The Conservation Commission reviewed the 2007 Open Space and Recreation Plan and discussed it at our June 20th meeting. We are in unanimous agreement that this thoroughly rewritten and updated document does a great job of describing the history and current state of open space and our natural resources in Lincoln. It captures the special mix of conservation land, agricultural enterprises, and recreational opportunities that make Lincoln unique. More importantly it is the blueprint for how Lincoln should proceed in the coming years to protect our community and ensure that we retain the character that residents enjoy and appreciate.

We are grateful for all the hard work that each member of the Open Space Committee contributed to creation of the new Plan. We are especially appreciative of the work that Angela Kearney, our Conservation Planner, has so effectively done in bringing together a strong working committee, getting and analyzing a tremendous amount of data and public commentary, and doing the lion’s share of the work in writing and editing the final document. The 2007 Open Space and Recreation Plan is one that we completely endorse and feel confident reflects the needs and wishes of the community as a whole. This document will certainly serve the residents of the Town and the boards and committees who work on open space and natural resource issues.

Lincoln Conservation Commission – Lincoln, MA



The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust has long participated with the Lincoln Conservation Commission in land protection, stewardship and planning for Lincoln's open space resources. Today, the LLCT takes a step back, as the Conservation Commission deserves the accolades for assembling an outstanding open space plan. In substance, in public process and in presentation, the draft Town of Lincoln's Open Space and Recreation Plan captures the information, the spirit, and the aspirations of the unique community which is Lincoln. By preserving habitats, landscapes, community character, educational and recreational resources, and historic sites, Lincoln serves local, statewide, national, and international constituencies. Working with federal and state professionals, Lincoln's team of community leaders and staff has protected lands which will be a conservation landmark for many generations.

While we have all traditionally been proud of the work accomplished by Lincoln's volunteers and community activists, I respectfully suggest that, for this Plan, particular credit is due to Angela Kearney, working with Tom Gumbart and Anna Wilkins. Angela has admirably composed, coordinated, organized and responded to the myriad individuals and issues which affect the Plan.

Lincoln Land Conservation Trust – Lincoln, MA



The Town of Lincoln Cemetery Commission had the distinct pleasure of working with Angela Kearney, Lincoln Conservation Planner. Ms. Kearney was presented with a unique charge: to reconfigure a cemetery layout plan that would accommodate 150 variable-size burial plots in a 5-acre wooded site. Her plan was both insightful and imaginative, yet cognizant of the rules and regulations of the town by-laws governing the project. She successfully coordinated the needs of several town boards including: the Department of Public Works, the Conservation Commission, and the Cemetery Commission. Ms. Kearney's proposed expansion plan met project goals to plan for future expansion, while accommodating delicate wetland issue s, road and building constraints, challenging topography and existing vegetation.

Angela Kearney exceeded all expectations of the Town Boards and was in fact, exemplary. She provided the town with a plan that is not only acceptable, but further, respectful to the unique conditions of the land. Her professional talent and education combined with her infectious and interactive personal skills made her a joy to work with. Seldom do people reach the heights that Ms. Kearney achieved. On both a professional and personal note, I commend to you, Ms. Angela Kearney.

Lincoln Cemetery Commission - Lincoln, MA

Angela and I have worked together for several years rethinking the plant material on my  2.3 acre property in a historic district in Lincoln.  My goals were to replace all non-native invasive species with native species appealing to birds, and to reduce visibility and accessibility between my house and a neighbor's property.  The project included designing and installing a fence which had to be inconspicuous when viewed from the road.  Angela plunged into the project with enthusiasm and zeal.  Her designs were creative, and she was always willing to experiment.   At the same time, she was flexible and patient with me and always tried to accomplish my ever-changing goals and needs.  She maintained her optimism and energy despite numerous obstacles thrown in our way by the neighbor and the town.  She designed and oversaw the entire project, presented it at two town hearings, and persisted until we received approval.  We continue to work together on additional phases of the project.  She has been a wonderful partner and supporter, and I have greatly enjoyed working with her.

We have been extremely pleased with Angela and her work.  She is professional, knowledgeable, very reliable, resourceful, and trustworthy.  She has been a pleasure to work with.  She is a good listener and very creative and still is able to focus on our goals, time-frame and budget.  She follows through with her plan in a timely and professional manner.

We just finished building a new home in Lincoln in August and had/have lots of landscaping projects, some of which needed to be completed in the fall and others to finish this spring.  We worked on a very tight timeframe in the fall and Angela was excellent at coordinating the project with us and other sub-contractors and delivering results.  And, although we will not see the full results until this spring/summer, we highly recommend Angela.

June Ventresca - Lincoln, MA



We have just received one set of design plans from Angela, so we have not gotten far enough in the process to comment on the quality of the contractors Angela recommends, but I can tell you that she is very creative and came up with a plan that exceeded our expectations. We couldn't decide between two landscape architects, but we are thrilled we chose her not only because she completely understands landscaping, but also because she totally understands our needs, both aesthetically and financially.

We live on a wooded lot with a very steep slope and to make matters worse, we live within 200 feet of wetlands, so creating various terrains is important in helping to stem erosion and deal with the steep pitch of the land. Angela came up with a design that minimized the face area of the retaining wall that we are replacing, which results in a less expensive replacement cost and a much prettier yard.

Other design elements include a trellis covered terrace, a Zen garden, a rain garden, a boulder garden, a three-tiered terraced side yard, a garden path, and a wooded walking path. I guess this says it all about how diverse the terrains are. And the terrains are not just for show--each element has a purpose that helps stem erosion, disperse rainwater or minimize costs.

Just based on what she's come up with so far, I can wholeheartedly recommend Angela.

Ellen Gitelman - Sudbury, MA



I'm completely pleased with Angela and her work. I find her to be highly professional, motivated, honest, talented and resourceful. She's a clear communicator and very dependable. I was lucky to find her.

1. Creativity in terms of her developing attractive, elegant solutions with varying terrains. Our lot presents some challenges, and I think what Angela created is very beautiful. Early on, she did a number of drawings, which presented a variety of creative alternatives. She's also been very creative and flexible over the years as things have developed, and my personal preferences have evolved. (In other words, she's very patient with me when I change my mind for no good reason!)

2. Level of efficiency in use of time and resources. I find that Angela pays close attention to the budget preferences I express, and is very careful about trying to do things in a way that saves money and maximizes the value I get.

3. Thoroughness and conscientiousness. She's never dropped the ball. When she tells me she'll take care of something, I know I don't have to think about it anymore. Once she knows what I want, she requires no supervision.

4. Fair value and pricing. I think I would have had to pay more to get the same results elsewhere. And even if I had paid more, I think most of the other people I could have hired are less creative and committed than she is.

5. Quality and work ethic of contractors she recommends.

I think she's very discriminating about the people she collaborates with, and I find that she supervises them carefully, so I don't have to.

Alan Schlingenbaum - Amherst, MA



I would recommend Angela in a heartbeat. I thoroughly enjoyed working with her and would trust her with anything. She’s smart, conscientious and really puts her heart into her work. And, I believe ours was one of the first projects she did start to finish. Now, having said all that let me tell you what she did with us.

We asked her to come up with a plan and after approval, to execute it, managing the resources and the budget. We installed two new terraces/patios, one in bluestone and one in brick. We also had a bunch of tree and path lights installed and a stone wall. In one sloped area rather than a stone wall we had large stepping-stones installed. Last, she ordered and did much of the planting around the terraces as well as a small orchard. Of course some of the sprinklers had to be re-worked and installed.

She likes to use native plants and convinced me to try some that I would not have ordinarily but they look great. She offered three plans and we used a hybrid of two with some additional tweaking. She did a lot of tweaking for us. If she had been a more seasoned designer I think she would have charged us for these. She was very flexible and creative in this work. She also helped us visualize everything by providing pictures illustrative of the idea she presented. The outcome is a very natural yet elegant design.

The project did go longer than anticipated but they always do. She recommended prices for much of the work from contractors up front and then validated once we had a design we liked. They all came in pretty close. She never went over budget. She was on site every day, sometimes multiple times. Her contractors are great and I know she plans to use the ones she hired for our job over again. They all liked working with her too although they did say she is very meticulous.

I really like Angela and will continue to use her season after season. I like having a long-term relationship with a designer so that we plan new things every year. My wish list is always bigger than my budget!

Cory Lefebvre - Concord, MA