A view of the Fiske Hill battle site, near the proposed townhouse development. NPS photo.
Click here to read the October 8, 2026 update
September 25, 2026
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 (Parcel 01-178) 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.
*The US Congress establishes an administrative boundary through public law. This boundary can include lands that are owned by the National Park Service or others. In the case of the Wood Street parcel, it is a privately owned in-holding within the Park boundary. View the statute that added this parcel, given its importance in “the historic landscape along the road between Lexington and Concord.”
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
How You Can Help
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 Thursday, October 1, 2026, for consideration at the Planning Board’s October 7 meeting. Send comments to the Conservation Commission to conservationcomm@lexingtonma.gov by 8:00 am on October 16, 2026, for the October 20th meeting. You can include comments in the body of the email; no need to create a separate letter. Every comment counts!
Thank you for helping protect Minute Man National Historical Park. If you have any questions, please reach out to Kathleen Fahey, Executive Director, at director@friendsofminuteman.
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
These letters were submitted as part of the public process for the case before the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission and can also be accessed via the Town of Lexington.
American Battlefield Trust Letter to the Lexington Planning Board, 2026-10-1
National Parks Conservation Association Letter to the Lexington Planning Board 2026-9-30
Friends of Minute Man Letter to the Lexington Planning Board, 2026-9-25
Minute Man NHP Letter to the Lexington Planning Board 2026-9-21
Minute Man NHP Letter re: Archaeological Recommendations 08-31-2026
Minute Man NHP Letter to the Lexington Conservation Commission 2026-07-27
Friends of Minute Man Letter to the Lexington Planning Board 2026-05-05
Lexington Historical Commission Letter to the Lexington Planning Board 2026-07-17
Maps
Minute Man National Historical Park, United States Department of the Interior, April 1971. From Minute Man NHP Letter to the Lexington Planning Board 2026-9-21. With Friends of Minute Man markup indicating the location of parcel 01-178 (114 Wood Street).
Minute Man National Historical Park, National Register District, May 1999. From Minute Man NHP Letter to the Lexington Planning Board 2026-9-21. With markup indicating the location of parcel 01-178 (114 Wood Street).
Key Habitats In & Around 114 Wood Street, 2026. From Minute Man NHP Letter to the Lexington Planning Board 2026-9-21.