Public Hearing Information

The Community Preservation Committee will hold a Public Hearing to provide community members with an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback regarding the FY2026 project applications listed below. The CPC welcomes community input to assist in its deliberations. If a project is recommended for funding, it will be included in the warrant for the May Town Meeting. Town Meeting has the final authority to award CPA funds as recommended by the CPC. If you are unable to attend the hearing you may send written comments and questions in advance to Lauren Spinney at lspinney@needhamma.gov and Cecilia Simchak at csimchak@needhamma.gov.

FY2026-01 Needham History Center & Museum: Ongoing Collections Storage Upgrades.  This application seeks $46,712 for storage upgrades to ongoing collections under the CPA category of Historic Preservation.   

FY2026-02 Needham Conservation Department & Commission: Trail Signage Improvements. This application seeks $104,000 for upgraded trail signage, markings and maps on Town-owned protected spaces and trails under the CPA category of Recreation.  

FY2026-03 Charles River Center: East Militia Heights Development.  This application seeks $3,500,000 for construction costs associated with the development of 86 affordable housing units, including 43 units of special needs housing, under the CPA category of Community Housing. 

FY2026-04 Needham Housing Authority: Preservation of Seabeds Way & Captain Robert Cook Drive*.  This application seeks $3,525,000 for construction costs associated with the preservation and redevelopment of affordable housing located on Seabeds Way under the CPA category of Community Housing. *This application originally requested $9,950,000 for construction costs associated with the preservation and redevelopment of affordable housing on Seabeds Way and Captain Robert Cook Drive. The project scope was separated into two phases and the application was amended to request funding for Seabeds Way only at this time. The expectation is that there will be a future request for CPA funding related to Captain Robert Cook Drive. 

FY2026-06 Needham Park & Recreation Department: Action Park & Pickleball Courts (Design). This application seeks $300,000 for design costs associated with construction of an action sports park and pickleball courts under the CPA category of Recreation. 

FY2026-07 Needham Park & Recreation Department & Department of Public Works: Eliot School Grounds Renovation (Design). This application seeks $69,960 for design costs associated with the renovation of the Eliot School fields and playground under the CPA category of Recreation. 

Previous Public Hearing - September 11, 2024

Thank you to all who attended our Public Hearing on September 11, 2024 to learn about the projects seeking appropriations from the Needham Community Preservation Fund, and to those members of our community who provided comments/feedback. If you were unable to attend but are interested in learning more, a recording is available on YouTube at the following link: Public Hearing Recording 9.11.24