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H 4843

An Act providing for the exchange of certain park land in the town of Lexington

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Barrett and 3 co-sponsors

Allows Lexington to swap 8 acres from town park land to the School Committee for school/athletic use, with no net loss of protected land and a park.

Signed by the Governor, Chapter 99 of the Acts of 2026
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Bill Summary · H 4843

Summary: Bill H.4843 – An Act providing for the exchange of certain park land in the town of Lexington

Purpose and intent

  • To authorize a land exchange in Lexington between the town’s select board and the Lexington School Committee. The goal is to transfer eight acres of land currently used for athletic fields from the select board (park/municipal land) to the School Committee for school purposes, while ensuring the town retains sufficient land for open space and park use and complies with applicable constitutional and statutory protections (Article 97 and related provisions).

Key provisions

1) Land transfer from select board to school committee
- The Lexington select board may transfer the care, custody, and control of approximately eight acres of land that are currently under its control and used for athletic fields to the Lexington School Committee for school purposes.
- This action would be taken pursuant to:
- A vote of the Lexington Special Town Meeting held on November 3, 2025
- Compliance with section 15A of chapter 40 of the General Laws
- Compliance with section 5A of chapter 3 of the General Laws
- Compliance with Chapter 114 of the Acts of 1961
- The land parcels are described, in part, by deeds recorded with the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds: Book 3953, Page 561 and Book 3981, Page 109.

2) Land swap to support new high school site and open space
- As a condition of the land disposition, Lexington must transfer the care, custody, management, and control of parcels currently containing the Lexington High School buildings (as shown on a plan labeled “Figure G” dated October 3, 2025 and presented to Town Meeting on November 3, 2025) from the Lexington School Committee to the Lexington Select Board.
- The purpose of this transfer is to enable siting of the new Lexington High School athletic field, as well as the creation or designation of a public park, open space, and recreational areas, while ensuring no net loss of land subject to Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution and related statutory protections.

3) Effective date
- The act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected

  • Lexington residents and taxpayers (through town governance and land use decisions)
  • Lexington Select Board (land ownership and management authority for the eight acres involved)
  • Lexington School Committee (acquisition of land for school-related use)
  • Potential users of park/open space/recreational areas (as the new open space and athletic fields are developed)
  • Local government compliance officers and registries (noting deed references and legal conformity to Article 97 and state law)

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced and filed: December 11–16, 2025
  • Status: Referred to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government (as of December 15, 2025)
  • Local approval: The bill’s description indicates local approval was received (special town meeting vote on November 3, 2025)

Notes

  • Related/docket information: House Docket No. 5427; HD 5427 is the related reference replacing prior language.
  • The bill relies on specific legal authorizations and constitutional protections to ensure no net loss of protected land (Article 97) and to govern processes for land exchanges between municipal boards.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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