Presentation by Stu Kennedy
April 24, 2006
Madam Moderator,
The Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Lexington Friends of the Bikeway are delighted at this opportunity to publicly thank and acknowledge the extraordinary contributions to the town of one of our members, Mike Tabaczynski, master trail builder. Some of the other organizations he also serves and helps lead, including the Lexington Conservation Stewards, Friends of Arlington's Great Meadow and Citizens for Lexington Conservation would applaud this recognition. When Mike joined the Bike committee in 2001, it was turning its attention to promoting safe routes to schools and to expanding and improving the network of trails connecting neighborhoods to schools and to each other. Mike led this effort, attending trail-building workshops, reading books on the subject, researching sources of grant money, and all else that followed. Today Mike is recognized as a regional expert on trails and trail building.
In Lexington, Mike has planned, designed, and supervised six projects so far, with two more scheduled for this spring and summer. These projects have improved access for all-season use, while protecting fragile wetlands, in the Willard's Woods, Parker Meadow, and Dunback Meadow conservation areas; in town land near Bridge and Harrington Schools; and in Arlington's Great Meadow. On all these projects Mike has done the brainwork and a lot of the grunt work. Besides planning and designing the actual trail construction, he applied for and won three separate grants; got the necessary ConComm, Selectmen and School Board approvals; ordered the lumber and hardware; enlisted volunteers from Lexington High School and the public; arranged to borrow the necessary tools and equipment; often coordinated lunch and refreshments for the volunteers; coordinated when necessary with DPW; and trained all participants in safe use of tools, in responsible environmental practices and in construction techniques.
The results are impressive: over 2000 linear feet of new bridges and boardwalks (totaling 20 separate structures); additionally, over 2000 feet of new or relocated trail; $25,500 of state grant money (for materials); more than 120 volunteers; and more than 2500 volunteer-hours (not including Mike's own time, which must number in the several hundreds of hours.)
The direct and indirect benefits from these trail projects are many. Besides an improved and expanding trail system at no added expense to the town budget, we have a growing cadre of experienced future trail-project leaders, a reenergized Conservation Stewardship program, and many high school students with new-found appreciation for environmental stewardship. The social capital gained from Mike's work is enormous. As an added bonus, these projects have been fun to work on.
So Mike, as a small token of our thanks, we'd like to give you a brick. Let me explain. This is an IOU. As the Lexington Historical Society is making available engraved bricks to pave the back patio of the Depot building adjacent to the Bikeway, the FOB has purchased one in your honor. It will be inscribed:
Mike Tabaczynski, Master Trail Builder.
In all seriousness, Mike, we all thank you for your wonderful work for the town, and we hope you never stop.
Thank you Madam Moderator,
Stu Kennedy