A view of the Fiske Hill battle site, near the proposed townhouse development.
Preservation Alert – Act Today to Protect Minute Man
Minute Man National Historical Park commemorates the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the first battle of the American Revolution, on April 19, 1775.
A proposed development at 114 Wood Street in Lexington, Massachusetts, is currently under review by the Lexington Planning Board. The property is privately owned but lies within the administrative boundary* of Minute Man National Historical Park and within the National Register-listed Minute Man National Historical Park Historic District.
The proposed development in its current form calls for 15 new townhome units in six buildings, along with substantial tree removal, new buildings and driveways, grading, utilities, and other site disturbance. The property currently contains a single home, significant tree cover, and wetlands.
The National Park Service has raised significant concerns about potential impacts to Minute Man National Historical Park, including the historic battlefield landscape and viewsheds, archaeological resources, natural resources, and historic stone walls. The Friends of Minute Man oppose the proposed project and are concerned that its current form is incompatible with preserving this nationally significant battlefield landscape. The National Park Service has also noted that nearby archaeological investigations have uncovered battle-related artifacts associated with the Parker’s Revenge, Bloody Bluff, and Fiske Hill battlefields.
What We’re Asking Lexington to Consider
The Friends of Minute Man is asking the Town of Lexington to explore alternatives that would avoid or substantially reduce potential impacts to the Park and its nationally significant battlefield landscape. If the project proceeds, we are asking for strong and enforceable conditions on any approval, including:
- A comprehensive archaeological assessment before any ground disturbance
- Reduced density and relocation of development outside of wetland buffers and increased protection for the vernal pool
- Measures to prevent stormwater and other impacts to Park resources
- Protection of significant forest and wildlife habitat
Please Share Your Comments
If you value Minute Man National Historical Park and its historic battlefield landscapes, we encourage you to share your comments with the Lexington Planning Board.
You do not need to be a Lexington resident to comment. You can share why Minute Man matters to you and ask the Planning Board to carefully consider the National Park Service’s documented concerns about the proposed development.
Please submit comments to planning@lexingtonma.gov by 4:30 p.m. on October 1, 2026, for consideration at the Planning Board’s October 7 meeting.
Thank you for helping protect Minute Man National Historical Park.
Sample Letter
Dear Members of the Lexington Planning Board,
I am writing regarding the proposed development at 114 Wood Street and its potential impacts on Minute Man National Historical Park.
Minute Man is an important place to me because [add a sentence or two about your connection to the Park—for example, visiting with your family, hiking the trails, participating in programs, or your interest in American history].
I understand that the property at 114 Wood Street is privately owned but lies within the administrative boundary of Minute Man National Historical Park and the National Register-listed Minute Man National Historical Park Historic District. The National Park Service has raised significant concerns about the potential impacts of the proposed development on the historic battlefield landscape and viewsheds, archaeological resources, natural resources, and historic stone walls.
I ask the Planning Board to carefully consider these concerns and explore alternatives that would avoid or substantially reduce potential impacts to the Park and its nationally significant historic landscape
I urge the Planning Board to protect the Park’s historic, archaeological, and natural resources when it makes its decision on this proposal.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[City/Town, State]
Learn More
Friends of Minute Man Letter to the Lexington Planning Board, 2026-9-25
Friends of Minute Man Letter to the Lexington Planning Board 2026-05-05
*The privately-owned land at 114 Wood St was recognized for its importance in “the historic landscape along the road between Lexington and Concord” and Congress added it to the administrative boundary of Minute Man National Park in 1992. View the statute here.