (wet C degrees -10 -20 Nov30 Dec11 Dec23 Jan03 Jan15

No snowmaking 7am-7pm 7pm-7am

LJM hourly temperature and snowmaking windows December 1, 2008 - January 15, 2009 20 10 0 degrees C (wet bulb) (wet C degrees -10 -20 Dec04 Dec15 Dec27 Jan08 Jan19

No snowmaking 7am-7pm 7pm-7am

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LJM hourly temperature and snowmaking windows December 1, 2009 - January 15, 2010 20 10 0 degrees C (wet bulb) (wet C degrees -10 -20 Nov28 Dec09 Dec21 Jan01 Jan13

No snowmaking 7am-7pm 7pm-7am

LJM hourly temperature and snowmaking windows December 1, 2010 - January 15, 2011 20 10 0 degrees C (wet bulb) (wet C degrees -10 -20 Dec03 Dec15 Dec26 Jan07 Jan18

No snowmaking 7am-7pm 7pm-7am

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LJM hourly temperature and snowmaking windows December 1, 2011 - January 15, 2012 20 10 0 degrees C (wet bulb) (wet C degrees -10 -20 Nov27 Dec08 Dec20 Jan01 Jan12

No snowmaking 7am-7pm 7pm-7am

LJM hourly temperature and snowmaking windows December 1, 2012 - January 15, 2013 20 10 0 degrees C (wet bulb) (wet C degrees -10 -20 Dec01 Dec13 Dec24 Jan05 Jan17

No snowmaking 7am-7pm 7pm-7am

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LJM hourly temperature and snowmaking windows December 1, 2013 - January 15, 2014 20 10 0 -10 degrees C (wet bulb) (wet C degrees -20

Nov25 Dec07 Dec18 Dec30 Jan10 Jan22

No snowmaking 7am-7pm 7pm-7am

LJM hourly temperature and snowmaking windows December 1, 2014 - January 15, 2015 20 10 0 degrees C (wet bulb) (wet C degrees -10 -20 Nov30 Dec12 Dec24 Jan04 Jan16

No snowmaking 7am-7pm 7pm-7am

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Appendix III: Letters of Support

August 10, 2015 Commissioner Carol L. Sanchez Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Cc: Deputy Commissioner of Operations Matthew Sisk Cc: Chris Doyle, Chair BOD, FOLJMS

Dear Commissioner Sanchez,

I am writing on behalf of the New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA). NENSA is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the Community Olympic Development Program for cross-country skiing in New England as well as the umbrella for most organized Nordic skiing events in the region. NENSA hosts and facilitates scores of events and clinics for skiers and coaches at venues across the Northeast, including at the Leo J. Martin (LJM) golf course ski track. Cross-country skiing, as practiced by our youth skiers and families, is a lifetime activity firmly rooted in New England tradition.

The primary goal of the New England Nordic Ski Association is to create an environment that promotes the athletic development of New England cross-country skiers, supports skiing organizations, and encourages the growth of the sport of cross-country skiing. NENSA understands the importance of having a facility such as Leo J. Martin skiing available to Nordic skiers and racers of all levels. Without this facility, Nordic skiing would not exist in the Boston area. It is vital this venue continues with the highest level of snowmaking, grooming and race grooming available.

NENSA gives FOLJMS our full support in running the Nordic ski operation at Leo J. Martin golf course. We believe that their vision of what can be done at LJM will help promote and grow cross-country ski programs in Eastern Massachusetts, and will benefit Nordic skiing in all of New England as well. We support their vision of a public-private partnership with the Commonwealth in which FOLJMS brings significant private resources to these development efforts. It is understood that to justify fundraising and capital improvements, FOLJMS would seek to enter into a long-term arrangement with the Commonwealth, in which the DCR adopts a dual-use management plan and FOLJMS would upgrade the ski facility and manage the ski operations in a manner consistent with both the FOLJMS and DCR mission statements.

As mentioned earlier, LJM ski track has been host to several high level New England races and evens in the past – such a hosting the NENSA Eastern Cup & USSA Junior National qualifier races in 2011, and the NENSA New England Bill Koch Festival which brought 300+ kids and their families from across New England to ski track in 2014. The opportunity for these types of races and festivals to continue at LJM is essential to skiing in New England.

Thank you for supporting the FOLJMS Master Plan, and it’s vision and foresight. The leaders of FOLJMS include the key people who have built Nordic skiing in the region to the success it is today. Their outline of a vision of expanding and improving the cross-country skiing facilities at the Leo J. martin golf course and ski center in Weston MA is something NENSA fully supports.

Sincerely,

Zach Stegeman | Executive Director New England Nordic Ski Association 49 Pineland Drive, Suite 301-A New Gloucester, ME 04260 (o) 207- 688- 6503 (m) 207- 841- 7597 [email protected] | www.nensa.net

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August 8, 2015 Commissioner Carol L. Sanchez Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

Dear Commissioner Sanchez,

I am writing on behalf of the USSA (United States Ski Association) in support of FOLJMS (Friends of Leo J. Martin Skiing). We give FOLJMS our full support in running the Nordic ski operation at Leo J. Martin (LJM) golf course. We believe that their vision of what can be done at LJM will help promote and grow cross country ski programs in Eastern Massachusetts, and will benefit Nordic Skiing in all of New England as well. We support their vision of a public-private partnership with the Commonwealth in which FOLJMS brings significant private resources to these developments efforts. To justify fundraising and capital improvements, FOLJMS would seek to enter into a long-term arrangement with the Commonwealth, in which the DCR adopts a dual-use management plan and FOLJMS would upgrade the ski facility and manage the ski operations in a manner consistent with the FOLJMS and DCR mission statements.

The USSA understands the importance of having a facility such as Leo J. Martin skiing available to Nordic skiers and racers of all levels. Without such a facility, Nordic skiing would not exist in the Boston area. It is vital this venue continues with the highest level of snowmaking, grooming and race grooming available. Our newest Nordic U.S. Ski Team member is actually a skier who hails form Waltham MA, and grew up skiing and racing at LJM with their EMBKL and CSU juniors Nordic ski teams.

Leo J. Martin facility has been host to high level New England racing in the past – such a hosting the Eastern Cup and USSA Junior National qualifier races in 2011, and the New England Bill Koch Festival in 2014. The opportunity for these types of races and festivals to continue at LJM is essential to skiing in New England. New England is a very important region to USSA skiing, and LJM is a very important part of that.

Thank you for supporting the FOLJMS Master Plan, and it’s vision and foresight. The leaders of FOLJMS include the key people who have built Nordic skiing in the region to the success it is today. Their outline of a vision of expanding and improving the cross country skiing facilities at the Leo J. martin golf course and ski center in Weston MA is something we wholeheartedly support,

Sincerely,

Luke Bodensteiner Executive Vice President, Athletics The United States Ski & Snowboard Association

Cc: Deputy Commissioner of Operations Matthew Sisk CC: Chris Doyle, Chair BOD, FOLJMS

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CSU Juniors Nordic Ski Team

August 11, 2015

Commissioner Carol L. Sanchez Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

Dear Commissioner Sanchez,

I am writing on behalf of the CSU juniors Nordic ski team, Board of Directors, in support of the FOLJMS (Friends of Leo J. Martin Skiing) Master Plan, for the continuation of the highest quality of Nordic skiing at the Leo J. Martin (LJM) golf course in Weston, MA.

For almost two years now, FOLJMS has worked with the past and current administration of the DCR, not only on the importance of maintaining the current quality of Nordic skiing and racing in the Boston area, but also the importance of sustaining that quality, and expanding skiing at LJM. FOLJMS is headed up by the leaders of the Nordic ski community in Boston ‐ individuals involved with the programs that use LJM ‐ including, the high schools that make up the Mass Bay East and Mass Bay West leagues that race & train at LJM; the Eastern Mass Bill Koch League, a learn to ski and race youth program of over 200 area 7‐12 year olds; CSU juniors Nordic ski team, the high school club program of 50+ Boston area athletes that has produced multiple MA State and National champions, as well as placed their skiers on National & international teams, and, as of this June, has their first US Ski Team member, Julia Kern, from Waltham, of which CSU is very proud; the CSU Masters who both train and race there every Tuesday night; the adaptive skier program run by NENSA (New England Nordic Ski Association); and Veteran ski program that call LJM home, as well as the YES program, the Boys and Girls club program, and Harvard ski team, to name a few. All have come together to form FOLJMS to keep their programs, and Nordic skiing viable and alive at LJM.

The quality of leadership of FOLJMS is outstanding, and their Master Plan, which was written to help the DCR not only maintain, but improve the quality of Nordic skiing at LJM, is impressive. Their vision and foresight on what is needed to both run and improve skiing at LJM is something the DCR and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts should look to for advice and collaboration.

CSU juniors knows the importance of having a facility such as Leo J. Martin skiing available to Nordic skiers and racers of all levels. Without such a facility, Nordic skiing and the programs mentioned above would not exist in the Boston area, nor would our team. Our 50+ CSU athletes and volunteer coaches train year round. We start in the spring with dry land practices and , and we look forward to the day we can finally get on snow at LJM. It is imperative the season starts at LJM in early December, and that we can ski and train there through mid‐March, when our National and New England Championships are held. It is vital this venue continues with the highest level of snowmaking, grooming, and race grooming available

Thank you for supporting the FOLJMS master plan, and it’s vision and foresight. The leaders of FOLJMS are highly experienced and qualified, and want to work with the DCR to make LJM a premier venue for Nordic skiing and racing in Massachusetts, and New England. We support their efforts and we hope the DCR will too.

Sincerely,

Amie W. Smith CSU juniors Nordic ski team, Board Chair Wellesley, MA

cc: Deputy Commissioner of Operations Matthew Sisk cc: Chris Doyle, Chair BOD, FOLJMS

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August 11, 2015

Commissioner Carol I. Sanchez Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

Dear Commissioner Sanchez:

We, the Eastern Massachusetts high school cross country ski coaches, want to acknowledge and thank the Friends of Leo J Martin Skiing for their dedication and efforts in ensuring that our programs have a place to train and race at the Leo J. Martin golf course. FOLJMS has proven their competency by effectively organizing to reclaim critical ski areas at LJM that the DCR had closed to Weston Ski Track the previous year. We give FOLJMS our full support in running the Weston Ski Track after Larry Smith retires. We believe that their vision for the Leo J. Martin golf course is critical to the continued success of school cross country ski programs in Eastern Massachusetts.

Currently, Weston Ski track supports the cross country ski programs at 14 high schools (13 public, 1 private) that span 2 different leagues - Mass Bay East and Mass Bay West. The 13 public high schools comprise almost half of the teams that compete in the MIAA State Championship Meet. The 14 schools that rely on Weston Ski track are:

Acton Boxborough Newton North Belmont Hill Newton South Brookline Wellesley Concord Carlisle Wayland Dover Sherborn Westford Academy Lincoln Sudbury Weston – new team for 2015/2016 Nashoba Regional Winchester

Most of the teams vary in size from 20 to 50 skiers, with a few teams at 75+. In a given season, between 400 and 500 kids in total participate. Unlike a lot of other high school sports, cross country skiing does not have tryouts or cut kids from the program. As a result, the teams are comprised of kids with various skill levels from novices to national champions. The majority of kids that join have never cross country skied before. Through our program, kids learn to ski, a healthy activity they can do for the rest of their lives.

Our season starts the first Monday after Thanksgiving. The first Mass Bay West race is held on the first Tuesday after Christmas vacation, and the first Mass Bay East race is held on the first Wednesday after Christmas vacation. Each league has 5 races, and if the calendar allows, all teams race against each other at the Weston Ski Track Sprint Invitational. Each league needs to complete 4 out of the 5 races in order to participate in the MIAA State Championship Meet, which is the week before February Vacation.

Friends of Leo J. Martin Skiing 41

Because the season is compressed into such a short time span, it is important to get kids on snow as soon as possible and to maximize the time on snow during the little time we have. Teams typically train after school, set up evening practices, and/or come on the weekends. Any operator wanting to help keep and promote the HS cross country ski program needs to make skiable snow as early as and as often as possible whenever temperatures permit. Weston Ski Track has been able to provide snow for us to ski on as early as the middle of December. However, for the last 2 years, ongoing golf course construction and restrictions imposed from golf course management has impeded our ability to adequately practice.

With 14 teams competing for space, we are currently limited to training on snow twice a week for only 2 hours. In a low snow year, some kids will have been on snow only once or twice before the first race. Coaching 30 kids on a 200 yard loop is not practical and not effective. In addition, this can lead to unsafe conditions. The removal of the large overhead lights negatively impacted our ability to watch and coach skiers. The portable lights are a temporary solution, and the lights that were there previously should be re-installed. The new driving range poles and guidelines are a hazard and reduce the area in which we can ski. When the trail in not wide enough to ski, it is a potential hazard for newer and younger skiers. The loss of some of the fairways made coaching more difficult, as there was more congestion on the narrower trails because passing was not possible. Also the loss of Mount Weston (fairway 5) and fairways 12, 13 gave us less terrain to train on. These holes are important to train on as they are the larger hills on the golf course. The MIAA State course is a very hilly course with a climb that is almost 1 kilometer in length. The loss of fairways increased congestion even with all the natural snowfall because HS and recreational skiers were localized to a few areas on LJM.

FOLJMS has outlined what they would like to do with the Weston Ski Track, and we believe that its vision and experience will facilitate and enhance the HS cross country ski program experience.

Snow making at the earliest possible date possible. Restore the areas for snowmaking that were made off limits these past 2 years. Restore use of the fairways to ensure lanes of travel wide enough to allow for a safe pass. Improved lighting conditions for in the manmade loop. Experienced groomers and course setters. The restricted use of the piston bully on other parts of LJM made cross country skiing difficult because the trails were not packed down enough. Also, an experienced groomer can take an icy un-skiable course and turn it into a race worthy course.

Beyond these immediate needs to restore operations to what they were in 2012/2013, we strongly support the FOLJMS proposal to expand the snowmaking area. Every year, participation in the high school cross country programs has increased. The Mass Bay West League had fewer than 180 kids in 2008 and had 250 kids in 2014. In addition, Weston recently added a cross country ski team to their program. They anticipated less than 20 kids, but approximately 50

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kids so far have signed up! LJM is already beyond capacity, with limited hours of operation and terrain made unavailable to ski on. The only long-term solution is expanding snow making to new segments (such as holes 16-18 across the river) and improving lighting conditions for night skiing. FOLJMS proposal includes all of the above, and we strongly support their mission and fundraising efforts to achieve their vision of making the LJM a premier cross country ski center.

Without Weston Ski Track and FOLJMS, the high school cross country ski program in Eastern Massachusetts would cease to exist. The only high school ski programs that exist are the ones that ski out of Weston Ski Track and in the Berkshires. Central MA no longer has any cross country ski programs because of the loss of centrally located cross country centers. We enthusiastically support FOLJMS ongoing efforts and their plan to expand, enhance, and improve cross-country skiing at LJM.

Signed:

Patricia Garrison Head Coach, Acton Boxboro Regional High School Karin Cole Head Coach, Brookline High School Jeff Campbell Head Coach, Concord Carlisle Regional High School Fred Sears Head Coach, Dover Sherborn High School Susannah Wheelwright Assistant, Dover Sherborn High School Meri Burruss Assistant, Dover Sherborn High School Gwen Crevensten Assistant, Dover Sherborn High School Rami Alwan Nordic Coach, Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School Graham Taylor Head Ski Coach, Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School, and President, Mass Bay West Ski League Megan Burr Nyberg Head Coach, Nashoba Regional High School Bryan Collier Head Coach, Newton North High School Jeff Riklin Head Coach, Newton South High School Chris Li Head Coach, Wayland High School John Fantini Head Coach, Wellesley High School Marshall Randolph Assistant Coach, Wellesley High School Chandra Wisneski Assistant Coach, Wellesley High School Andy Norander Head Coach, Westford Academy Yanni Alphas Head Coach, Weston High School Scott Carlson Head Coach, Winchester High School

cc: Matthew Sisk, Deputy Commissioner for Operations, DCR Chris Doyle, Chair, Board of Directors, FOLJMS

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Eastern Massachusetts Bill Koch Youth Ski Club

August 11, 2015

Commissioner Carol I. Sanchez Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

Dear Commissioner Sanchez:

We write in strong support of the plan by FOLJMS to manage skiing operations at the Leo J. Martin Golf Course; to improve, enhance, and expand skiing at LJM as laid out in their Master Plan; and to create a public‐private partnership with the DCR so that LJM can be operated as a true dual‐use facility.

Interest in cross country skiing is growing regionally and nationally. The Eastern Mass Bill Koch (EMBK) youth ski club is the largest youth cross country ski program in New England and one of the largest in the country. Our program has developed national prominence and in the last two years we have had two Olympians join EMBK for special practices with our youth skiers.

Our skiing membership includes more than 200 youth skiers ages 7 through 8th grade and more than 50 volunteer coaches in the program from a variety of Boston area communities. Over the years we have introduced thousands of Boston area youth to the sport and to outdoor winter recreation. Many of the children who learn to ski through EMBK have, in turn, introduced their parents and others in their families to the life‐long sport, and to a fun, healthy way of remaining active in the winter months in New England.

EMBK is an all‐volunteer organization and are committed to making our sport affordable and accessible to youth skiers of all means through low membership fees and through a scholarship program that provides equipment, membership, and youth season passes. We have both recreational and racing wings, with roughly equal numbers of skiers. The primary focus of our club is to provide affordable instruction on proper technique so that the children will be able to enjoy the sport as they grow into high school students and adults, whether their interest is recreational, racing, or some of each. As an all‐ volunteer club, family participation is key and our larger community includes parents, siblings, volunteer coaches, and graduates. This model has proven successful and the club has experienced significant growth from approximately 40 members ten years ago. Our racing graduates include a large number of enthusiastic high school racers, more than a dozen high school All‐Americans, and several junior national champions. Enthusiasm for the sport locally continues to grow as word of our program spreads.

Our Saturday practices typically include 200 youth skiers divided into 15‐20 groups, each with 2‐3 adult instructors. (Evening practices have approximately 100 youth skiers, but the pattern of activity is similar.) These groups work on a mix of drills and games. Coaching for each group occurs within a limited patch of snow so that the coaches can remain stationary and the kids ski in small loops around them. We have found this to be a very successful arrangement because it allows much more direct observation and instruction than can occur on a linear trail system where even small groups frequently spread out. We also play slightly larger group games to facilitate group bonding and teach skills that don’t come through drills (tag, ball games, etc.). All of those require enough space for 40‐60 participants on a wide, groomed area. This approach allows a large number of skiers to have a fun and

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productive practice while staying near the clubhouse. Particularly at the younger ages, even a trip across Park Road can be an expedition, and for safety reasons we like having our skiers close to the touring center; in addition, that way they can also go in on cold days to warm up.

Currently our club size has reached capacity at Weston Ski Track. Our Saturday morning and Wednesday evening practices essentially use the full manmade snow space, even with the stronger and more advanced skiers moving to other terrain if snow conditions permit. It’s important to note that Saturday mornings are typically a very busy time for recreational users (in the many hundreds on a weekend with new natural snow), plus EMBK, plus approximately 60+ high school skiers practicing, plus Cambridge Sports Union (CSU, with approximately 50 high‐school aged skiers). These practices overlap and occur over the course of 3 hours, so it is important to have the capacity for the trail system to accommodate those simultaneous loads.

We are therefore enthusiastic about FOLJMS forming a public‐private partnership to work with the DCR in a way that can expand the capacity of Weston Ski Track and thereby allows us to serve an increasing number of youth skiers and their families. As we describe below, some of the improvements that will be most beneficial to EMBK are low‐ or no‐cost and have to do with layout and open areas, but in the long run the improvements that would make the biggest difference entail adding new snowmaking areas. Doing so will require a significant investment, and the FOLJMS plan to harness the fundraising capacity of our large and committed community makes sense to us as the most realistic path forward.

EMBK would like to offer specific comment on a number of key items that relate to the FOLJMS vision and proposal. Here, we focus on short‐run issues (Phase I considerations in the master plan):

• For the last 2 years we have experienced setbacks caused by of the ongoing golf course construction and restrictions imposed from the golf course management.

• The new driving range poles and guidelines are a hazard and reduce the area in which we can ski. They also are a potential hazard if the trail is not wide enough to ski around for newer and younger skiers. In its Phase I proposal, FOLJMS proposes a cut to the netting that would allow safe transit from the driving range/front of clubhouse to Fairway 6. This is especially important for EMBK to permit safe two‐way transit for our youngest skiers.

• The loss of some of the fairways made coaching more difficult there was more congestion on the narrower trails because passing was not possible. Also the loss of Mount Weston (hill up to fairway 5 green) and fairways 12, 13 gave us less terrain to train on. These holes are important to train on as they are the larger hills on the golf course.

• The loss of fairways increased congestion even with all the natural snowfall because high school and youth (EMBK aged) and recreational skiers were localized to a few areas on LJM.

• We need wide flat areas for instruction and games, and the proposed increased snowmaking area on hole 4 in Phase I of the FOLJMS master plan would make a big difference, both to our ability to provide safe instruction and games and also to segregating the faster older skiers on the training loop from our younger novices.

Friends of Leo J. Martin Skiing 45

We believe that the Phase I improvements in the FOLJMS, combined with FOLJMS inclusivity and experience, will support the goals of EMBK and youth skiing in the Boston area. Specifically, we endorse FOLJM’s commitment to: snowmaking at the earliest possible date possible; restoring the areas for snowmaking that were made off limits these past 2 years (all areas on holes 1‐6 traditionally used, except for tees and greens); restoring full use of the fairways to ensure lanes of travel wide enough to allow for a safe pass; improving lighting conditions for night skiing in the manmade loop; and to using experienced groomers and course setters.

Looking further down the road, EMBK is strongly enthusiastic of the Phase II improvements in the proposed FOLJMS master plan. These would address the fundamental constraint that the user community has simply outgrown the current snowmaking area at LJM. Although it is easy to remember the bountiful snow of the past two winters, the reality in Greater Boston is that wet snow is typically followed by rain and sleet, creating a mushy frozen mix which is often unsuitable for grooming. Thus keeping a focus on the quality of the manmade area is critical. EMBK is limited in its ability to safely bring more children and families by the amount of groomed terrain covered by snow making. We strongly agree with others who have noted that LJM is at capacity. We further agree that the only long‐ term solution is expanding snow making to new segments (such as holes 16‐18 across the river) and improving lighting conditions for night skiing.

EMBK has a strong working relationship with FOLJMS, and we look forward to continuing collaboration with FOLJMS on ways to improve the skiing and instructional experience of our young skiers. EMBK fully supports FOLJMS for its vision and proposal for skiing at LJM.

David Brams Chair, Board of Directors, Eastern Mass Bill Koch

Barry Kitch Board of Directors, Eastern Mass Bill Koch, and Club Director cc: Matthew Sisk, Deputy Commissioner for Operations, DCR Chris Doyle, Chair, Board of Directors, FOLJMS

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