Billerica Skate Park
The Billerica skate park is the town's outdoor skateboard park at the Peggy Hannon-Rizza Recreation Complex, the town recreation grounds off Campbell Road and Ed Hayes Way south of Billerica Center that grew up around Lampson Memorial Field. The present concrete park, built in 2025 with Community Preservation and federal ARPA money, replaced an older park of ramps and fencing that had stood at the complex since the early 2000s.
The ground is the old Mitchell Boys' School land. The school grounds were the Shed place, a farm south of the meeting house that the Bowers family held from 1823 to 1871 and that Moses C. Mitchell bought in 1887. In 1947 and 1948 Blanche S. Mitchell, for herself and for the Mitchell School, sold the school's land on the Mitchell Estates plan of 1935, part of which went by way of John F. Poole to three Billerica men, Thomas S. Taylor, Roger H. Hildreth and Austin F. Perry. On August 3, 1950 they gave the town the athletic field and the land around it, which the annual town meeting had voted to accept as the Memorial Athletic Field, "to be used solely for athletic activities of the Town." The football field there was later named for the coach Chuck Lampson, and in the 1970s the Park Department cleared more of the land for softball fields and tennis courts. The full chain of title is given under Lampson Memorial Field.
Skateboarding at the complex began with portable ramps. In the summer of 2000 the Recreation Department and the police department's community service programs set out ramps on Wednesday evenings "for our BMX riders, skateboarders and rollerbladers at the Billerica Mall parking lot." At the fall town meeting of October 2000 members tried twice to put money into a skate board park, first by setting aside $50,000 of an appropriation for the Marshall Middle School's outdoor recreation facilities and then by adding "a skate board park" to the uses of land being bought on Nashua Road; both amendments lost, although the town manager and the recreation chairman said that the town was "actively looking for a suitable location for a skate board park." The Wednesday program was so successful that in August 2001 the department "moved the ramps to the Lampson ... to expand the opportunity for daily use."
The skate park became part of the town's plan for a Lampson Recreation Complex, built in phases from 2006, when the town meeting first voted borrowing for engineering and construction there; eight new tennis courts were finished in 2010. Billerica's teenagers raised money for the skate park themselves "by holding a skate-off and concert," and in 2010 to 2012 the Recreation Department reported that they had paid for its fencing and "a few skate components," with more equipment for the skate park listed as a next phase of the complex. In 2013 the complex was dedicated to Peggy Hannon-Rizza, the retiring recreation director.
In May 2022 the town meeting voted $20,000 of Community Preservation money for the design of a new skate park at the PHR complex, and at the fall town meeting in October 2024 it voted $392,725 more for "a full update of the Skate Park at Peggy Hannon Rizza Park," after Recreation Director David Grubb presented the design and its benefits "for all ages." Built in 2025 with Community Preservation and ARPA funds, the new skate park, the Recreation Department wrote, "has quickly become a regional benchmark."
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1823 | Deed | Luther French of Billerica, yeoman (Sally French releasing dower) | William Bowers, gentleman, Mary Bowers and Fanny Bowers, all of Billerica | 1823: Luther French sells William, Mary and Fanny Bowers half of the Shed place south of the meeting house | 250/116 (South) |
Billerica town book 13, pages 250-251. Dated April 22, 1823, acknowledged April 23 before Joseph Locke JP. For $685, "one undivided half of a tract of land situate in said Billerica about half a mile southerly of the meeting house with all the buildings thereon, commonly called the Shed place, containing about fifty six acres more or less", bounded from the lane leading to the house lately owned by Isaac French at land lately of Cyrus French, by that lane and "the road leading from Billerica to Concord" to land of Samuel Whiting Esq., then by Whiting, land lately of Simon Forrester, land of Rev. Jacob Norton and land of Josiah Bowers ("lately the Stickney farm"), and by land lately of Isaac French; "excepting from the above grant, the barn standing on the premises, in which the said Luther has no right". Also an undivided half of "the Shed orchard", about three acres by the same road and land of Col. John Parker, excepting a small burying ground "in which there are two tombs enclosed". The grantees were children of Dr. William Bowers of the Old Providence House.
|
|||||
| October 19, 1824 | Quitclaim | Josiah Crosby of Billerica, Esq. | William Bowers, gentleman, Mary Bowers and Fanny Bowers, gentlewomen, all of Billerica | 1824: Josiah Crosby releases Luther French's mortgage on the Shed farm to the Bowers family | 256/348 (South) |
Billerica town book 13, pages 297-298. Dated Oct. 18, 1824, acknowledged the same day before Joseph Locke JP. For one dollar, Crosby quitclaims "a certain farm or tract of land situate in said Billerica with the buildings thereon standing containing about fifty five acres more or less and is the same conveyed to me by mortgage deed from Luther French dated the first day of November A.D. 1819": the release of French's mortgage on the Shed place.
Related:
|
|||||
| June 2, 1842 | Quitclaim | William Bowers of Billerica, yeoman | Mary Bowers of Billerica, singlewoman (his sister) | 1831: William Bowers quitclaims his half of the Shed place to Mary Bowers | 415/471 (South) |
Billerica town book 17, pages 296-297. Dated June 7, 1831, acknowledged July 27, 1831 before Marshall Preston JP; recorded June 2, 1842. For one dollar, "all my right, title, interest, and estate in and to the one undivided half of the Shed place, so called, situate in said Billerica being a part of the Real Estate of Jonathan Bowers Esq. deceased, containing forty nine acres and eighty one rods, more or less, with one undivided half of the dwelling house thereon and the whole of the Barn", bounded from the northeast corner at land of Samuel Whiting Esq. and "the road leading from Billerica to Bedford", by that road to "the road leading by the Grave yard to Isaac French place", by the heirs of Cyrus French and widow Hannah French to "the Causeway lot so called", and back by Josiah Bowers, Jacob Norton, "the Bell meadow so called", John Eames and Whiting, "not including the little pasture on the West side of said road". This was the other half of the farm, from the estate of Jonathan Bowers Esq.
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| March 16, 1869 | Will | Estate of Priscilla Bowers of Billerica, singlewoman (d. Feb. 22, 1869) | The First Baptist Church in Billerica (remainder, after the deaths of her sisters Mary and Fanny Bowers) | Priscilla Bowers's probate: 1/18 of the Shed farm to the First Baptist Church; see Lampson Memorial Field | Probate #27759 |
Will of December 9, 1862, allowed at Lowell March 16, 1869, Dudley Foster executor: after a $500 legacy, "to the Baptist Church in Billerica all the remainder of my Property, Real, Mixed or Personal, to be by the Chh. kept as a fund, the interest of which to be expended for the support of Preaching in the Baptist Meeting house", the legacy "not to [be] paid till after the decease of my Sisters Mary & Fanny Bowers". Her heirs at law were those two sisters. The May 1869 inventory lists "1/3 of Homestead undivided 1 1/2 acres" at $1000 and "1/3 of Old Homestead 24 acres" at $800 among $3650 of real estate.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| May 17, 1870 | Will | Estate of Mary Bowers of Billerica, singlewoman (d. 1870) | The Town of Billerica, for the benefit of the poor | Mary Bowers's will, allowed 1870, leaves her share of the Shed place to the town for the poor | Probate #27756 |
Will of December 9, 1862, allowed at Lowell May 17, 1870, Dudley Foster executor: "I give and bequeath to the Town of Billerica, all the Property Real, Mixed or Personal of which I may be possessed at the time of my decease, for the benefit of the poor of said Billerica. This legacy not to be paid untill after the decease of my Sisters Priscilla and Fanny Bowers." The town sold the two-thirds of the Bowers Homestead it received from Mary and Fanny Bowers to William H. Osborn in 1871.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| May 2, 1872 | Quitclaim | The Members of the First Baptist Church and Society in Billerica, by Edward Spaulding and Geo. C. Gilman, committee | Charles E. Gorham of Billerica | 1871: the First Baptist Church sells its 1/18 of the Shed place to Charles E. Gorham | 86/117 |
Dated May 31, 1871, under a vote of a church and society meeting of May 1, 1871; acknowledged before Dudley Foster JP; recorded May 2, 1872. For $119.44, "one undivided eighteenth part of a certain parcel of land known as the 'Shed place' situate in said Billerica, containing forty nine acres & eighty one rods, more or less", from the northeast corner at land formerly of Samuel Whiting and "the road leading to Bedford", by that road to "the road leading by the grave yard to the 'Isaac French place'", by land formerly of the heirs of Cyrus French and of widow Hannah French to "the Causeway lot, so called", and back by land formerly of Josiah Bowers, Jacob Norton, "the Bell meadow, so called", John Eames and Samuel Whiting. "Being part of the real estate devised to said grantors by Priscilla Bowers."
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| May 2, 1872 | Quitclaim | The Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica, by Dudley Foster, Israel A. Colson and David L. Mason, committee; Dudley Foster, Treasurer | Charles E. Gorham of Billerica | 1871: the town sells its 17/18 of the Shed place, left it by Mary and Fanny Bowers, to Gorham | 86/118 |
Dated May 31, 1871, under a vote of town meeting of May 1871; acknowledged before Charles H. Parker JP; recorded May 2, 1872. For $2,330.56, "seventeen undivided eighteenth parts of a certain parcel of land known as the 'Shed place'", 49 acres 81 rods "with an old house thereon", the same bounds as the church's deed. "Being part of the real estate devised to said grantors by Mary Bowers and Fanny Bowers." The two deeds together brought $2,450 for the whole farm.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| May 19, 1887 | Warranty Deed | Charles E. Gorham of Billerica, unmarried | Dudley Foster of Billerica | 1887: Gorham sells the Shed place to Dudley Foster | 188/149 |
Dated May 17, 1887, acknowledged May 18 before Joseph P. Thompson JP. For $50, "a certain parcel of land known now or formerly as the 'Shed Place'", 49 acres 81 rods, the same bounds. "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Dudley Foster, Treasurer of the Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica, by his deed dated May 31st A.D. 1871 ... Book 86, Page 118." Subject to two mortgages that the grantee assumes, one to Dudley Foster as Treasurer (Book 129 Page 515) and one to Susie E. Burns of Billerica (Book 130 Page 112).
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| June 3, 1887 | Warranty Deed | Dudley Foster of Billerica (Mary P. Foster releasing dower and homestead) | Moses C. Mitchell of Billerica | 1887: Dudley Foster sells the 49-acre Shed place to Moses C. Mitchell for $1,500 | 189/55 |
Pages 55-56. Dated May 25, 1887. For $1,500, "a certain parcel of land known as the 'Shed Place', situated in said Billerica, containing forty-nine acres and eighty-one rods, more or less", beginning at the northeast corner at land formerly of Samuel Whiting and "the road leading to Bedford", westerly and southwesterly by that road to "the road leading by the grave yard to the Isaac French Place", southerly 30 rods to land formerly of the heirs of Cyrus French, around their land and land formerly of Hannah French to "the Causeway lot, so called", and northerly by land formerly of Josiah Bowers, Jacob Norton, John Eames and Whiting to the beginning. "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Charles E. Gorham deed dated May, 1887" (book and page left blank). Mitchell moved his boys' school here after the 1888 fire.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| December 7, 1935 | Quitclaim Deed | Mary H. Mitchell of Billerica, widow | Alexander H. Mitchell of Billerica | 1935: widow Mary H. Mitchell gives the land east of the Mitchell Estates line to her son Alexander | 876/242 |
Pages 242-243. Dated Nov. 22, 1935, acknowledged before Roland G. Wright; consideration less than $100. Land "known as Billerica Ctr." on the "Plan of land of Mitchell Estates, Billerica Center, Mass." dated April 28, 1935, by R. M. Jacobs: "all the land I own East of the Boundary line" running south from a stone bound on Concord Road (435.46 and 572.20 feet, east 76.06 feet, south 549.18 feet), with a right of way over Mitchell Road to Concord Road. "For my title see records of Probate Court, Estate of Moses C. Mitchell, Docket #98722 Middlesex Probate Court." The athletic field lots lie west of this line.
Related:
|
|||||
| December 7, 1935 | Deed | Mary H. Mitchell of Billerica, widow | Mitchell School, a Massachusetts corporation | 1935: Mary H. Mitchell deeds the school grounds, the later field, to the Mitchell School corporation | 876/245 |
Pages 245-247. Dated Nov. 22, 1935, acknowledged in Suffolk County the same day; consideration less than $100. The land "with the buildings thereon" in Billerica Centre on the 1935 Mitchell Estates plan, west of the line to Alexander H. Mitchell: bounded by Concord Road, French Street, land of Paris, McElligott, unknown owners and Mason, excepting the house lots of Blocks A, B and C along Concord Road and Campbell Road. "For my title see records of Probate Court, Estate of Moses C. Mitchell, Docket #98722." Subject to taxes for 1935 and "to a mortgage given by the said grantor to Anna Zisman in the sum of $20,000".
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| July 24, 1947 | Quitclaim Deed | Blanche S. Mitchell of Billerica, unmarried | John F. Poole of Boston | 1947: Blanche S. Mitchell sells four parcels of the Mitchell Estates to John F. Poole | 1072/327 |
Pages 327-328. Dated April 28, 1947, acknowledged in New London County, Connecticut; stamps $2.20. Four parcels on the 1935 Mitchell Estates plan: Lots 1 to 4 in Block H, bounded south by Anderson Avenue 400 feet, east by Hall Street 188 feet, "Northerly by the shore of a pond" 420 feet and west by Stuart Road; Lots 1 to 8 in Block G between Symonds Street, Hall Street, Anderson Avenue and Stuart Road; Lots 1 to 5 in Block F, east by "a stone wall and land now or formerly of one Mason"; and Lots 5 to 7 in Block D, west by a stone wall and land of Paris. No title reference. The streets named are paper streets of the plan.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| August 12, 1948 | Quitclaim Deed | John F. Poole of Boston, unmarried | Thomas S. Taylor, Roger H. Hildreth and Austin F. Perry, all of Billerica, joint tenants | 1948: Poole sells the four parcels to Thomas S. Taylor, Roger H. Hildreth and Austin F. Perry | 1098/18 |
Pages 18-19. Dated Aug. 11, 1948. The same four parcels (Block H Lots 1 to 4, Block G Lots 1 to 8, Block F Lots 1 to 5, Block D Lots 5 to 7). "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Blanche S. Mitchell by deed dated April 28, 1947 ... Book 1072, Page 327. See also deed from the Mitchell School to said Blanche S. Mitchell to be recorded."
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| August 16, 1948 | Quitclaim Deed | Mitchell School, a Massachusetts corporation, by Blanche S. Mitchell, Treasurer | Blanche S. Mitchell of Billerica | 1948: the Mitchell School quitclaims its land to Blanche S. Mitchell | 1099/361 |
Pages 361-363. Dated Aug. 10, 1948, acknowledged in Los Angeles; trustees' vote of Aug. 4, 1948 at 627 Exchange Building, Boston. "For nominal consideration paid", "all its right, title and interest in and to any land situated in said Billerica and more particularly shown on" the 1935 Mitchell Estates plan, "together with any buildings thereon". Recorded with the next deed, as the 1947 deed to Poole had promised.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| August 16, 1948 | Quitclaim Deed | Blanche S. Mitchell of Billerica, unmarried | Thomas S. Taylor, Roger H. Hildreth and Austin F. Perry, all of Billerica, joint tenants | 1948: Blanche S. Mitchell sells Block E to Taylor, Hildreth and Perry | 1099/363 |
Dated Aug. 10, 1948, acknowledged in Los Angeles; stamps 55 cents. Lots 1 to 6 in Block E on the 1935 Mitchell Estates plan, bounded west by land of McElligott 165.63 feet, north by Symonds Street 670 feet, east by land of Mason 185 feet and south by "land of unknown owners" 734.68 feet. "For title reference see Deed of Mitchell School to Blanche S. Mitchell to be recorded herewith."
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| August 14, 1950 | Quitclaim Deed | Thomas S. Taylor, Roger H. Hildreth and Austin F. Perry, all of Billerica (Grace M. Taylor, Audrey W. Hildreth and Florence W. Perry releasing dower and homestead) | The Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | 1950: Taylor, Hildreth and Perry give the town the Memorial Athletic Field and adjacent land | 1148/432 |
Pages 432-433. Dated Aug. 3, 1950, acknowledged at Lowell the same day; recorded Aug. 14, 1950. "For consideration paid", five parcels on the 1935 Mitchell Estates plan: Lots 1 to 4 in Block H (north "by the shore of a pond"), Lots 1 to 8 in Block G, Lots 1 to 5 in Block F, Lots 5 to 7 in Block D, "Being the same premises conveyed to us by John F. Poole ... Book 1098, Page 18", and Lots 1 to 6 in Block E, "Being the same premises conveyed to us by Blanche S. Mitchell ... Book 1099, Page 363". Accepted under Article 13 of the town meeting of Feb. 11, 1950: "a deed of the Athletic Field and land adjacent thereto located on the Mitchell Estates, together with bleacher seats", on condition that a commission of three control it and that it "be used solely for athletic activities of the Town, preference and priority to be given to the High School athletics".
Title from:
|
|||||
| October 13, 2017 | Order of Conditions | Billerica Conservation Commission; John Curran; Billerica Recreation | Town of Billerica (20 Campbell Road) | 2017: Conservation Commission order of conditions for work at the recreation complex | 31555/134 |
Recorded Oct. 13, 2017, 18 pages, for 20 Campbell Road, citing the 1950 deed (Book 1148 Page 432): the Conservation Commission's order for the improvements of the 2017 state PARC grant at the Peggy Hannon-Rizza Recreation Complex. Certificate of compliance Book 39049 Page 109 (2025).
Related:
|
|||||
| January 14, 2022 | Order of Conditions | Billerica Conservation Commission (MassDEP file 109-1462) | Town of Billerica (applicant and owner, John Curran) | 2021: Conservation Commission order for the Peggy Hannon-Rizza Recreation Complex renovation | 36729/46 |
Recorded Jan. 14, 2022, 46 pages: WPA Form 5 Order of Conditions under the Wetlands Protection Act, issued Nov. 3, 2021 (notice of intent filed Aug. 18, 2021; hearing closed Oct. 13, 2021). Project location 1 Ed Hayes Way, Assessors Map 69, Parcels 68 and 72, latitude 42.54850 N, longitude 71.26980 W; recorded title Book 1148, Page 432. Plans: "Notice of Intent Submission: Peggy Hannon-Rizza Recreation Complex Renovation, 1 Ed Hayes Way," Nitsch Engineering, William J. Schreefer, revised Oct. 6, 2021.
Related:
|
|||||
| January 14, 2022 | Decision | Billerica Board of Health; Town of Billerica; John Curran | Town of Billerica (1 Ed Hayes Way and 20 Campbell Road) | 2022: Board of Health decision for 1 Ed Hayes Way and 20 Campbell Road | 36729/39 |
Recorded Jan. 14, 2022, 7 pages, for 1 Ed Hayes Way and 20 Campbell Road, citing the 1950 deed: a Board of Health decision made during the 2021-2022 rebuilding of the complex.
Related:
|
|||||
| May 27, 2022 | Easement | Town of Billerica, by its Selectmen | Massachusetts Electric Company | 2022: easement to Massachusetts Electric at 1 Ed Hayes Way | 37100/59 |
Recorded May 27, 2022, 6 pages, for one dollar: an electric easement at 1 Ed Hayes Way, citing the 1950 deed (Book 1148 Page 432).
Related:
|
|||||
Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted; Probate # is a Middlesex probate case, Ctf a Land Court certificate of title.
References
- Annual Report 2000: Wednesday evening ramps for BMX riders, skateboarders and rollerbladers at the Billerica Mall
- Annual Report 2001: Oct. 2000 town meeting skate board park amendments; ramps moved to the Lampson in August 2001
- Annual Report 2010: teens raise money for skate park fencing with a skate-off and concert
- Annual Report 2012: skate park fencing and skate components; next phase of the Lampson Recreation Complex