Oxbow Meadows Field
SITE HISTORY
Purchased by the US Army in 1954, Oxbow Meadows is the former Nike Missile Site-Battery #73. Later transferred to the Massachusetts Army National Guard, until 1974, when the land was deactivated/decommissioned. Consisting of approximately 13.65 acres with 0.49 acres located in Lincoln, MA and approximately 13.16 acres in Wayland, MA that was deemed excess real property by the General Services Administration (GSA) in 2003 and transferred to the Town of Wayland.
In June, 2003, the Board of Selectmen appointed the Nike Site Advisory Committee (NSAC) to research the site and the Town’s interests. In February 2004, the NSAC recommended to the Board of Selectmen that the Town acquire up to 3.5 acres of the site for affordable housing and the 10.71 acre remainder of the property for active and passive recreation.
At the Town of Wayland Special Town Meeting held on May 5, 2004, the Town of Wayland approved by a 2/3 majority vote (287-116) to purchase approximately 2.75 acres (Lot 2A) of the property for the construction of up to sixteen units of housing at 89 Oxbow Road, with a priority given to the development of affordable housing.
Simultaneously, the article approved the Town to acquire the remaining 10.71 acre portion (Lot 1A) of the property for passive and active recreation purposes through the Federal Lands to Parks program. At the same Town Meeting, $200,000 of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds were appropriated for the demolition of the existing structures including removal of asbestos and lead paint materials on both lots, which has been completed.
At the Town of Wayland Annual Town Meeting held on April 2, 2017 the Town of Wayland approved $300,000 by 2/3 vote (252 to 64) to construct a multi-purpose athletic field at Oxbow Meadows Lot 1A. The field was completed in 2019 and will be ready for play in 2020.
Federal Property Nike Launch Area - Battery Site #73
General Services Admin Control #1-D-MA-0725
133/91 Oxbow Road; Assessors Map 01, Lot 047 | 10.71 acres
| Federal Land to Parks Program Biennial Stewardship Reports | |
|---|---|
| 2004 -2005 | Federal Land to Parks Program Application and Approval |
| 2007 | Federal Land to Parks Stewardship Report 2007 |
| 2009 | Federal Land to Parks Stewardship Report 2009 |
| 2011 | Federal Land to Parks Stewardship Report 2011 |
| 2013 & 2015 | Federal Land to Parks Stewardship Report 2012-2016 |
| 2017 & 2019 | Federal Land to Parks Stewardship Interim Report 2018 |
| 2021 | Federal Land to Parks Stewardship Report 2021 |
| 2023 | |
| 2025 | |
(Left) Oxbow, Nike Missile Site, 1950s Oxbow Meadows Field, 2020 (Right)
