Community Resources
Around Town || Parenting || Indoor Play Spaces || Playgrounds || Education and Schools || Special Needs || Helplines
Newcomers Club: www.lexington-newcomers.org
Open to anyone who has moved to Lexington, MA in the last 3 years, this club is a multi-cultural, social organization of Lexington residents, and has a wide array of activities such as dinners groups, historical tours, game nights, charitable projects, book groups, activities for families, events for adults, and much more.
Lexington Town Site: ci.lexington.ma.us
Hayden Rec Center: www.jwhayden.org
The Hayden Recreation Centre, a privately endowed non-profit corporation, provides a wide range of recreational, athletic, and social activities for families of Lexington. The Hayden Recreation Centre houses a swimming pool, gymnasium, weight training room, auditorium, ten activity rooms and a large athletic field for the various programs offered throughout the year. The John P. Chase Skating Facility has a modern indoor full-size ice surface with a full complement of programs including all levels of instruction and general skating sessions.
Cary Memorial Library: www.carylibrary.org
For information about programs, library services and story times, refer to The Lexington Minuteman, the bulletin board in the Children's Room of Cary Memorial Library and the Cary Library web site. Passes are available at the Cary Library to many of the area's museums.
Lexington Minuteman: www.wickedlocal.com/lexington
Email Discussion Lists: Lexington Lists
Parenting Resources
Activity Yard: A resource for Greater Boston parents who are looking for kids classes, activities, and things to do. Find reviews and ratings for birthday party entertainers, ballet classes, and more!. www.activityyard.com Families
First: Provides parent education and support programs in and around Boston. It also offers workshops that are open to the general public, one-on-one consultations, and Professional Development. Points for teachers, social workers, day care providers and day care center staff on a monthly basis. For further information call (617) 868-7687.
First Connections: This organization is a Massachusetts Family Network site located at Emerson Hospital in Concord. A $15 annual membership fee covers a quarterly newsletter and the opportunity to sign up for the support groups, play groups, parenting seminars and family activities for parents with children age 3 and under. For more information, contact Linda Matthews at (978) 287-0221 or lmatthews@cfyf.org.
Massachusetts Mothers of Twins: A network of mothers providing support, information and monthly meetings for mothers of multiple births. For Belmont chapter call (781) 989-3222 or email info@mmota-founding.org. Meetings are held on the last Monday of each month, September through May, at Winchester Unitarian Society, 478 Main Street, Winchester, MA 01890.
MOMS: Emerson Hospital: For further details call Jennifer Elliot at (978) 287-3176.
Older First Time Moms Support Group: For older first time moms who have had their first child(ren) at age 38+. Offers support and encouragement through monthly evening meetings in Arlington. Also has drop-in playgroups. For more information call (781) 674-2029.
Parent Connection New Moms' Group: Moms and babies meet for 8 weeks on Wednesday mornings at the Beth Israel Deaconess and Children's Hospital Medical Center at 482 Bedford Street in Lexington. It is free of charge though registration is required. The Parent Connection also sponsors free lecture series and a Mentoring Moms program. For more information, call 617-667-2229.
Parents Helping Parents: Runs mutual-help support groups for parents wishing to improve relationships with their children. For the closest chapter and more information call (617) 267-8077 or (800) 882-1250 from 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday through Friday or check out www.parentshelpingparents.org.
Parenting Resource Associates, Inc.: A non-profit organization educating, supporting, and counseling the adults who make a difference in the lives of children. For more information contact 238 Bedford Street, Suite One, Lexington, MA 02420 (781) 862-4446.
Successful Parents: This organization works with parents who want the essential information and skills to give their children the best possible preparation for adult success. Programs offered include "Essentials of Successful Parenting", "Successful Parenting Your Adolescent" and "Positive Discipline for Fathers". These programs not only teach about child development and parenting skills, but also empower parents to become confident and creative. For schedules of classes or couching appointments, contact Jeffrey Drake at (781) 863-1023 or www.successfulparents.com
Lexington Special Education Department: The Special Education Department offers an assortment of books on child development. There is also a Parent Activity Manual for Preschoolers, available for circulation at Cary Library or on loan form the Department. Videotapes of speaker presentations are available for viewing. Call Liz Billings Fouhy at (781) 861-2434.
Indoor Play Space
KidSpace: Kidspace is a non-profit, volunteer/cooperative run play space in Belmont. Visit their website for more information: www.belmontkidspace.org.
Together in Motion: an indoor tumble gym in Arlington for children ages 6 and under. Playgroups for infants and toddlers are available. For more information as well as their hours and event schedule, see www.togetherinmotion.com.
The Klubhouse: an indoor play gym in Woburn that features climbing structures, a riding toy race track, giant bouncies, a craft room, and a separate toddler room. For more information and photos, see theklubhouse.com
Malls: Both the Natick mall and the Burlington mall offer kid-friendly play spaces with climbing and slides.
Playgrounds
There are playgrounds scattered all over Lexington. If you need a change of pace or your plans take you to a different part of town, explore a new playground.
School Playgrounds
Bowman School - Philip Road
Bridge School - Middleby Road
Estabrook School - Grove Street
Fiske School - Adams Street
Harrington School & Lexington Children's Place - Maple Street
Hastings School - Crosby Road
Other Lexington playgrounds
Adams Playground - Mass. Avenue and Pleasant Street
directly from the bike path and safe from busy traffic, this playground is officially a town playground, but it is located behind the Waldorf School and used by its students. The climbing equipment is limited, but your preschooler will love climbing on the big in-ground tractor tires, running around on the soccer field, playing with balls on the tennis and basketball courts, and riding a tricycle on the bike path.
Center Playground - At the end of Park Drive
Adjacent to Lexington High School and a short walk from the town center, this playground features handicapped access. For the very young preschooler and newly walking toddler there is a special play area, play structure, sandbox and toddler swings. Enjoy lunch at one of the picnic tables. The playground can get crowded when the older children are out of school. Due to it's size and lack of fence it can be hard to keep track of multiple children.
Franklin Playground - Allen Street off Waltham Street before Route 2
This playground is set well back form the road and the equipment is quite old and may not be great for small children. There is a slide, monkey bars, swings, climbing structure and bouncing platform as well as fields.
Garfield Street Playground - At the end of Kimball, off Reed Street
This small playground has a nice climbing structure appropriate for preschoolers with a tunnel slide, sand bowl, rocking horse, and rocking car, swings and a baseball field.
Lincoln Street - In middle of Lincoln fields
Fenced in and geared for ages 2-5 years. Includes baby/kid swings and two climbing structures for different ages and rocking bus, plane, trucks. There are a variety of climbing/slide options and there are adjacent picnic tables and grills.
Kinneen Park - Burlington Street, near Simonds Road
Neighboring a conservation area with trails, this park has a wooden climbing structure, swings, a terrific long slide and jungle gyms.
Monroe Playground - Mass. Avenue, behind #1403
It has monkey bars, a small climbing structure, swings and a lever-driven shovel. It borders on 19th-century Monroe cemetery, a pleasant place for strolling.
Rindge Avenue Playground - South Rindge Avenue
This recently renovated playground has a climbing structure, swings, basketball court and field overlooking the Arlington Reservoir.
Sutherland Heights Playground - Sutherland Road
Renovated with brand-new swings and climbing structure! This secluded play area has lots of trees for shade and a baseball field and basketball court.
Playgrounds in Nearby Towns
Bedford: Mudge Way off the Great Road
Belmont: Waverly Oaks Sprinkler Park on Trapelo Road
Burlington: Simonds Park
Arlington: Spy Pond Playground on Pond Street, Robbins Farm Playground on Eastern Avenue, and McLennan Park on Summer Street
Education and Schools
Lexington Education Foundation
http://www.lexedfoundation.org
LEF is an independent, nonprofit community organization founded in 1989 to support educational excellence in Lexington Public Schools. The Foundation provides grant funding for ongoing professional development, teacher mentoring, experts-in-residence, and curriculum innovations outside of the regular school budget. Directed by a non-salaried board of community members and supported exclusively by contributions from Lexington residents and local area businesses, LEF manifests the spirit of a community that takes pride in, and responsibility for, the public education of its children. For more information, please contact info@lexedfoundation.org
Lexington Public Schools
lps.lexingtonma.org
Services for Children with Special Needs
Special needs can cover a variety of conditions - physical, psychological, educational and others - that require extra care. Here are some local resources to help you and your child.
Early Intervention
Early Intervention Services are currently offered at no cost to families for children age 0-3 years. If your child is age 0-3 years and you believe he/she has a special need, contact Anne Marsh, Director of Early Intervention at (781) 932-2888 or see Thom Mystic Valley EI.
Lexington Special Education Department
Between age 3 to 21 years, Chapter 766 of federal law P.L. 94-142 mandates that the public school system provide an individual program designed to address a child's special needs. If your child is age 3-5 years and you have similar concerns, contact Linda Chase, Director of Student Services for K through grade 12 Special Education at (781) 861-2490 ext. 231, or Liz Billings-Fouhy, Special Education Department Head for Preschool and Elementary at (781) 860-5823.
The Lexington Public School System publishes a pamphlet titled "What Special Services are Available for my Preschooler?" Special Services include but are not limited to: regular screenings, of 3-5 year olds; evaluations; services (speech/language, educational, occupational therapy, physical therapy, home-based training, parent training, consultation to preschools and daycare facilities); placement in private or collaborative special education preschools; public preschool program at Lexington Children's Place. Contact Liz Billings-Fouhy for a copy of the brochure or more information.
L.A.B.B.B.
The L.A.B.B.B. Early Childhood Program, located in Burlington, is an integrated preschool program, where children with and without special needs participate together in developmentally appropriate classrooms. L.A.B.B.B. also offers parent consultation, parent support groups and consultation to nursery schools and daycare facilities. For information contact the preschool department chairperson at (781) 861-2434 or (781) 861-2490.
The Community and Family Services at the Shriver Center
200 Trapelo Road in Waltham MA 02451 (781) 642-0222
This center offers referral and follow-up services for children and families affected by mental retardation, learning disabilities, and developmental disorders. For a comprehensive listing of referral services, contact New England Index at (781) 642-0248. For information on where to get evaluations done, contact Dr. Ruth Smith at (781) 642-0229
The Federation for Children with Special Needs
1135 Tremont Street, Suite 420 Boston, MA 02120
(617) 236-7210 or (800) 331-0688
This is a parent center which provides information and training workshops to help parents to participate more effectively with professionals in meeting the educational and health care needs of children with special needs. For more, see fcsn.org
Lexington Recreation Department
Programs are offered throughout the year that accept children with special needs. For more information call (781) 861-2762, or get their seasonal brochures available at Cary Memorial Library.
Lexington Special Needs Parent Advisory Council (SPEDPAC)
Being involved as a parent can enhance your use of the school system. SPEDPAC is a group of parents who work together with teachers and administrators on issues specific to special education programs in the Lexington Public Schools. SPEDPAC meets monthly, except in January, during the school calendar year. These meetings are attended by the Director of Special Education Services of the Lexington Public Schools. For more information visit Lexington SPEDPAC.
Helplines
American Red Cross
(617) 375-0700 - 24 hours
Poison Control Center
(800) 222-1222
MA Division of the Consumer Products Safety Commission
(617) 565-7730 or http://www.cpsc.gov/
Provides information on products that have been recalled.
Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services
(617) 988-6600
www.qualitychildcare.org
Web site offers information on product recalls, as well as message boards for support/play groups, job postings, and more.
Parents Anonymous
(800) 882-1250
Parents Stress Line
(800) 632-8188
www.childdevelopmentinfo.com
Child at Risk Hotline
(617) 232-4882
United Way - 1st Call for Help
(800) 231-4377
For help with electric/gas bills and needs for legal council.