Q) A Thoreau-Emerson trail is established between Heywood Meadow and the Town Forest. A Heywood Meadow to North Bridge trail is established, which passes through the riverside town conservation land behind the Keyes Rd. facilities. An Old Mill Crossing bridge and trail connecting the visitor center and Monument Square is completed. A handicap accessible trail to Authors Ridge in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is completed. The skate park at the high school thrives, and the indoor community pool at the high school is completed and well used. Most recent growth in Concord is concentrated within about a half-mile of the train station and where sewer service exists. R) Two recently constructed playing fields are well used. A rare species and its habitat are rigorously protected so the species is reproducing well. The second part of the Colonial Militia Trail is completed. S) Protection of the remaining core of the Virginia Rd. large natural area is completed, and planning has begun to consider options for the eventual connection of the northern and southern portions.

Section 10: PUBLIC COMMENTS

The Open Space and Recreation Plan 2004 was outlined in a half-hour PowerPoint presentation at a July 7, 2004 Public Hearing (see Section 2B), followed by nearly an hour of public comments. One Concord Selectman, almost all members of the Town’s Natural Resources Commission, representatives of several interested organizations, and others attended the Public Hearing. Several speakers offered positive comments on the Draft and no negative comments were voiced. Task Force members recorded approximately sixteen comments in the form of recommendations for additions or changes in the Draft Plan. Everyone was encouraged to send written public comments by mail or e- mail by July 21, 2004.

More than fifty copies of the Draft Plan were distributed to key Town bodies, organizations and individuals a month before the Public Hearing, with a covering letter encouraging attendance at the Hearing, plus written public comments by mail or e-mail within two weeks following the Hearing. Draft copies were distributed to the following on June 4-7, 2004:

(1) Board of Selectmen; (2) Town Manager; (3) Chair, Planning Board; (4) Director, Planning and Land Management; (5) Chair, Public Works Commission; (6) Director, Public Works Department; (7) Chair, Recreation Commission; (8) Director, Recreation Department; (9) Chair, Board of Assessors; (10) Chair, Zoning Board of Appeals; (11) Chair, Finance Committee; (12) Chair, Cemetery Committee; (13) Superintendent, Water and Sewer; (14) Chair, Concord Neighborhood Network; (15) Disabilities Act Coordinator; (16) Timothy Blancke, Comprehensive Long-Range Plan Committee; (17) Dinny McIntyre (now also Selectman), Comprehensive Long- Range Plan Committee; (18) Joanne Gibson, Comprehensive Long-Range Plan Committee; (19) Hanscom Field, MassPort; (20) Mass Highways; (21) Middlesex Correctional Institution; (22) Walden Pond State Reservation; (23) Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program; (24) Superintendent, Minute Man National Historical Park; (25) Refuge Manager, Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge; (26) Chair, Concord Land Conservation Trust; (27) Executive

134 Director, Sudbury Valley Trustees; (28) Executive Director, Organization for the Assabet River; (29) Executive Director, Walden Woods Project; (30) Executive Director, Mass Audubon; (31) Executive Director, The Thoreau Society; (32) Director of Land Conservation, The Trustees of Reservations; (33) Director, Concord Field Station, Bedford; (34-38) all five members of Concord’s Natural Resources Commission; (39-48) ten members of Concord’s Open Space Task Force; (49) Administrator, Natural Resources Department; (50) Editorial Reviewer, Richard Higgins; (51-52) two copies on file for public, Natural Resources Department; (53-54) two copies on file for public, Concord’s Fowler Library; (55-56) two copies on file for public, Town Clerk’s Office. Draft copies were later distributed to: (57-58) Mass Audubon and Sasaki Associates (via Walden Woods Project); (59) Richard Johnson; (60) Concord Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail; and (61) Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs.

Summary of oral comments at Public Hearing. (a) Would like to have the maps, even the whole report, on line (another speaker suggested just the executive summary). (b) Natural Resources Commission should use, and decisions refer to, the plan. (c) Helpful if recommendations could be more specific, targeted, and with a time line. (d) Caution: there is a perception among some that new development boosts tax revenues; need to address long-term financial costs. (e) Useful to stress the value of conservation more strongly. (f) Preferable to have public access to conservation restricted (CR) land, but it should not be required; emphasize that there is and should be public value to a CR. (g) Tightening CRs is a thankless and probably unsuccessful effort (two speakers disagreed). (h) Should address the question of non- public trails used by the public. (i) Preserving land along any water body is always good. (j) Need to think more about the difference between conservation land and park land. (k) To protect large parcels, emphasize the importance of public-private collaboration. (l) Funds from the CPA should be saved for major conservation efforts. (m) Vistas, aesthetics and appreciation of land by people should be emphasized. (n) Town should be responsible for CRs. (o) Town should keep fields open. (p) The Town’s Open Space Framework has been a key integrative planning tool, which if anything should be strengthened, not weakened by fragmentation into many separate parts.

Written comments on the Draft Plan were received from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Concord Natural Resources Commission, Concord Planning Board, Board of Selectmen and Comprehensive Long Range Planning Committee (see Appendix XI). In addition, written comments were received from five nonprofit organizations, two town bodies and two residents. The following quotes attempt to include the main points from these written comments on the Draft OSRP 2004, which are on file in the Town’s Natural Resources Department.

1). Julia Blatt, Executive Director, Organization for the Assabet River. As with the 1992 Plan, Concord has once again taken a creative, thoughtful, holistic, and innovative approach to planning for the community’s future. The 2004 Plan demonstrates a thorough familiarity with the town’s attributes, and articulates a clear vision for the protection of those special qualities. …In particular, the Open Space Framework is a useful, and ecologically sound planning tool, as it looks at natural resources in need of protection---individually, collectively, and as they connect to each other. We especially appreciate the addition of a regional “lens”… …OAR looks forward

135 to continuing to work with you to protect water quality in Concord…and welcomes Concord’s assistance with our river stewardship efforts in neighboring towns…

2). Christa Collins, Land Protection Specialist, Sudbury Valley Trustees. Particularly notable is the emphasis placed on the need for regional cooperation and coordination. Concord’s neighboring towns, particularly Carlisle, Acton and Sudbury, have very active and able open space programs and excellent opportunities exist for multi-town projects. …Another important issue…is the need to inventory and assess existing Conservation Restrictions. …Good suggestions are made…for ways in which private landowners may be better stewards. These ideas and suggestions should be shared as widely as possible. …We look forward to seeing the Town follow through on many of its [the Plan’s] recommendations, and hope that SVT can help…

3). Bob Armstrong and Rob Comer, Founding Members, Concord Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. …are impressed by the overall scope, clarity, depth and quality of your work. …The Report presents a logical and comprehensive Open Space Framework for the town… …The term “abandoned” has a specific legal meaning…the right-of-way for the proposed Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is not abandoned. …An update is needed regarding action at the town level. …[And four suggestions were made for detailed “additional action items” relative to the BFRT].

4). Helen Bowdoin, Land Conservation Coordinator, The Walden Woods Project. …commended for producing a well organized, detailed, carefully researched report. …The “Walden Woods/Town Forest” Natural Area…has international importance. …Walden Pond and Woods present enormous educational opportunities. The primary objective for our organization’s project on Brister’s Hill…is educational… …We strongly agree with your recommendation that a solution to protect the landfill is to find an appropriate alternate location for the remaining CPW activities…exploring the Route 2 rotary area for alternative sites, possibly state-owned…and that transfer of ownership of this land to Walden Pond State Reservation should be the ultimate objective. …The Walden Woods Project was pleased to work closely with the CPW and others in Concord to coordinate careful ecological restoration of the site… …Route 2 remains a serious barrier to pedestrians and wildlife. The median barriers to be constructed…will increase this problem. …WWP received notification of federal funding for a feasibility study for a wildlife-pedestrian overpass across Route 2. …A process involving all stakeholders will be followed. We look forward to working with the Town on this study… A wildlife-pedestrian overpass…could go far to reduce the negative impacts of Route 2 by providing safe passage for larger mammals, safe pedestrian crossing for visitors to Walden Pond… …Realignment of 126 away from the Pond is a project WWP endorses, given adequate protections of Goose Pond… …WWP is pleased to be included in…the recommendations…as possible collaborators.

5). Ken Miller, Chair, White Pond Advisory Committee. …the plan was very comprehensive and an overall superlative job. …the 2004 Draft Plan…states that the issues from the 1992 plan about White Pond have been “largely accomplished.” I think members of the White Pond Advisory Committee and others interested in White Pond would not agree with that. Some of the issues have changed but there are still many threats that need to be addressed. …it appears that runoff currently may be the largest issue affecting water quality… …There is significant runoff from the undeveloped shoreline… The steep banks are severely eroded from traffic from the many fishermen, hikers and illegal swimmers… Most of these visitors are not Concord residents… These eroded banks…need to be closed off and re-vegetated.

136 …an effort to get private landowners to do a better job at reducing runoff from steep driveways… …monitoring of water quality…needs to be expanded and coordinated with the quality-testing program at Walden Pond… …lands surrounding the pond, there should be more emphasis on this land as a wildlife corridor… …The White Pond Reservation…is threatened by the proposed siting of a wastewater plant…the Reservation should be permanently protected as town conservation land. …the existing trails in town should be marked with signage and ad hoc trails closed off. …The proposed Bruce Freeman Trail…the issue of potentially causing even more access and potential degradation to White Pond… I am generally in favor of the trail but would require that it be diverted around the pond… Additionally, this trail should not be paved except possibly when it traverses West Concord…

6). Judith Sprott, Chair, Public Works Commission. …this plan is “a goldmine” of information and insight into open space issues. …comprehensive and detailed plan… …I particularly note the emphasis on neighborhoods and the proposals to enhance their individuality and their “neighborhood” life, as well as the emphasis on regional open space assessments and cooperation. I believe that both are worthwhile goals. …I have one general concern---the amount of work to implement this plan… …The Concord Public Works has implemented minimum salt and sand use…consistent with providing safe street and sidewalk conditions. …Additional playing fields would be an asset to the town, but they would require additional manpower and funds for maintenance and refurbishment. …The Commission is on record as supporting the continued use of the landfill location for the Composting Center/CPW operations. It is the most convenient location for town vehicles to get to, as well as being environmentally benign (landfill groundwater flows north away from Walden), it is almost invisible and there are no residences nearby to disturb. …By contrast, the 2/2A state land is near already stressed brooks, rivers and Warner’s Pond. It is far from the center of town where much of the snow removal activities take place and…is in a much more complex traffic area and there are residences in the area… The landfill is closely monitored and the data does not indicate a threat to Walden Woods. …the Peter Spring farm field…is part of the land acquired for the wastewater treatment plant. It is presently hosting organic farming and the state-listed rare species there… …if state requirements resulted in additional or different wastewater treatment, this land…needs to be kept available for that eventuality. …several neighborhoods are often along or close to river corridors… The additional impervious surfaces, diverse contaminants, domestic animals, etc. of increased numbers of people and buildings would surely impact these corridors. …the narrowing of many residential streets… There seems to be a conflict here between stormwater management and encouraging walking/cycling… …Perhaps it would be helpful to have an expert analysis of the environmental benefits of sewering in comparison with the environmental costs of using a portion of the [White Pond] Reservation land for a treatment facility. …A most critical problem then [1972] and now, is the impact of cesspools and septic systems in the watershed on White Pond’s water quality. …The Keyes Road shoreline is a difficult site to promote as a public access area since the available parking is needed for employees and visitors attending meetings or with business… Also, access would involve a longish walk through the CPW yard with its heavy equipment and supplies. …a spectrum of land protection tools based on quantifiable parameters and awareness of municipal needs would be very useful. Open space comes in many forms, with varying assets and varying vulnerabilities…

137 7). Judith Sprott, White Pond resident. Encouraging and supporting local land stewardship in neighborhoods is an admirable goal. …The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail would be a great asset to the White Pond/Willard area as it would provide a useful walking/cycling route to Sanborn School and to West Concord center. However, the trail should not be on the railroad right-of-way as it passes within sight of White Pond. …would only exacerbate the environmental problems the White Pond land and water already experiences… …The White Pond watershed should be considered a unique sub-neighborhood of the larger White Pond/Willard area. …only one street source of surface run-off that may be a threat to water quality. …a violent and heavy rainstorm scoured much of the pedestrian access road from Sudbury to the Pond…and created a new sand delta in the water in the cove. One event like this can contribute a substantial portion of the pond’s annual phosphorus load.

8). Lydia Rogers, resident. …an excellent job in creating a comprehensive, well written and clear document. The emphasis on a regional approach…and the division of Concord by Route 2, are important contributions. …It would appear that the Open Space Plan has officially endorsed the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail… That would seem inadvisable given that the feasibility study has not yet begun. Furthermore, there is a significant environmental resource hurdle to be addressed. The bike trail as planned…will lead directly to White Pond. …The oversight…is already inadequate to protect the pond and watershed at the current level of usage. …The difficult issues relative to White Pond…are not addressed. …What is the recommendation for the best way to provide stewardship? ...There should be a stronger statement and more discussion about Starmet and Grace and other industrial polluters. They potentially have a huge impact on the water supply and public health… …wildlife is doing amazingly well in the suburbs… This means there are frequent opportunities to observe animals, and it also means humans and animals share a lot of the same habitat. Therefore, every place is important and deserves stewardship. …Wildlife Advisory Committee. Deer impacts have become a controversial issue that could be addressed by such a group. …Probably the animals that are most impacted by cars are the reptiles and amphibians. …Since the larger the parcel of open space, the more valuable for wildlife and plants, we should instead be decreasing the impacts made by trails and roads. Creating more opportunities for recreation is often at odds with preserving the integrity of open spaces. …there is some land that needs to be conserved (or preserved) for itself, for wildlife, for viewing from a distance, for ecological values, for the part it plays in a bigger ecosystem, and that conservation in such instances may exclude the unabridged right of public access and direct use. [Also, useful information on key mammals in different locations in Town was provided].

9). John Stevens, Chairman of the Concord Land Conservation Trust. …The Land Trust is pleased by the Report’s endorsement of smart growth; development ought to be concentrated in the developed areas of the Town. We are particularly pleased by the Report’s emphasis on preserving large natural and agricultural tracts, connecting corridors and smaller areas for neighborhood use. This emphasis coincides with the Land Trust’s priorities for preservation of open space, which are to preserve large parcels of open land, parcels that connect other areas of open space and all open space in areas of the Town where open space is scarce. As a result, the Plan will be of value to the Land Trust both in evaluating opportunities for open space preservation and in mustering support for those opportunities we decide to pursue. …I note that the listing of conservation restrictions at the conclusion of the Plan is incomplete on its face and that it appears to contain some incorrect information.

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Public comments summarized from the Public Hearing and all written responses received from the public comment period were reviewed by the Task Force. No major changes were deemed necessary. However, many adjustments or refinements in the text were incorporated in response to the many helpful public comments.

Finally, at the core of this Open Space and Recreation Plan 2004 is a recognition that the future face of Concord will be determined by the combined forces of the remarkable power of nature and the actions, both helpful and harmful, of its citizens. Consequently, this plan highlights a meaningful pattern of open space and recreation for Concord’s future, which, in essence, will sustain both nature and us.

Section 11: REFERENCES

1. Alden, P. 1998. Biodiversity Day: Concord and Lincoln, MA, July 4, 1998. Unpublished final report. Concord, Massachusetts. 2. Annual Reports of the Town Offices of Concord. 1992 to 2003. Concord, Mass. 3. Barosh, P. 1993. Bedrock geology of the Walden Woods. In Thoreau’s World and Ours: A Natural Legacy. Schofield, E. A. and R. C. Baron, editors. North American Press, Golden, Colorado. Pp. 212-221. 4. Bennett, A. F. 2001. Linkages in the Landscape: The Role of Corridors and Connectivity in Wildlife Conservation. IUCN-The World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, U.K. 254 pp. 5. Blancke, S. and B. Robinson. 1985. From Musketaquid to Concord: The Native and European Experience. Concord Antiquarian Museum, Concord, Mass. 52 pp. 6. Breunig, K. 2003. Losing Ground: At What Cost? Mass Audubon, Lincoln, Mass. 25 pp. 7. Calthorpe, P. 1993. The Next American Metropolis: Ecology, Community, and the American Dream. Princeton Architectural Press, New York. 8. Cavanagh, P. M. and M. Simoneaux. 2003. Planning for Wildlife: Improving Wildlife Conservation Through Better Open Space and Recreation Plans. Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, Manomet, Mass. 70 pp. 9. Cervero, R. 1998. The Transit Metropolis: A Global Inquiry. Island Press, Washington, D.C. 10. Clark, F. H. 1998. Bigelow Field and Soutter Woods. Draft Report for Concord Land Conservation Trust, Concord, Mass. 10 pp. 11. Clark, F. H. 2000. SuAsCo (Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers Watershed) Biodiversity Protection and Stewardship Plan. Report: Under Direction of the Massachusetts Riverways Program in Conjunction with the Massachusetts Watershed Initiative of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Boston, Mass. 12. Climate Change Impacts on the United States: The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change. 2001. U.S. Global Change Research Program. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K. 620 pp. 13. COHMAP Members. 1988. Climate changes of the last 18,000 years: observations and model simulations. Science 241: 1043-1052. 14. Dexter, S. O. 1937. Concord River: Selections from the Journals of William Brewster. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass. 259 pp.

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