November 10, 2025

To the Lexington Community Preservation Committee, 

I write to express my strong support for the Town’s potential purchase of the Silk Fields property using Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds.

Silk Fields is a rare and cherished open space that abuts LexFarm and serves as a living classroom, sanctuary, and community connector. Its wildlife, landscape, and proximity to LexFarm make it a vital part of our town’s ecological and educational fabric. My family and I have engaged with this land through visits, classes, and quiet moments of connection; experiences that have deepened our appreciation for Lexington’s commitment to open space and community well-being.

Last July, I led an outdoor botanical bandana-making class with some of my neighbors at my home using flowers and dyestuff grown in my own garden. It was a simple act of gathering, making, and sharing, but it reminded us that the land is not just a backdrop. It’s a collaborator. A teacher. A palette. Silk Fields offers that same possibility: a space where people can learn from the land, create with it, and build relationships rooted in care.

CPC’s charge includes recommending acquisitions that preserve open space and enhance passive recreation. Silk Fields align beautifully with these goals. It offers:

• Preservation of open land adjacent to an existing community farm

• Opportunities for passive recreation and education, especially for families and children

• Protection of ecological balance and local biodiversity, in line with the Conservation Commission’s mission

This property isn’t just land, it’s a living resource that embodies the values of stewardship, interdependence, and regeneration. Its preservation would build on the success of LexFarm and deepen our town’s investment in sustainable, community-rooted spaces.

I urge the Committee to recommend funding for the acquisition of Silk Fields and to help ensure its future as a public asset. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration and for your ongoing work to preserve Lexington’s natural and cultural resources.

Warmly,

Mary Ann Stewart, fiber artist

Rawson Avenue 02420