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Town of Walpole Open Space and Recreation Plan September 2020 The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) prepared this plan on behalf of the Town of Walpole in close coordination with Walpole staff and leadership.

Funding for this plan was made possible through a grant made to the Town of Walpole from the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Additional funding was provided from Planning for MetroFuture Technical Assistance (PMTA) from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

Cover Image: Adams Farm photo by MAPC

Town of Walpole 2 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Contents

Section 1: Plan Summary page 05

Section 2: Introduction 07

Section 3: Community Setting 11

Section 4: Environmental Inventory and Analysis 25

Section 5: Inventory of Conservation and 39 Recreation Lands

Section 6: Community Vision 53

Section 7: Analysis of Needs 55

Section 8: Goals and Objectives 63

Section 9: Seven-Year Action Plan 67

Appendix Section A: Public Comments 85

Section B: Survey Results XX

Section C: ADA Accessibility Self-Evaluation XX

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DRAFT FOR REVIEW Bird Pond Image: MAPC Town of Walpole 4 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Section 1: Plan Summary The 2020 Town of Walpole Open Space and resources and as a foundation for the Seven- Recreation Plan (OSRP) has been prepared Year Action Plan of the OSRP. The Seven- to guide Town Staff, committees, boards, Year Action Plan provides detailed steps for and commissions working to support open achieving the goals outlined below. Once space, conservation, and recreation in the approved by the Massachusetts Executive Walpole. The plan provides an update to Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the previous Open Space and Recreation the OSRP will open funding opportunities for Plan prepared by the Town in 2011. A Core the town related to open space and recreation. Group comprised of town staff and leadership Throughout this process the Walpole guided the development of this plan. The community has confirmed the importance of process to develop the plan and the writing of open space and recreation to the town. The the plan was facilitated by the Metropolitan Community Survey received 376 responses Area Planning Council (MAPC). MAPC is the and reaffirmed community values around regional planning agency serving the 101 open space. 77% of respondents strongly cities and towns of Metropolitan Boston. During agree that preserving Walpole’s open space this process, MAPC facilitated two public and natural areas is important to them. The forums, coordinated Core Group meetings, importance of conservation was underlined by met with staff from the Town of Walpole, 74% of respondents strongly agreeing that and completed a community survey. All of Walpole needs to proactively preserve what these activities have been used to understand open space is left. Indicating some room for the goals and objectives of the community in improvement, 65% of respondents strongly regard to open space and recreation and agree that Walpole’s existing open space and each source of input has contributed to the recreational amenities contribute positively to content of this Open Space and Recreation overall quality of life. Defining where some Plan. of that improvement may occur, 65% of the The Town of Walpole enjoys a great variety respondents strongly agree that Walpole of open space, conservation and recreation needs to proactively plan for the recreational resources. The resources include scenic ponds, needs of its residents. town forest, fields and playgrounds, and trail A Vision Statement regarding Walpole’s open connections, such as the regional Bay Circuit space and recreation resources has been Trail. One of the most important challenges prepared through this process. That Vision highlighted by the community survey is not the Statement is as follows: lack of resources, but the lack of knowledge Vision Statement about the resources available. Survey Walpole’s vision for Open Space and respondents reported that not knowing about Recreation is a Town with a green open resource locations or access to trails or other space network with walking and bike trails facilities were the biggest impediments to using that connect a series of recreational fields Walpole’s open space amenities. An inventory and other community amenities, as well as of all resources is included in this Open Space provide access to natural areas and the town’s and Recreation Plan. The inventory serves abundant ponds. both as a way to share knowledge about the The vision includes an abundance of clean

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DRAFT FOR REVIEW drinking water from our Town wells and other General Goal groundwater sources. “To preserve and enhance the overall quality The vision includes an abundance of playing of the natural and cultural environment within fields for youth and adults where overuse does the Town of Walpole while providing a not exist. well maintained system of parks, recreation The vision includes clean water resources facilities and conservation lands, trails, town (rivers, ponds, streams, wetlands, and aquifers) forest, ponds and other lands subject to land for today and the future; where our ponds are restrictions that meet the diverse needs of the clear and free of nuisance aquatic vegetation community and contribute to making Walpole and available for fishing, boating, skating and a healthier community.” other passive recreational uses. This vision includes walking trails and canoe Conservation Goals launches along the Neponset River; trails for • Goal 1: Protect and improve the quality of dog walking and bridge watching; and habitat Walpole’s surface and ground water. for wildlife. • Goal 2: Protect and encourage preservation This vision includes a Walpole with a mixture of the Town’s natural and cultural resources. of the new and the old; where our most • Goal 3: Maintain and manage existing Town significant natural, historic, and cultural open space land. resources are saved for future generations. The Town of Walpole has articulated goals Recreation Goals that define the Open Space and Recreation • Goal 4: Continue to expand recreational Plan. These goals are detailed with objectives facilities to provide a wide variety of active and each objective is associated with actions recreation opportunities to encourage a that can be undertaken to advance the goals healthy and active community. and objective. The OSRP goals begin with • Goal 5: Maintain and manage existing an overarching General Goal and then have recreation facilities. been categorized as Conservation Goals or Recreation Goals including:

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DRAFT FOR REVIEW Section 2: Introduction Statement of Purpose of Conservation Services (DCS). The previous The Town of Walpole is a spirited community 2011 Open Space and Recreation Plan did with a small town feel and community-oriented not complete this process leaving additional values. Walpole like many New England grant resources unavailable to the town. This communities has changed over time adapting current plan will be used to complete that as changes in industrial and commercial process of review and validation with DCS. needs, transportation needs, and residential needs evolved. However, parts of Walpole What is open space? have changed little. The new and the old, the Open space is undeveloped land that is either contemporary and the historic, are parts of left in its natural state or improved for use for Walpole’s charm and form the context for this recreation or agriculture. This land is often Open Space and Recreation Plan. accessible to the public and usually without Walpole’s resources are diverse and so are buildings or structures. Open space is typically its needs. Walpole has always sought to divided into two categories – conservation balance the need to acquire and preserve its lands and recreation resources. natural resources with its needs to be fiscally Conservation land is usually left in its natural responsible. The 2020 Open Space and state and it often, but not always, open to Recreation Plan seeks to maintain this balance the public. Conservation lands may include and respond to the needs of the Town by animal and plant habitats, water resources and preserving its historic, cultural, and natural aquifer protection, and other natural, historical treasures, by maintaining open space areas or cultural features. already owned, by protecting groundwater for drinking water, and by thinking ahead to Recreation resources support activity. Active provide opportunities for residents to enjoy recreation land supports activities for team both open space areas and recreational sports, tennis, swimming, golf, or other facilities in the future. competitive sports taking place in or on developed facilities. Passive recreation is Why was this plan written? defined as any activity that can be performed The 2020 Open Space and Recreation Plan outdoors with a minimum disturbance to an was undertaken to update and renew the area’s natural resources. Examples of passive Town’s previous 2011 Open Space and recreation include hiking, picnicking, canoeing, Recreation Plan. While many aspects of the ice-skating, cross country skiing, and informal previous plan remain relevant and valid, this sports on an open field. Conservation land current plan updated the progress made may offer passive recreation opportunities. against actions previously identified, updated This Open Space and Recreation Plan defines the plan with current data and analysis, an inventory of both active and passive and reassessed the community’s priorities. recreation areas, as well as other types of Another important aspect of this plan is to open spaces that serve conservation purposes produce a document that will be formally or that protect other historic or cultural approved by the Executive Office of Energy features. An inventory of the Walpole open and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) Division space resources is documented in Section 5.

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DRAFT FOR REVIEW Planning Process and Community • Brendan Croak, Recreation Director Participation • Drew Hand, Superintendent of Highway, The Town of Walpole supported the DPW development of this plan through the guidance • Landis Hershey, Conservation Agent and supervision of a Core Group comprised of • Sara Khatib, Planning Board town staff and leadership. The overall process • Jim Johnson, Town Administrator and Core Group meetings were managed • Glenn Maffei, Board of Sewer and Water and coordinated by Landis Hershey, the Town’s Commissioners and Trails Committee Conservation Agent. During the process, the • Kerri McManama, Director Council on Aging Core Group met regularly with MAPC staff • Justin Monta, Superintendent Parks and to review and contribute to elements of the Cemeteries, Tree Warden plan and to assist with community engagement. • Gary Riggott, Trails Committee All meetings were publicly posted. The Core • Patrick Shields, Assistant Town Administrator Group consisted of the following members (in • Jack Wiley, Chair Conservation Commission alphabetical order by last name): and Adams Farm Committee • Michael Yanovitch, Building Inspector

Memorial Pond Image: MAPC

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DRAFT FOR REVIEW The Metropolitan Area Planning Council strategies that promote positive impacts in EJ (MAPC) facilitated the process. MAPC communities. For example, EOEEA has now provided project management, technical amended the LAND grant program regulations analysis, and community engagement to incorporate environmental justice in the assistance to advance the planning process and award scoring system. Similarly, the Riverways prepare the plan document. The preparation and the Massachusetts Environmental Trust of the plan was made possible by grants from will work with EOEEA to develop systems the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive for incorporating environmental justice as a Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs criterion for awarding grants. The EOEEA also and MAPC Technical Assistance. has determined to target its resources to more An Open Space and Recreation Survey effectively create, restore, and maintain open was developed and posted on the Town of spaces located in neighborhoods where EJ Walpole website and was available for over populations reside. a month. The survey was well circulated and received 376 responses from community Environmental Justice Populations in participants. Massachusetts are determined by the following criteria: Enhanced Outreach and Public Participation • Households earn 65% or less of the The Executive Office of Energy and statewide household median income; or Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) and other • 25% or more of the residents are minority; state agencies have been implementing an or Environmental Justice (EJ) Policy since 2002 to • 25% or more of the residents are foreign- help ensure that all Massachusetts residents born; or experience equal protection and meaningful • 25% or more of the residents are lacking involvement with respect to the development, English language proficiency implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies By these criteria, 137 municipalities in the and the equitable distribution of environmental Commonwealth of Massachusetts include an benefits. This policy was instituted because the Environmental Justice Population, as identified Commonwealth realized that low to moderate through analysis by MassGIS. The Town of income residents in densely populated older Walpole is not one of these communities industrial areas often lack open space and and does not include an Environmental recreation resources and may live near old, Justice Population. The most recent analysis abandoned, and/or contaminated sites completed by MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic that can pose risks to public health and the Information), using data from the 2010 Census environment. and ACS 2010 5-year Estimates, identifies no block groups within Walpole that meet one Environmental justice is an integral or more of the environmental justice criteria, consideration in all EEA programs, to the including foreign-born, minority population, extent applicable and allowable by law. The and income. A map of the Environmental Justice Environmental Justice Executive Order No. block groups in Walpole and further discussion 552 requires Secretariats to take action in of EJ populations in neighboring municipalities promoting environmental justice. The Executive is included in Section 3: Community Setting. Order requires new environmental justice Town of Walpole 9 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Walpole Center Pool Image: MAPC Town of Walpole 10 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Section 3: Community Setting Regional Context also home to a significant number of jobs that The Town of Walpole is located in Boston are clustered along the Route 1 corridor. In metropolitan area, southwest of Boston, addition to these major centers of activity, in Norfolk County. The town is about 19 the Town has a pattern of dispersed village miles south of Boston and 26 miles north centers including East Walpole, South Walpole, of Providence, Rhode Island. The Town of and Plimptonville that all contribute to the Walpole shares municipal boundaries with the character, services, and amenities of the town. towns of Dover, Westwood, Norwood, Sharon, Foxborough, Norfolk, and Medfield. Walpole Aside from these features, the remainder of is among the largest of these communities by the town is a mix of a variety of residential size of population. neighborhoods and areas that retain a rural character. The residential neighborhoods are Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1, both of which densest near Town Center and East Walpole. are located near the eastern boundary of The northern part of the town remains the the town, provide regional access to the town. most rural in character due to the Town-owned State Routes 1A and 27 provide more direct Adams Farm property and the land associated local access to the town. State Route 1A bisects with the Norfolk County Agricultural High the town roughly from north to south. State School. Route 27 bisects the town roughly from east to west. The two state routes meet at the center Walpole is host to a major regional resource of the municipality in the Town Center. The in the Norfolk County Agricultural High School. Franklin Commuter Rail Line passes through It enrolls over 500 students from the 28 towns Walpole to provide regional rail access with in Norfolk County and is situated on 365 a station in Town Center and Plimptonville, a acres in Walpole. Walpole is also host to a station north of Town Center. Both stations are state correctional facility, the Massachusetts also part of the Foxboro Commuter Rail Line Correctional Institution Cedar Junction. It is a Pilot. A CSX line that runs perpendicular to the maximum-security reception and diagnostic commuter rail line provides regional freight center with a medium-security component and access. large open space parcel.

Walpole’s Town Center is a regional hub Regional Planning Context of economic activity that offers amenities Walpole is one of the 101 cities and towns and services to the town and surrounding located within the greater Boston metropolitan communities. The Town Center is also the region. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council center of municipal facilities and services with (MAPC), the regional planning agency, serves the Town Hall, Senior Center, Public Safety, the region. Each municipality in the region and Library. Walpole also has significant belongs to one of eight subregions. Walpole commercial and industrial development is a member of the Three Rivers Interlocal along Route 1 that serves the residents of Council (TRIC). Council membership consists the town and surrounding communities. These of community representatives, gubernatorial commercial and industrial establishments are appointees, and city and state agencies

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DRAFT FOR REVIEW that collaborate around issues of regional • Goal 61 – Water resources will be carefully importance. MAPC’s professional planners budgeted and sustainably managed so that provide technical assistance to member clean water is available for appropriate uses communities through the development of and development. comprehensive plans and recommendations in • Goal 62 – The region’s rivers, streams, lakes, areas of land use, transportation, economic and ponds will have sufficient clean water to development, public health, environment, and support healthy populations of native fish and more. other species, as well as recreational uses. • Goal 63 – The ecological condition of MAPC is currently leading a regional planning wetlands will improve, and fewer wetlands will process called MetroCommon 2050 that is an be lost to development. update to the regional plan. The current plan, • Goal 64 – The region will retain its MetroFuture, was adopted in 2008 and is used biodiversity and will have healthy populations by MAPC and municipalities to coordinate of native plants and animals, and fewer local planning efforts. Once completed and invasive species. adopted the new regional plan will be used • Goal 65 – A robust network of protected for this type of coordination. MetroFuture open spaces, farms, parks, and greenways will guides the work of MAPC agency-wide and provide wildlife habitat, ecological benefits, every project MAPC undertakes works towards recreational opportunities, and scenic beauty. reaching the goals defined in the plan. Many of the 65 goals defined in MetroFuture are In addition to regional planning documents applicable to the Walpole Open Space and from MAPC, neighboring municipalities have Recreation Plan, including: local plans that represent opportunities for municipal collaboration. In the immediate • Goal 7 – Cities, towns, and neighborhoods vicinity of Walpole, the town of Norfolk has will retain their sense of uniqueness and recently completed an Open Space and community character. Recreation Plan. A full listing of neighboring • Goal 8 – Historic resources will be preserved municipalities Open Space and Recreation and enhanced. Plans and the date of the most recently • Goal 9 – The region’s landscape will retain completed plan include: its distinctive green spaces and working farms. • Town of Dover (2011) • Goal 11 – The region will be prepared for • Town of Westwood (2019) and resilient to natural disasters and climate • Town of Norwood (2020) change. • Town of Sharon (2010) • Goal 23 – All neighborhoods will have • Town of Foxborough (2011, an update is access to safe and well-maintained parks, underway) community gardens, and appropriate play • Town of Norfolk (2017) spaces for children and youth. • Town of Medfield (2016) • Goal 25 – Most residents will build regular physical activity into their daily lives. History of Community • Goal 42 – The region’s agricultural economy The history of Walpole began long before will grow through a focus on sustainable records of any type were being kept. The farming and by bringing more locally next section on geology points to the long produced foods to the market. history of the land and the natural resources Town of Walpole 12 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Town of Walpole 13 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW that this plan is intended to steward. The “the Old Post Road” where Pleasant Street histories of people on that land began with passes through East Walpole on through to the indigenous populations of the area. The Foxborough and Attleboro. The other trail area that is now called Walpole was originally passing through Walpole Center was “the territory claimed by the Neponset Native Old Saw Mill Road” it followed the Medfield American tribe. The rocky uplands and cedar Trail from Dedham through Westwood to swamps provided a natural buffer between North Street and Main Street to the Walpole the Neponset tribes to the east and the Common, from there it went from West Street Wampanoag and Narragansett tribes to the and then to King Philip’s Road to Wrentham south and west. Artifacts from the activities of (History of Walpole, Maude Greaves). these indigenous populations have been found near Plimptonville and Hilltop Farm and a During the Federal Period (1775-1830), native village site has been identified along the small mills developed into established the river in South Walpole (Town of Walpole, industries, producing cotton, wool, paper and 1987). agricultural implements. The Town Center continued to develop and villages were The first European settlers arrived between created in South Walpole and East Walpole. 1660 and 1670 to live on the high ground The Town continued to grow with the region. between the Neponset River and Spring Brook. Following this period, railroads developed, They harvested cedar from the cedar swamps, commercial and industrial activities grew, and or were subsistence farmers. During the the population of the town grew. Mary Bird Colonial Period (1676-1776) the population started a small library in East Walpole in increased to nearly 1,000 people, most of 1876. The Town Hall was completed in 1881 who were engaged in agriculture during the at a cost of $30,000 dollars. In 1893, the summer and lumbering during the winter. Mills town authorized to supply its inhabitants with were built on the Neponset and other streams waster, using the water of Spring Brook, Trap to process local products. Forges and smelters Hole Brook, Mill Brook, and artesian or driven were also constructed to process bog iron. wells (History of Walpole, Maude Greaves). Several two-story central chimney houses and Trolleys at the turn of the century fostered Cape Cod cottages that were built during suburban development that continued into this period still remain in the town. A lime kiln the remainder of the twentieth century with from this era has also been excavated in West the popularization of the automobile and Walpole (Town of Walpole, 1987). development of a regional highway network that offers convenient connections to Walpole In 1724 the town was set off from Dedham afforded by Interstate 95 and Route 1 (Town and named for Sir Robert Walpole. Walpole of Walpole, 1987). was an eminent English statesman and political leader. The first town meeting was held in Demographic Context Walpole on December 24, 1724. At this time, Population Trends the town had two prominent trails that were According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the traveled by foot or horseback and used in residential population of Walpole was carting lumber from the cedar swamps to 24,070. The population of the town has the old sawmill. The paths of the trails are seen continued growth over most of the past distinguished to this day and were known as century. From 1920 to 1970 the town grew Town of Walpole 14 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW rapidly with the most substantial growth in the The Status Quo projections show that 1950’s when the population grew 54.44% or Walpole’s population is to remain relatively nearly 5,000 residents in a decade. Between stable through 2030, increasing by 2.9 1950 and 1970, the population of the town percent. The Stronger Region projections show doubled. The population has continued to grow a 7% population increase between 2010 and in more recent decades, but not at that peak 2030 with a projected population in 2030 pace. Total town population increased by of 26,333. In addition to projections by total nearly 20% between 1990 and 2010. population, the projections are also made by the measure of a household. A household The analysis of population trends in Walpole consists of all the people who occupy a housing was developed for the recently completed unit. Household numbers increased over 30% update to the town’s Housing Production Plan between 1990 and 2010. The Stronger Region in 2019. Walpole’s total population, using projections show a 20% increase in households estimates from the 2016 American Community between 2010 and 2030. The average Survey (ACS) 2012-2016, 5-Year Estimates, is household size in the town is 2.77, which is 24,913. This reflects an increase of 843 since larger than the Massachusetts average of 2010. This data shows that the population in 2.63. Walpole is aging with most age cohorts under 55 years declining and most age cohorts over A significant portion of the total population is 55 years increasing in size. between the ages of 35 and 64 with a total of 10,779. The next largest age cohort is The Metropolitan Area Planning Council 5-19 with 4,494 residents. The combination of (MAPC) has prepared population projections these two cohorts point to the large proportion through 2030 for the Metropolitan Boston of family households where these two age region. These projections are based on cohorts form the household. The next largest two scenarios: Status Quo, based on the age cohort is 65+ with 3,570 residents. As of continuation of existing rates of births, 2010, about 49% of people living alone in death, migration, and housing occupancy; Walpole were over the age of 65 (U.S. 2010 and a Stronger Region that assumes higher Census). population growth, greater housing demand, and a larger workforce. Specifically, the Walpole is a relatively homogeneous Stronger Region scenario assumes that in the municipality with an estimated 88.8 percent of coming years: its residents identifying as White (non-Hispanic • The region will attract and retain more Origin). The town has been diversifying over people, especially young adults, than it does the past two decades as the percent of today; residents identifying as White has decreased • Younger householders (born after 1980) from 95.4 percent in 2000. The next largest will be more inclined toward urban living than racial group is Asian, which has grown over were their predecessors, and less likely to seek the same time period from 1.1 percent in the out single family homes; and year 2000 to 4.5 percent based on the 2016 • An increasing share of senior-headed estimates. The next largest racial group is households will choose to downsize from single African American, which has grown from 1.59 family home to apartments and condominiums. percent in the year 2000 to 2.5 percent based on the 2016 estimates. Town of Walpole 15 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Environmental Justice Population Characteristics Community Characteristics In 2002 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Growth and Development Patterns developed an Environmental Justice Policy. MAPC characterizes Walpole as a maturing Environmental justice is “based on the principle New England Town. This type of community is that all people have a right to be protected generally characterized by a mixed-use town from environmental pollution and to live in and center surrounded by compact neighborhoods enjoy a clean and healthful environment.” (1/4 – 1/2 acre lots); low-density outlying areas; large amounts of vacant and Massachusetts uses three criteria to identify potentially developable land; new growth Environmental Justice (EJ) communities, including characterized by conventional subdivision income, race and ethnicity, and English development on vacant land; and population language proficiency. The Massachusetts and households that are growing rapidly and Executive Office of Energy and Environmental adding residential land rapidly. Affairs (EEA) defines EJ populations as neighborhoods (U.S. Census Bureau census The following summary of historic growth block groups) that meet one of more of the and development patterns in Walpole was following criteria: sourced from the Town of Walpole’s 2008 Communitywide Historic Properties Survey. • Median annual household income is at or Walpole’s earliest development patterns have below 65% of the statewide median income; been characterized by a joining of natural • 25% or more of the residents are a minority; resources and industry. The discovery of an • 25% or more of the residents are foreign extensive cedar swamp at the heart of the born; or current municipality led to the establishment • 25% or more of the residents are lacking of a sawmill near the junction of the Neponset English language proficiency. River and School Meadow Brook. This area is within the present Town Forest. Initially, to The most recent analysis completed by encourage growth, large lots of land known MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), as “Sawmill Dividends” were granted and using data from the 2010 Census and ACS resulted in a geographic and socially distinct 2010 5-year Estimates, identifies no areas settlement. within Walpole that meet the environmental justice criteria, including foreign-born, The town’s industrial history is closely linked minority population and income. A map of to the development of its villages and the Environmental Justice Populations data in village centers. Much of this history is closely Walpole is below. Although no EJ communities connected to the surface water features of exist within the municipal boundaries of the town. These features include the Elbridge Walpole, two EJ communities directly abut Smith dam at Washington Street in South the municipal boundaries in the adjacent Walpole, the Clark privilege at Summer Street municipalities of Norwood and Sharon. The in South Walpole, Old Rucaduc fall near South nearest clean and healthful environments in the Walpole, Blackburn privilege near the Town form of publicly accessible parks may be in Forest, Union Factory dam at South Street Walpole for these EJ communities given their near Common Street, Walpole Center dam proximity to the municipal boundary. at West Street, Stetson privilege near Main Street and Kendall Street, Linden Spring at Town of Walpole 16 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Town of Walpole 17 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Plimpton Street, Bird upper privilege in East at the end of this late industrial period with Walpole and Bird lower privilege in East prominent citizens donating land to the Town Walpole. Bog iron deposits along these brooks for the Walpole Town Forest, fountain on the supplied forges for about a century and drove town common, a high school and grammar settlement around these resources and mills. In school. addition to these industries, subsistence farming also characterized Walpole’s economy at this The Bird Family of East Walpole had a time. Well-preserved Colonial farmhouses significant impact on the open space resources remain in Walpole today. of the Town working in 1914 with the town to beautify the community, secure and improve The 19th century saw the construction of two open space, and guide future development regional turnpikes through the town and the working with town planner and landscape population of the town doubled. Settlement architect John Nolen. These efforts resulted and surrounding residential development grew in designing improvements for the layout and along these regional turnpikes, one of which landscaping of Walpole Center, East Walpole is now Washington Street and concentrated and South Walpole, Walpole Town Forest, in East Walpole and South Walpole. Industry Memorial Park at Town Center, and Bird and farming continued to prosper in the town Park on Washington Street. The Town Forest and the Town Center began to take shape with is the third Tree Farm in the Commonwealth the former First Parish Church, then Walpole’s to be recognized by the Massachusetts Unitarian Church, moving the meetinghouse to Forestry Association and the first town forest Common Street. Construction of the Norfolk in Massachusetts to be managed for timber County Railroad bypassed East Walpole, but revenue (Town of Walpole Communitywide included stops in Plimptonville, the town center, Historic Properties Survey, 2008). and West Walpole, solidifying these locations as centers of activity and commerce. Some The foundational development pattern and of the industries referenced in this period of structure of the town has remained in place industrialists are the a manufacturer of twine as established through this historic evolution. and fish lines, a boot factory, Plimpton Iron More recent development has seen largely the Works, paper manufacturing. growth of residential that is filling in around the town and village centers. According to the In 1881, Walpole built its first Town Hall at recently completed 2019 Housing Production 980 Main Street. Town Center saw further Plan Update, the American Community Survey improvements with the construction of Union estimates that Walpole’s population is housed Station and private development around these in 9,207 housing units. The majority of these assets. Other activity centers in town were units, 74.9 percent, are single-family detached solidified with a neighborhood of residential structures. 5.8 percent of Walpole’s housing and institutional development complementing units are single-family attached structures. 4.6 sizable industrial complexes in East Walpole. percent of the housing stock is 2-unit duplexes The Plimptonville area developed as a result and 3.2 percent of the housing stock is 3-unit of the adjacent iron works. South Walpole triplexes or 4-unit structures. 11.5 percent developed with a connection to rail service as of the housing stock is multi-family with 5 or well. Many of the patterns of development more units. The majority of Walpole’s housing and major assets of the town were established stock has been built since 1950, including 51.2 Town of Walpole 18 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW percent that has been built between 1950 • Liberty Station at Walpole Center – 152 and 1990 and an additional 26.2 percent market rate rental units built from 1990 to 2010. This represents • Meadowbrook – 30 market rate age- a relatively new housing stock that mirrors qualified ownership units the population growth of the town since the • Moose Hill – 157 affordable and market 1950’s. rate rental units • Pennington Crossing – 186 market rate age- Today over 46% of Walpole’s land is qualified ownership units comprised of residential development, the • Residences at Burns Avenue – 32 affordable large majority of which, as noted, is single- home ownership units family homes. Overall, 6,215 acres of land • Renmar – 105 market rate age-qualified are dedicated to residential uses. Of that total ownership units residential area, 4,647 acres are devoted to • 95 West Street – 192 market rate rental single-family homes. Tax-exempt public and units institutional land, which includes open space in the town, is the second largest land use by Single-family Subdivisions area accounting for about 29% of the town’s • Boyden Estates – 7 lots area. This category of land use accounts for • High Meadows – 6 lots 3,872 acres of land in the town. The other • Olmstead Estates – 11 lots main categories of land use include commercial • Roscommon – 30 lots (Open Space or industrial land representing about 11% of Residential Development) the total land area or 1,548 aces; other land uses (for example, right-of-ways or water) at As identified in this listing of developments, about 8% of the total land area or 1,143 residential activity in the town has shifted to acres; open space (Chapter 61 land) at about the production of multifamily dwelling units. 3% or 361 acres; and mixed use at about 3% This shift is consistent with broader trends or 343 acres. There is relatively little vacant across the region. This trend in development land that remains in the town that is free of is expected to continue given that the Town constraints. remains below the Subsidized Housing Inventory threshold of 10 percent affordable Recent and Anticipated Development Activity housing required under Massachusetts General The vacant land in Walpole, as in much of Law Chapter 40, Section B. This allows the Boston metropolitan area, continues to be developers to propose affordable housing subjected to development pressure. According development that does not comply with the to MassBuilds, Walpole currently has 2 local zoning bylaw in order to produce housing projects in the development pipeline. Recently in the community. This fact combined with the completed projects include Pennington Crossing ability to identify and acquire developable a 55+ adult condominium community. A listing land in the Town will lead to an expected of developments under construction or recently continuation of these development patterns. completed in the Town is below: Infrastructure is another aspect of future Multifamily Development development to consider with anticipated • Barberry Homes – 174 affordable rental activity. The Town of Walpole has a water units management plan in place and should consider Town of Walpole 19 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW integrating water conservation requirements the largest 25 employers in Walpole are and enhancing connections to nearby open listed below. The list is ordered by size range, space and trails connections to further advance then alphabetically with the size range. The open space and recreation goals with each employer information does not come from the new investment in the community. Unemployment Insurance reporting system, but is provided by Infogroup in 2020 through the Employment Trends Massachusetts Department of Unemployment At the time of the writing of this report, it is Assistance. The list of employers is relatively difficult to predict where employment trends diversified pointing to a strong employment will go due to the disruption caused by the base in the town. As of March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to that disruption, labor force in the town was 13,457 with

Largest 25 Employers in Walpole Name Address Number of Employees NAICS Code Hollingsworth & Vose Co Washington St 1,000-4,999 3221 Walmart Supercenter Providence Hwy 250-499 4522 Baker Hughes Providence Hwy #4 250-499 2389 Big Y World Class Market Providence Hwy 100-249 4451 Filling Station West St 100-249 5416 Hollingsworth & Vose Co Fleet St 100-249 3221 Kohl’s Providence Hwy 100-249 4522 Longview Farm Lincoln Rd 100-249 6241 Minuteman Trucks Inc Providence Hwy 100-249 8111 New Pond Village Main St #1 100-249 6233 Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub Providence Hwy 100-249 7225 Rolls-Royce Naval Marine Inc Norfolk St 100-249 4412 S M Lorusso & Sons Inc West St 100-249 3279 Walpole High School Common St 100-249 6111 Applebee’s Providence Hwy 100-249 7225 Bird Middle School Washington St 50-99 6111 Boston Trailer Mfg Co Production Rd 50-99 5322 Brightview Landscape Svc Summer St 50-99 5617 Canine Joint Industrial Rd 50-99 6243 Chili’s Grill & Bar Providence Hwy 50-99 7225 Dental Associates of Walpole Main St #1 50-99 6212 Elm St School Kindergarten Elm St 50-99 6111 Fisher School Gould St 50-99 6111 Harrington House Nurse & Main St 50-99 6231 Rehab Johnson Middle School Robbins Rd 50-99 6111 Town of Walpole 20 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW 13,044 employed and 413 unemployed for 1 provide regional access and State Routes an unemployment rate of 3.1%. Over the past 27 and 1A provide more local access that 10 years, the unemployment rate in Walpole bisects the town and intersect at Town Center. was at its low of 2.5% in 2019 and reached The town roadway network is comprised of its high of 7.3% in 2010 (Labor Market approximately 119 miles of town roads. Information LMI from the MA Department of Unemployment Assistance, Economic Research In addition to the vehicular roadway network, Division). The state’s average unemployment the Town is well-served by suburban transit. rate for 2019 was 2.9%, slightly higher than MBTA commuter rail service offers access to Walpole’s for the same time period. Boston via the Franklin Line that has two stops The largest industries in Walpole include in Walpole. A fully available stop is located Construction (142 establishments), Professional in Walpole Town Center and a limited service and Technical Services (124), Health Care and stop is available at the Plimptonville stop. Social Assistance (104), Other Services, Except MBTA bus service, Route 34E, is also available Public Administration (90), and Retail Trade from Walpole Town Center to Boston. A freight (76) (Labor Market Information LMI from the rail line bisects the town and intersects the MA Department of Unemployment Assistance, commuter rail line near the Town Center stop. Economic Research Division). Walpole’s median Truck lines also operate between Walpole and family income, as estimated for 2016 was the Boston and Logan International Airport. In $119,338. This estimated income exceeds addition to Logan Airport in Boston, Norwood the Massachusetts median family income of Municipal Airport and Norfolk Airport are $99,102. easily accessible from Walpole for smaller aircraft. Recent Open Space Projects The Town completed an Athletic Fields The Town is considered a “car-dependent” Master Plan in 2008. The plan identified the community according to Walk Score, scoring need for additional athletic fields and an only a 33 out of 100. Walk Score measures implementation program to meet the future the walkability of any address based on the athletic field needs in the community. Town distance to nearby places and the pedestrian Meeting approved a request for $500,000 friendliness. This score for Walpole means most to design new playing fields on a town-owned errands in the town require a car. Sidewalks site on Route 1A as part of the Town Budget are present in Walpole Town Center and the for fiscal year 2019. The same Town Meeting Village Centers of the town. In more residential approved $1 million to dredge Memorial or rural areas of the town, fewer sidewalks Pond. The Memorial Pond dredging and exist. improvement project was completed in May 2020. Water Systems Walpole is served by town groundwater. As Infrastructure Characteristics mentioned in the history section, the town’s Transportation Systems water system was authorized in 1893 and The Town’s primary transportation completed in 1895 with 15 miles of water infrastructure system is the roadway network main, 2 water storage tanks, and a small well with a hierarchy of highways, state routes, field serving 110 customers. Over the years, and local roads. Interstate 95 and U.S. Route the system has grown to serve the entire town Town of Walpole 21 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW with over 145 miles of water mains, 7 large plan prepared in 1981 by a consultant, water storage tanks, 2 water treatment plants, recommended expanding the sewer through and 7 large producing wells, serving over the central portion of Walpole, but did 7,200 customers. The groundwater is drawn not recommend extending it to the rural from two underground water formations called areas of the Town. The first three phases aquifers. of the recommended expansion have been completed. The Sewer and Water Division of These major aquifer systems include the School the Public Works Department is responsible for Meadow Brook Aquifer located in the southern the administration, operation and maintenance area of the town and the Mine Brook Aquifer of Walpole’s utility infrastructure. located in the west-northwestern area of the About 30% of Walpole’s households use septic town. The town has ten operational wells in the systems. The proper maintenance of these School Meadow Brook Aquifer and four sets systems is critical to the town’s groundwater of operational wells in the Mine Brook Aquifer supply and to protect Walpole’s public health, (2018 Water Quality Annual Report). wetlands, ponds, and waterways. These septic systems provide millions of gallons of As an alternative source of water, Walpole has groundwater recharge that would be lost interconnections with the towns of Foxborough to the sewer system if more homes were and Norwood. These connections are located connected to that system. on Washington Street, Water Street, and Union Street. They have not been used in Long Term Development Patterns recent years, but are maintained on a regular The primary land use management tool basis to ensure their availability, if needed in Walpole is the Zoning Bylaw. The (2018 Water Quality Annual Report). Conservation Commission locally administers the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act, The Town of Walpole has improved its the Town of Walpole Wetland Bylaw, and water treatment, storage, and distribution the Town of Walpole Stormwater and infrastructure to create a system that has the Erosion Control Bylaw. The Planning Board capacity to safely provide a water supply provides Subdivision review and approval of 4.25 million gallons per day (mgd). This and is a Special Permit granting authority. is sufficient to accommodate the projected The Zoning Board of Appeals is a permit residential population and small-scale non- granting authority appointed by the Board residential growth. In recent years the town of Selectmen to hear and decide applications has placed mandatory water demand for zoning variances, applications for Special management policies in to place guidance and Permits, and to hear and decide appeals from limitations on outdoor water use. decisions of administrative officials made under the Zoning By-law. Wastewater/Sewer Systems About 70% of the town’s population is Zoning Characteristics served by a municipal sewer system. The The Town of Walpole Zoning By-law was system of sewer mains is municipally owned, most recently amended in May 2019. The but the sewage flows into the Massachusetts Town of Walpole is divided into three types Water Resources Authority (MWRA) regional of zoning districts including Type 1 – Special system for treatment and disposal. A sewer Purpose Districts, Type 2 – Residential Districts, Town of Walpole 22 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW and Type 3 – Non-Residence Districts. The institutional and recreational uses and three types of zoning districts include eleven professional offices compatible with low separate zoning districts listed in order of density, residential land uses, and to provide restrictiveness, as follows: a transition area between single family residential and commercial or industrial land • Type 1 – Special Purpose Districts uses. o WP – Water Protection o FP – Flood Plain District • Type 3 – Non-Residence Districts o PSRC – Park, School, Recreation and o B – Business District. The purpose of this Conservation District district is to accommodate a wide range of • Type 2 – Residential Districts retail, office and service uses. o R – Rural Resident Districts. The primary o CBD – Central Business District. The purpose purpose of this district is to provide an area of this district is to provide for a center of for agriculture, open space and low density, business activity accessible by pedestrian single-family residential land use. travel, to provide a center for municipal and o RA – Resident A District. The primary purpose cultural activities and to act as a landmark and of this district is to provide an area for medium symbol of the Town. low density, single-family residential land use. o LM – Limiting Manufacturing District. The o RB – Resident B District. The primary purpose purpose of this district is to provide an area of this district is to provide an area for medium for low-density wholesale and unobtrusive density, single-family residential land use. manufacturing uses. o GR – General Residence District. The o IND – Industrial District. The purpose of purpose of this district is to provide an this district is to provide an area for general area for low density, single and multifamily manufacturing and wholesale uses. residential land use, public, semi-public,

Washington Street Bridge Image: MAPC

Town of Walpole 23 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Town of Walpole 24 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Section 4: Environmental Inventory and Analysis Walpole is located almost entirely within the site in East Walpole. As it crosses into the Town Neponset River watershed. This watershed of Norwood it is at an elevation of 64 feet. defines many of the environmental The general bedrock geology of Walpole, characteristics of the municipality. The including the broader geographies of Norfolk Neponset River is 30 miles long and starts near and Suffolk Counties, is the Wamsutta Walpole in the Town of Foxborough. The River Formation in the central portion of the ends in Dorchester and Quincy. The watershed municipality. The Wamsutta Formation consists includes roughly 130 square miles of land of conglomerate, lithic greywacke, sandstone, southwest of Boston. All of this land drains and shale. In the northern and southern into the Neponset River and ultimately into portions of the municipality the bedrock the Boston Harbor. Many of the communities geology is Dedham Granite. Several areas of in the watershed get their drinking water from the town consist of Roxbury Conglomerate or within its boundaries. Walpole’s natural and “Roxbury pudding stone”, a conglomerate of environmental characteristics are shared with sandstone, siltstone, argillite, and melaphyre. other communities in the watershed and include Most of the town’s soils consist of sand and varying soils, forestland and wetlands, and a gravel while the northern part of town is system of rivers, streams and water bodies. primary glacial till. (United States Geological These characteristics are described in more Survey) detail in this section. Soils Topography, Geology, and Soils Walpole’s soil is primarily classified as the Walpole lies within the New England Upland Hinckley-Merrimac-Urban type. These soils section of the New England province. The New are very deep and range from nearly level England province is a physiographic province to steep. They are excessively drained and of the larger Appalachian division of eastern somewhat excessively drained soils formed in North America. The topography of the New sandy and loamy glacial outwash overlying England Upland is that of a maturely dissected stratified sand and gravel, and areas of urban plateau with narrow valleys that have been land (National Cooperative Soil Survey, USA greatly modified by glaciation (U.S. Fish and 2017). These soils are usually found in major Wildlife Service Geomorphic Provinces and stream valleys and on coastal plains. They are Sections). The Topography of this section is generally well suited for buildings as well as characterized by the Neponset River and by roads and streets. However, because they are the wetland areas adjacent to the river; further well drained they can pose a water pollution from the river the topography forms gently hazard when used for septic systems since they rolling hills with low relief and subtle breaks readily absorb, but do not adequately filter, between major landforms (U.S. Department of the effluent. Agriculture). As it passes through Walpole, the Neponset River falls 170 feet. The river enters North Walpole consists primarily of South Walpole at an elevation of 234 feet. Woodbridge-Paxton and Canton/Charlton It falls to 180 feet at the Cedar Swamp, 140 soil types (C series Hydrologic group). These feet at West Street, and 100 feet at the Bird are very deep and range from nearly level

Town of Walpole 25 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW to steep. They are moderately well drained The Norfolk County Agricultural School (1916) and well drained soils formed in friable, is a scenic resource. The 97-acre school loamy glacial till overlying a firm substratum. property in North Walpole includes a campus These soils are well suited for cultivating crops, and pond located at Main and Fisher Streets, as pasture, and as woodlands because of and pasture and farmland. The Neponset smooth slopes and high productivity. They are River, a defining feature of the town, and its poorly suited for septic systems because the tributaries and ponds are also scenic resources. firm substratum does not readily absorb the These resources include Bird Pond in East effluent. Walpole, Rucaduc Pond, and Clarks Pond on Stone Street. Each of these scenic resources Landscape Character played an important role in the development Most areas are forested, brush land, or used of Walpole. The remnants of the old mills and as urban land. Northern red, black, white, dams are a part of the cultural landscape of scarlet and scrub oak, eastern white and Walpole and are unique environments. pitch pine, eastern hemlock, gray birch, and red maple are common trees. Unimproved Walpole has designated a number of Scenic pasture and idle land support hardhack, little Roads under the Massachusetts Scenic Road bluestem, bracken fern, sweet fern, and low Act. These designated roads include North bush blueberry (National Cooperative Soil Street, High Street, Lincoln Road, Pine Street, Survey, USA 2017). Peach Street, Baker Street, and Lewis Avenue. It should be noted that scenic road designation Scenic Resources and Unique Environments does not guarantee protection of the scenic In 2008, The Town of Walpole received views, but does require a public hearing prior a Survey and Planning Grant from the to any changes in the stone walls and large Massachusetts Historical Commission to trees located within the road right-of-way. conduct an extensive survey of the historic and cultural resources in the town. The following Cultural, Archaeological, and Historic Areas scenic resources and unique environments Based upon research of Dr. Curtiss Hoffman, were highlighted in that survey. As noted Professor of Archaeology at Bridgewater in the History of the Community section, the State College referenced in the 2011 Open historically significant planner and landscape Space and Recreation Plan, evidence of architect, John Nolan, had a major impact on Native American activity within the present the scenic resources and unique environments boundaries of the Town of Walpole has been of Walpole. He was retained by a five- found throughout the town with a concentration member planning committee lead by Charles of activity at the elbow of the Neponset River Bird to draft a town plan that resulted in many near Plimptonville. In this location, Native of the current scenic resources and unique Americans collected fish at the falls, made environments. The committee adopted the plan stone tools, and ground corn in stone mortars. in 1914 to beautify the community resulting There is also evidence that the area may have in the Walpole Town Forest (1914-1916), been a Native American burial ground. Memorial Park (1923-1924) and Francis William Bird Park (1924). These efforts remain According to the Massachusetts Cultural scenic town resources today. Resource Information System (MACRIS), there are a total of 413 historic and cultural Town of Walpole 26 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Town of Walpole 27 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW resources that have been inventoried in that are remnants of the past industrious the Town of Walpole. These include areas, relationship with the river, remain along the buildings, homes, churches, bridges, cemeteries river. The Neponset River is fed by seven and other historic structures or sites. Many tributaries in Walpole that include the Spring/ of the significant sites and monuments are Diamond Brook, School Meadow Brook, contributed by have been contributed by Bubbling Brook, Mine Brook, Cedar Swamp the Bird family, prominent in the history of Brook, Cobbs Brook, and Traphole Brook. The Walpole, including Bird House, Bird Park, the brooks feed many of the Town’s sixteen public Bird Estate, Bird Pond, Bird Memorial Fountain, and private named ponds. The majority of the Bird Memorial Clock and Tower, and Bird ponds are man-made and created by dams. School. The ponds of Walpole include (based on the 2011 Open Space and Recreation Plan): Water Resources • Allen Dam Pond – (public, 6 acres) a town The water resources of Walpole are owned and managed pond built for flood critically important to the community. They control located off of Washington Street. are the source of drinking water, a source A town-owned earthen dam creates the of recreation and scenic beauty, and impoundment of the Spring Diamond Brook. provide natural habitats. The Neponset The pond is bordered by wetland and forested River watershed, the many surface ponds land. Public access and limited parking is and tributaries, and wetlands define the available. Activities include fishing, ice-skating visible water resources of the town with the and non-motorized boating. aquifer the most critical feature of the system • Bird Pond – (private, 15 acres) a privately underground. owned dammed pond located along the Neponset River in East Walpole. Flows under Watersheds Washington Street into the Hollingsworth and The majority of the Town of Walpole is located Vose Pond. within the Neponset River watershed, only a • Clark’s Pond – (public, 11 acres) a town small corner of the western edge is located owned and managed man-made pond located in the Charles River watershed. The Neponset off Stone Street and part of the Spring/ River watershed includes the Neponset River, Diamond Brook. Clark’s pond has two basins seven tributary brooks and streams, sixteen connected by two culverts. The small basin small to large named ponds, Cedar Swamp, is three acres and the main basin is 8 acres. and bordering vegetated wetlands. The Stop The Town maintains the dam at Stone Street. River located along the western boundary It flows into Diamond Pond. Clark’s Pond of the town is located in the Charles River is managed by the Town and periodically watershed. treated to control aquatic vegetation. The pond is bordered by town land and private Surface Water land. Public access and parking is available. The Neponset River flows from south to Activities include fishing, ice-skating and non- north from the Town of Foxborough through motorized boating. the center of Walpole and into the Town • Cobb’s Pond – (public, 24 acres) a town of Norwood. The river has influenced owned and managed pond located off of development of the Town as outlined in the Main Street and Fisher Street. The pond History of Community section. Several dams, is managed by the town and periodically Town of Walpole 28 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Town of Walpole 29 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW treated to control aquatic vegetation. A Pond • Stetson Pond – (private, 4 acres) a privately Management Plan was drafted in 2001 for the owned dammed stretch of the Neponset River pond. Limited public access is provided from located between Main Street and Robbins Main Street and Cobb Terrace. Road. • Diamond Pond – (private, 9 acres) a • Turner’s Pond – (public, 13.8 acres) a town privately owned pond with two basins, the owned and managed pond located off of main basin and small basin. It is part of the Elm Street. It flows to Stetson Pond. A Pond Spring Brook system with Clarks Pond flowing Management Plan was drafted to allow the to Diamond Pond and Diamond Pond flowing town to treat for aquatic vegetation when to Memorial Pond. needed. Residential dwellings border the • Ganawatte Pond – (private, 29 acres) a pond. Public parking and access is available privately owned pond located off of Pine on Elm Street. Activities include fishing, ice- Street and bordering the Town of Foxborough. skating and non-motorized boating. School Brook Meadow flows in a northerly • Walpole Country Club Allen Pond – (private, direction from the pond into Walpole. 16 acres) a privately owned pond located on • Hollingsworth and Vose Pond – (private, the grounds of the Walpole Country Club. Fed 6 acres) a privately owned dammed pond by Spring Brook and drains to the larger Allen located on the Neponset River and managed Pond dam. by the Hollingsworth and Vose Company. • Willet Pond/Pettes – (private, 200 acres) a • Memorial Pond – (public, 4-5 acres) a town privately owned pond that is predominantly owned and managed pond located off of owned and managed by the Neponset River School Street. A Pond Management Plan was Land Holdings Association. Located along the drafted in 1998 to enhance water quality and boundary with the Town of Norwood and the control aquatic vegetation. The pond is treated Town of Westwood. It is created by an earthen periodically for aquatic vegetation. Town dam and fed by Bubbling Brook. Meeting approved the dredging of Memorial Pond in 2019. Public access and parking is The town-owned dams are listed below. available on School Street. Activities include The Town Engineer works with Dam Safety fishing, ice-skating and non-motorized boating. to review the dams every 2 or 5 years • Post Office Pond (Clark Pond) – (private, 8 depending on the dam. The town-owned dams acres) a privately owned pond that drains include the Allen Dam, Cobb’s Pond Dam, to the Neponset River from the Town of Memorial Pond Dam, Neponset River Dam, and Foxborough. Turner Pond Dam. Past interest has occurred • Plimpton Street Pond – (private, 5 acres) a in filing for a grant to remove abutments privately owned dammed pond that is located along the Neponset River in the Town Forest. on the Neponset River flowing into Bird Pond in However, it was determined not to move East Walpole. forward due to opposition to the potential • Rainbow Pond – (private, 3 acres) a privately removal. One non-town-owned land is the Bird owned pond located on the property of the Dam with its owner unknown. Royal Crest Country Club. • Rucaduc Pond – (private, acres) a privately Wetlands owned manmade pond associated with the A variety of wetland types are found in Neponset River spillway system on the old Bird Walpole and range from deciduous and Machine site in South Walpole. coniferous forested wetlands, scrub-shrub Town of Walpole 30 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW wetlands, meadow or fen wetlands, emergent along the Neponset River, School Meadow marsh, and aquatic deep or shallow marsh Brook, Spring Brook, and Traphole Brook. wetlands associated with Walpole’s rivers, The area below School Meadow Brook is the streams and ponds. The deciduous and second of two aquifers that supply the town’s coniferous-forested wetlands are dominated public drinking water. by woody vegetation that is 20 feet in height or more. The scrub-shrub wetland is dominated Groundwater Aquifer Recharge Areas by woody vegetation that is under 20-feet The Town of Walpole’s drinking water supply in height. The meadow or fen wetland is is provided by two ground water aquifers. dominated by herbaceous vegetation. The The two aquifers are the School Meadow town has several notable wetland areas Brook Aquifer and the Mine Brook Aquifer. that have played a major role in the historic The Town’s Zoning Bylaw’s Water Resource development of the town, Cedar Swamp, Protection Overlay Districts regulate uses within Mine Brook, and wetlands associated with the these areas. The Water Resource Protection Neponset River and its tributaries. Overlay Districts consist of Zone 1- 400- • Cedar Swamp – Cedar Swamp is the feet well radius, Area 1 – Area of Pumping largest wetland in town and located in South Influence, Area 2 – Potential Water Supply, Walpole. Cedar Swamp is a forested wetland Area 3 – Primary Recharge Area and Area 4 characterized by Atlantic White Cedar trees – Secondary Recharge Area. and Red Maple swamp. The Natural Heritage Program lists Cedar Swamp as a Priority Flood Hazard Areas Habitat. This area is within the Town’s primary The Flood Emergency Management Agency recharge area for drinking water and is an (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) important resource to protect. At the northerly are used to determine the 1% annual end of the swamp the land use is dominated chance floodplain in Walpole and other by industrial uses located along Main Street municipalities throughout the nation. The main and within the industrial park. The southerly flood plan areas are along the Neponset edge of the swamp is mostly residential River and its tributaries. In addition to the uses. A tributary from the swamp flows to the federal floodplain mapping through FEMA, Neponset River in the area of the old Bird the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act Machine factory. provides regulations around the protection and • Mine Brook – Another significant wetland management of floodplain areas. The Walpole system in the town borders Mine Brook. Mine Conservation Commission locally enforces these Brook is a tributary to the Neponset River. The regulations. The Walpole Wetlands Protection area below Mine Brook is one of two aquifers Bylaw and the Town’s Zoning Bylaw also that supply the town’s public drinking water. protect floodplain areas with local regulations This area extends from the Town of Medfield in Walpole. border to Robbins Road. This wetland system consists of floodplain, Red Maple swamp, Vegetation open water, and emergent swamp areas. It There are five major plant communities that is bordered predominantly by residential are found within the Town of Walpole. These subdivisions. plant communities include Upland Oak- • Other Riparian Wetland Systems – Hickory, Upland Northern Hardwood, Mixed Considerable vegetative wetland systems exist Hardwood-Softwood, Coniferous, and Bottom Town of Walpole 31 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Land or Wetland Hardwood. Below is a more deep marsh communities dominated by detailed description of these major plant Pickerelweed, Northern Arrowhead, Cattails, communities: Joe-Pye-Weed, Sweet Flag, Woolgrass, • Upland Oak-Hickory – this plant community Sedges, and Varied Bulrush. includes White, Red, and Scarlet Oak and Hickory. Often scattered within the community The Priority Habitat area of the Cedar Swamp is Pitch Pine while the understory vegetation has its own plant community description includes Flowering Dogwood, Sassafras, and as Atlantic White Cedar Swamp. The Greenbrier. Massachusetts Natural Heritage Program • Upland Northern Hardwood – this plant lists it as a Priority Habitat and Estimated community includes Sugar Maple, Northern Habitats of Endangered Species. This program Red Oak, Black Cherry, American Beech, describes the plant community as a forested White Ash, White Birch, Quaking Aspen, wetland with a dense primarily evergreen Basswood, and Red Maple. The understory canopy, a deciduous layer, and a sparse herb vegetation consists of Arrowwood, Wild Raisin, layer dominated by mosses. The inland Atlantic Sarsaparilla, Sprouts of American Chestnut, White Cedar Swamp located in Walpole is Spicebush, Witch Hazel, and Greenbrier. mixed with Hemlock, Red Maple, and Yellow • Mixed Hardwood-Softwood – this plant Birch, a shrub layer of Sweet Pepper Bush, and community consists of mixed stands of Winterberry, and an understory of Cinnamon deciduous and coniferous trees. White Pine, Fern, Starflower, and Common Mayflower. American Beech, Red Maple, Red Oak, Pitch Pine, Sugar Maple, Eastern Hemlock, White Fisheries and Wildlife Ash, Grey Birch, American Elm, and Basswood The Town of Walpole has several important compose this mixture. The understory plants wildlife habitats and corridors within its common in this community are Arrowwood, borders. Some of these areas and corridors Honeysuckle, Wild Raisin, Spicebush, are contained within the town, while others Greenbrier, Wild Grape, Shining Clubmoss, are part of broader regional systems that Partridge Berry, Sassafras, Sarsaparilla, cross many municipal boundaries. The wildlife Wintergreen, and Witch Hazel. habitats include Willet Pond, the Norfolk • Coniferous – this plant community consists Agriculture School land, Adams Farm, and of White Pine, Eastern Hemlock, Scotch Pine, Cedar Swamp. The corridors include the Pitch Pine, Norway Spruce, Red Pine, and Neponset River that runs from the Town of White Spruce. This community has very few Foxborough, through Walpole, to the Town of understory plants that occasionally consist of Norwood and beyond, the several railroad Greenbrier and Honeysuckle. and electrical right-of-ways that cross the • Bottom Land or Wetland Hardwood – this town, Mine Brook that connects to the Charles plant community consists of American Elm, Red River watershed, and Core Habitat Area of Maple, Swamp White Oak, Green Ash, and an Traphole Brook as it passes from the Town of occasional Black Willow. Scattered understory Norwood into the Town of Walpole. plants consist of Highbush Blueberry, Greenbrier, Witch Hazel, Silky Dogwood, Examples of the pipeline and transmission Northern Arrowwood, Spicebush, Honeysuckle, corridors that represent natural habitat and Speckled Alder. Other vegetated areas connections between several significant habitat consist of wet meadows, shallow marsh and areas in the town are listed here. All such Town of Walpole 32 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Town of Walpole 33 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Adams Farm

Willett Pond

North Street (Scenic Road) Norfolk County Agricultural School

High Street (Scenic Road) Bird Park Rural Cemetery Old Burial Ground Maple Grove Cemetery Peach Street Lincoln Road (Scenic Road) (Scenic Road) Lewis Avenue (Scenic Road) Plains Baker Street Cemetery (Scenic Road)

Spring Brook

Neponset River Guild Cemetery Walpole Town Forest

Pine Street (Scenic Road) Cedar Swamp

Terrace Hill Cemetery

Town of Walpole 34 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW corridors should be considered in planning The MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and and evaluating development projects and Endangered Species Program maintains a list open space acquisitions to enhance continuous of all documented Massachusetts Endangered corridors and natural connections between Species Act (MESA)-listed species observations habitat areas. Pipeline and transmission line in Massachusetts. This list is searchable by corridors connect School Meadow Brook with Town. The table listing species observed in the Neponset River and beyond to an old Walpole is listed below. railroad bed. This railroad bed then passes through Cedar Swamp and then to the Town of Environmental Challenges Wrentham creating links to other core habitat The environmental challenges that the areas and both Crocker Pond and Lake Pearl. Town of Walpole has been responding to Another pipeline corridor links both Cedar include protection of groundwater sources, Swamp and the Cedar Hill area with sites in degradation of surface water and wetland the Town of Medfield north of Noon Hill and environments, pond sedimentation, invasive the Charles River Watershed. Willett Pond is plant management, and management of linked to core habitat areas in the Town of brownfield sites. Dover and the Town of Westwood south of Noanment Pond. Protection of Groundwater Sources Wastewater systems near groundwater sources Rare and Endangered Species are always a concern for protecting and The Natural Heritage and Endangered managing drinking water quality. Adjacent Species Program of the Massachusetts Division malfunctioning septic systems, cracked sewer of Fisheries and Wildlife lists one mapped pipes, or incorrectly installed systems can Priority Habitat and Estimated Habitat area in leak untreated wastewater and sewage into Walpole. This Priority Habitat area is Cedar streams, wither through over-the-ground flow Swamp. or through the ground and its groundwater

Table – Rare and threatened species observed in Walpole Common Name Scientific Name Taxonomic Group MESA Status Most Recent Observation Adder’s Tongue Ophioglossum Vascular Plant Threatened Historic (1908) Fern pusillum Blanding’s Turtle Emydoidea Reptile Threatened 2010 blandingii Blue-spotted Ambystoma Amphibian Special Concern Historic (1992) Salamander laterale pop. 1 (complex) Great Laurel Rhododendron Vascular Plant Threatened Historic (1908) maximum Green Adder’s- Malaxis unifolia Vascular Plant Threatened Historic (1899) mouth Hessel’s Callophrys hesseli Butterfly/Moth Special Concern 2016 Hairstreak Town of Walpole 35 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW systems. This waste acts like fertilizer resource. Upgrading the culvert improves fish potentially leading to excessive growth of and wildlife passage and water quality in the algae and plants. Raw sewage also adds to area. viruses and bacteria in the water. Toxins in Another contributing factor to the degradation the wastewater can also affect the natural of these environments is the removal of native inhabitants of the stream. Excessive water use vegetation from the edges of the waterways. and groundwater withdrawal is another risk This may also contribute to the warming of that must be managed to protect groundwater water, reduces the filtering of pollutants, sources. Excessive use patterns can lower a and decreases the food supply for aquatic stream’s water level significantly, even to organisms. the point of drying the streambed, leading to poor water quality and wildlife habitats, Pond Sedimentation particularly for aquatic species. Although pond management plans have been created over the years, and aquatic Degradation of Surface Water and Wetland vegetation has been actively managed, Environments several of the Town’s ponds are shallow Walpole’s dams have been listed previously due to many years of sedimentation. The in this section. A dam on a waterway obstructs sedimentation of ponds created shallower the movement and migration of aquatic ponds with little deep water. The shallow wildlife, such as fish. It slows the flow of the ponds warm faster with less deep cold-water water, causing the water to drop the sand, dirt, areas and contribute to the growth of more nutrients, and contaminants that it is carrying. nuisance vegetation. Resolving this problem This dropping of materials is sedimentation is difficult because it is both costly and time and it occurs behind the dam. This can cause consuming to permit these activities. The town an imbalance in nutrient load – too many has made progress in addressing the on-going above the dam and too few below the dam. sedimentation of the ponds by installing a The slow moving water also has more time to variety of stormwater structures and recently warm, decreasing the oxygen that is carried in completed the dredging of Memorial Pond to the water, and reducing the ability to support directly address this issue. aquatic life. Invasive Plant Management Sedimentation can also cause waterway Invasive plants are on-going maintenance turbidity that makes it more difficult to see issues to rid the nuisance vegetation along through the water and for aquatic organisms the Town’s rivers, ponds, and streams. Invasive to catch prey. Stormwater, roadway runoff, plant species such as Purple Loosestrife, Glossy and erosion can all contribute to sedimentation. Buckthorn, Bitter-sweet Vine, Grape Vine, The application of road salts during the winter and Bamboo are prominent along Walpole’s also degrades the surface water and wetland rivers and ponds. The ponds have a variety quality for areas adjacent to the roadway. of nuisance aquatic vegetation that ranges In 2019, the Town of Walpole received a from Water Chestnuts, Fanwort, Watershield, grant from the Baker-Polito Administration to Coontail, Watermilfoil, and White and Yellow conduct field data collection and analysis for Water Lilies. Nuisance aquatic vegetation can a culvert replacement project on Traphole cause issues for fishing and ice-skating. Brook, a designated coldwater fishery Town of Walpole 36 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Management of Brownfield Sites Efforts have been underway since 1999 Walpole has been actively pursuing when the Town received an EPA Brownfield redevelopment and cleanup activities Assessment Demonstration Grant Pilot. More for existing Brownfield sites, abandoned, recently, in 2015 the Town completed a or underused industrial and commercial brownfield covenant with the Massachusetts properties where expansion or redevelopment Attorney General to allow for the is complicated by real or perceived redevelopment of a 26-acre parcel of environmental contamination. A search for property located on the Blackburn Union waste site and reportable releases on the Superfund site. The site, which had been Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and heavily contaminated with asbestos, lead, Environmental Affairs website shows 186 sites arsenic, and nickel has been redeveloped in Walpole dating back to 1987. Ten of these into a new Police Station, Senior Center, and sites remain classified as “open sites.” All others parking facility. The project also redeveloped are classified as “closed sites” or “closed sites an abandoned rail bed on the property with use limitation.” These ten open sites include into a walking trail that links the site to the the Blackburn and Union Privileges site on High School and Town Forest, enhancing the South Street, 1065 Main Street, 1340 Main open space available for public use. The Street, 1425 Main Street, 1900 Main Street, Trails Committee and other leaders in Town 2000 Main Street, 935 East Street, 55 West have expressed a goal to extend this trail Street, 642 Boston Providence Highway, and a connection underneath Common Street in the Rhoades Avenue site near Bird Park. future.

Old Bird Factory Property Image: MAPC

Town of Walpole 37 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Spring Brook Conservation Area Image: MAPC Town of Walpole 38 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Section 5: Inventory of Lands Introduction to the Inventory of Conservation include reducing the incidence of childhood and Recreation Lands obesity by providing safe places for kids to be This section contains an inventory of all active. Open spaces and parks also serve as conservation, open space, and recreation important meeting places for neighbors to get lands, both publicly and privately owned. to know one another. Information on ownership, management responsibility, level of protection, and primary Determining where the open space and use of the property are included in this recreation land is located in Walpole is a inventory. The inventoried properties are shown foundation for fully understanding what in the inventory table are depicted on the resources the town has and how best to Open Space and Recreation Inventory Map. manage them. Once this land has been The open space and recreation resources of a identified, it is important to ensure its community are critically important to its quality protection and maintenance into the future to of life, community character, and environmental help guarantee that many more generations health. The protection and stewardship of of residents can enjoy them. According to these assets via past, future, and current the Division of Conservation Services, land Open Space and Recreation Plans is a crucial within a community is permanently protected element in retaining the importance of these if it is managed by the local Conservation resources as a community is shaped by other Commission or Recreation Department, by changes. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) agencies, by a nonprofit Open space has many different definitions land trust, or if the municipality received and can mean different things to different state or federal monies for the improvement people. The Open Space and Recreation or purchase of the land. Typically, land Planners Workbook defines open space as owned by other Town departments or the “conservation land, forested land, recreation local school system should not be presumed land, agricultural land, corridor parks and to be permanently protected, but is partially amenities such as small parks, green buffers protected by the nature of its ownership. along roadways or any open area that is owned by an agency or organization Inventory of Conservation, Open Space and dedicated to conservation.” A broader Recreation Resources definition of open space can and should The inventory matrix below includes 40 town- include undeveloped land with conservation or owned areas covering about 2,266 acres of recreation potential. Open space and parks open space, recreation, conservation, and are critical to the quality of life in a community cemetery land owned and managed by the and provide a wide range of benefits. Access Town of Walpole. These sites comprise the to parks can contribute public health benefits, primary open space and recreation resources enhanced property values, and improved of the town. Additional publicly or privately environmental quality including air quality, owned sites exist in the town for conservation, water quality, and the mitigation of urban flood protection, or agriculture and include heat island effects. Public health benefits 9 areas covering about 1,143 acres. An

Town of Walpole 39 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW additional 762 acres of privately owned land received state or federal funding, is protected is restricted for agriculture or conservation from conversion to some other use. Levels of purposes. protection are described in more detail later in this section. The column headings of the inventory are • Acres - Gives the site’s acreage or an defined below: approximation in cases where specific information was not attainable. One acre is • Site Key – Provides an easy reference 43,560 square feet or 1/640 of a square number for identification in the OSRP table. mile. • Name - Names the open space property. • Ownership - Indicates the owner of the Levels of Protection property. The level of protection for a particular parcel • Management Agency - Indicates the agency of land is important information for future or department responsible for managing and planning purposes, it is important to identify maintaining the property. May be the same as the degree of protection for each parcel the owner. that has been identified as open space or • Current Use - Details the main use for the site conservation land in the inventory. Knowing and its facilities. the level of protection may highlight the • Condition - Identifies the site condition susceptibility of some properties, which are (excellent, good, fair, or poor). Town-owned assumed to be open space, to development. open spaces and parks were surveyed to This knowledge can help in identifying those obtain a general sense of the condition of the open space and recreation areas that require property and any facilities located on it. additional effort in order to ensure their • Recreation Potential - Indicates the long-term preservation and protection. The recreational use of sites. For land not following designations regarding level of used for recreational purposes, potential protection are used in the inventory. for recreational activities is identified. Conservation land is generally deemed to Permanently Protected have limited recreation potential except Properties in this category are considered to for passive recreation such as hiking and be legally protected for perpetuity. A site is walking. Small tax title lands and sensitive considered to be permanently protected if it is environmental areas are presumed to have no recorded in a deed or other official document. recreational potential. Such land is to be considered protected in • Public Access - Indicates if the public can perpetuity if it is deeded to and managed by access the site. All Town- and State-owned sites the local Conservation Commission or Parks & are publicly accessible. Recreation Department and thereby subject • Type of Public Grant Accepted - Identifies to Article 97, if it is subject to a conservation the funds used for the acquisition of or restriction or easement in perpetuity, if it is upgrades to the site, including grant funds. owned by one of the state’s conservation • Zoning District - Identifies the zoning district in agencies and thereby subject to Article 97, which the site is located. if it is owned by a nonprofit land trust, or if • Degree of Protection - Indicates if the site, the municipality received federal or state either by virtue of its ownership, existence of assistance for the purchase or improvement deed restrictions, or by the fact that it has of the property. Private land is considered Town of Walpole 40 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW protected if it has a deed restriction in Limited Protection perpetuity or a conservation restriction has Properties in this category are considered been placed on it. to have limited protection if they are legally protected for less than perpetuity (i.e. short Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution term conservation restriction) or temporarily protects publicly-owned lands used for protected through an existing functional use. conservation or recreation purposes. In These lands could be developed for other uses order for a property to be sold, transferred, when their protection expires or when their or converted to a different use, Article functional use is no longer necessary or viable. 97 requires a 2/3 vote obtained at Town In general, this includes all land owned by Meeting in support of the disposition, a 2/3 other municipal departments or commissions, vote of the Massachusetts Legislature in including lands managed by the Town for non- support of the disposition, demonstration of recreational purposes. compliance with applicable funding sources, and the municipality must file an Environmental No Protection Notification Form (ENF) with the Massachusetts Properties in this category are considered Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). Given the to have no legal protection. This category extensive nature of this process and the rarity includes land that is totally unprotected by any with which the disposition process occurs, these legal or functional means. This land is usually public recreation and conservation lands are privately owned and could be sold without assumed to be permanently protected. restriction at any time for another use.

Walpole Center Playground Image: MAPC

Town of Walpole 41 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Acres Degree of Protection RB Permanent 7.6 Zoning District RB Permanent 9.6 R Permanent 11.5 PSRC Permanent 0.9 PSRC Permanent 8.6 RB/R Permanent 24.7 PSRC Permanent 5.5 GR Permanent 20.0 None Public Grant Accepted None None None None None None None Public Access Full Full Full Full Full Full Full Full No changes anticipated Potential No changes anticipated No changes anticipated No changes anticipated anticipated for passive passive for recreation No changes anticipated No changes anticipated Good Good Fair Fair Excellent No changes Fair Potential Good Good Current Use Condition Recreation Multi-use fields soft - baseball, for ball and soccer with middle school and parking Multi-use field, and playground pool with parking Multi-use fields and nature trails Multi-use field, playground, and nature trails with parkingpond Multi-use fields, Multi-use fields, synthetic turf field with track and bleachers with softball, baseball, lacrosse soccer, fields football and with parking Baseball, bas - Baseball, tennis, ketball, and multipurpose fields Multi-use fields with parking Baseball field, Baseball pool, playground, pond, and trails and parking Agency Recreation Department Recreation Recreation Department Recreation Recreation Department Recreation Recreation Department Recreation Recreation Department Recreation Recreation Department Recreation Recreation Department Recreation Recreation Department Town of Town Walpole Town of Town Walpole Town of Town Walpole Town of Town Walpole Town of Town Walpole Town of Town Walpole Town of Town Walpole Town of Town Walpole School Name Ownership Management School School School High School Fields (former Sharon Day Camp) Middle School Park/Joe Park/Joe Morgan Field Site Key 1 Bird Middle 2 Boyden Town-owned Land – Parks Town-owned 3 Elm Street 4 Fisher 5 Walpole 6 Jarvis Farm 7 Johnson 8 Memorial Table – Inventory ofTable Lands Town of Walpole 42 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW 278.8 Acres NA (Conserv. (Conserv. Restriction) Degree of Protection Permanent PSRC Permanent 13.0 PSRC Permanent Zoning District PSRC Permanent 1.0 RB Permanent 1.5 GR Permanent 2.1 R Permanent 5.7 PSRC Permanent 30 None State Grant Public Grant Accepted None None Varies Varies None None None Public Access Full Full Article 97, Full Full Article 97 PSRC Permanent 56.3 Full Full Full Full Full No Changes No Changes anticipated No changes anticipated Potential No changes anticipated No changes anticipated No changes anticipated No changes anticipated No changes anticipated No changes anticipated No changes anticipated Good Not Applicable Fair Not Appli- cable Fair Not Appli- cable Good Not Appli- cable Not Appli- cable Current Use ConditionSoccer Field with Recreation parking Network of community trails, barn with garden, parking Multi-use field with parking Trail, pond, fish- Trail, and skating, ing, with flood control parking Multi-use field with baseball, court, basketball and playground with parking Multi-use fields and with baseball Blackburn Hall with parking Trail Trail Agency Youth Walpole Soccer Adams Farm Committee Recreation Recreation Department Conservation Commission, Committee Ponds Recreation Recreation Department Trails CommitteeTrails Trail Recreation Recreation Department Walpole Schools, Walpole Committee Trails Conservation Commission, Committee Trails Town of Town Walpole of Town Walpole (157.8 acres), Conservation Commission (121 acres) Town of Town Walpole Town of Town Walpole (15.2 acres), Conservation Commission (41.2 acres) Town of Town Walpole Varies Town of Town Walpole Town of Town Walpole Conservation Commission Street Fields Farm Name Ownership Management Dam/Spring Road School Road Trail School Nature Trail Site Key 9 Mylod Land - Conservation Town-owned 13 Adams 10 Old Fisher 14 Allen Pond 11 Old Post 15 Bay Circuit 12 Stone Field 16 Boyden 17 Bird Estate

Town of Walpole 43 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Acres NA Degree of Protection PSRC Permanent 396.7 Zoning District R/PSRC Permanent 94.8 PSRC Permanent R Permanent 210.4 GR Permanent 24.1 None Public Grant Accepted None None None None Public Access Full Full Article 97 RB Permanent 14.2 Full Article 97 PSRC Permanent 52.8 Full Full Full Full Not Appli- cable Potential Potential Potential additional trail Potential Potential additional trail No changes anticipated No changes anticipated No changes anticipated No changes anticipated Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Applicable Not Applicable Current Use ConditionConservation Recreation Not Nature trail with Nature trail parking Nature trail, Nature trail, pond, fishing with parking Nature trails with Nature trails parking Nature trail Nature trail two between schools Conservation Not Pond, Pond, conservation Agency Conservation Commission Conservation Commission, Committee Ponds Conservation Commission, Committee Ponds Conservation Commission, Committee Trails Conservation Commission, Committee Trails Conservation Commission Conservation Commission, Committee Ponds Town of Town Walpole (133.4 acres), Conservation Commission acres) (263.4 Conservation Commission Town of Town Walpole (20 acres), Conservation Commission (32.8 acres) Town of Town Walpole (7.5 acres), Conservation Commission (87.3 acres) Conservation Commission Town of Town Walpole (46.4 acres), Conservation Commission (163 acres) Town of Town Walpole Swamp Name Ownership Management School/ Goetz Trails Elm Trail Road/ West Road/ Pond Site Key 18 Cedar 19 Clarks Pond 20 Cobbs Pond 21 Elm Street 22 to Johnson 23 Lincoln 24 Memorial

Town of Walpole 44 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Acres Degree of Protection Permanent 171.9 PSRC Permanent 210.7 Zoning District RA/RB Permanent 17.8 RA Permanent 9.3 PSRC Permanent 88.1 PSRC Permanent 1.3 RA Permanent 17.9 None Public Grant Accepted None None None Varies None None None Public Access Full Full Full Full Full Full Full No changes anticipated Potential No changes anticipated No changes anticipated No changes anticipated No changes anticipated No changes anticipated No changes anticipated Applicable Applicable Applicable Applicable Applicable Applicable Not Applicable Current Use ConditionConservation Recreation Not Conservation Not Conservation Not Conservation Not Conservation Not Conservation Not Trails Agency Conservation Commission Conservation Commission Conservation Commission Conservation Commission Conservation Commission Town of Walpole Town Conservation Commission, Committee Trails Town of Town Walpole (40.5 acres), Conservation Commission acres) (170.2 Conservation Commission Conservation Commission Town of Town Walpole (18.2 acres), Conservation Commission acres) (153.7 Town of Town Walpole (17.5 acres), Conservation Commission (71.8 acres) Town of Town Walpole Town of Town Walpole (3.4 acres), Conservation Commission (14.2 acres) Name Ownership Management Road/ Coney Street Road/ Road/ Chieftain Way River Walpole Point Site Key 25 Mine Brook 26 Moosehill 27 Moosehill 28 Neponset 29 North 30 Old Fisher 31 Pinnacle

Town of Walpole 45 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW NA Acres (Conserv. (Conserv. Restriction) Degree of Protection Permanent 71.9 RB Permanent 0.3 Zoning District PSRC Permanent 365 GR/RA Permanent 5.6 PSRC/ RA GR Permanent 0.5 RA Permanent 1.5 RB/GR Permanent 6.5 RB Permanent 8.2 None Public Grant Accepted None None None None None None None Public Access Full Article 97 RA Permanent Full Full Full Full Full Full Full Full No changes anticipated Not Applicable Potential No changes anticipated Not Applicable No changes anticipated Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Applicable Not Applicable Applicable Not Applicable Applicable Applicable Applicable Applicable Current Use Condition with parking Trail Recreation Cemetery Not Trails, canoe Trails, launch Cemetery Not Trail, pond, park - Trail, ing Cemetery Not Cemetery Not Cemetery Not Cemetery Not Agency Conservation Commission, Committee Trails Public Works and – Parks Cemeteries Town Forest Forest Town Committee Public Works and – Parks Cemeteries Conservation Commission, Committee Ponds Public Works and – Parks Cemeteries Public Works Public Works and – Parks Cemeteries Public Works Public Works and – Parks Cemeteries Public Works Public Works and – Parks Cemeteries Town of Town Walpole of Town Walpole Town of Town Walpole (334 acres), Conservation Commission (32 acres) of Town Walpole Conservation Commission of Town Walpole Town of Town Walpole Town of Town Walpole Town of Town Walpole Endean Trail etery Name Ownership Management Grove Cem- Grove etery Ground etery etery Cemetery Site Key 32 Plimpton/ Land - Cemeteries Town-owned 35 Guild Cem- 33 Forest Town 36 Maple 34 Pond Turner 37 Old Burial 38 Plains Cem- 39 Cem- Rural 40 Hill Terrace

Town of Walpole 46 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW 104 190.8 Acres 25.8 27.5 Permanent Permanent (easement) Degree of Protection None R/RA/ RB Zoning District R/CBD PSRC Permanent 94.5 PSRC Permanent 66.2 R Permanent 159 None Public Grant Accepted None None None Public Access Public access and use of pond for passive use None None Varies None None None Full Full None None Varies None Uncon- firmed Not Applicable Not Applicable Potential Not Appli- cable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Appli- cable Not Applicable Applicable Not Applicable Not Appli- cable Not Applicable Applicable Not Appli- cable Applicable Current Use Condition Recreation Conservation Not prison Forested, Forested Trails with park - Trails conservation ing, Conservation Not Transportation Conservation Not Agency ofFriends Willett Pond Office of the Commissioner US Bureau of - Land Manage ment Trustees of Trustees Reservations NEFF MBTA Home for Little Home for Wanderers - Neponset Land River Holding Association Office of the Commissioner US Bureau of Land Man age. Trustees of Trustees Reservations New England New Forestry Foundation (NEFF) Bay Mass. Transport. Authority Home for Home for - Little Wan derers wealth of Massachu- setts Name Ownership Management William Bird Park Memorial and Forest Warren Forest (Adams Farm Area) Farm Site Key 41 Willett Pond Other Public and Unprotected Lands 45 Common- 46 Federal 42 Francis Non-Profit Land - Conservation 43 Patten 47 MBTA 44 Longview

Town of Walpole 47 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW 13.1 Acres 70.0 15.0 18.6 14.3 Limited – Conserv. Restriction (CR) to Con Comm Degree of Protection Limited – CR to Con Comm Limited – Conserv. Easement to Adams Farm trail Conserv. Conserv. Restriction (CR) to Con Comm Limited – Conserv. Easement to Con Comm R Limited 94 RA Zoning District PSRC/R Limited 353.0 RA R R Public Grant Accepted None Public Access None None None None Passive Passive rec. None None None None None None HBD/R Limited – None None Not Applicable Not Applicable Potential Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Applicable Not Applicable Applicable Applicable Applicable Applicable Current Use Condition Recreation Agricultural fields, fields, Agricultural field baseball and school Agency MWRA Forested Not Applicable Conservation Not Norfolk Norfolk County Agricultural School Not Applicable Conservation Not Not Applicable Conservation Not Not Applicable Conservation Not Not Applicable Conservation Not Mass. Water Water Mass. Resources Authority Neponset Farm Home- Trust owners Norfolk Norfolk County Agricultural School Estates at Walpole Homeowners Iris Falcone Hilltop Land C/O The LLC Gatehouse Companies Ganawatte Ganawatte Farm Preserve Homeowners Association Drive Name Ownership Management County Agricultural School Walpole Walpole (former Bird property) Easement Pond Farm Pond Site Key 48 MWRA Land - ConservationPrivately-owned 50 Christina 49 Norfolk 51 Estates at 52 Falcone 53 Ganawatte 54 Ganawattee

Town of Walpole 48 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW 49.3 12.1 Acres 1.6 18.3 1.4 23 38.7 - Limited – Chapter 61A/CR to of Trustees Reserv. Limited – Chapter 61A Degree of Protection Limited – Conserv. Easement Access for to Cedar Con Swamp Comm. serv. Land Limited – Chapter 61A Limited – Conserv. Easement to Con Comm Limited – Chapter 61A Limited – Conserv. to Restriction Con Comm R RA Zoning District LM RA LM RA RA Public Grant Accepted Public Access None None None None None None None None None None None None None None Not Applicable Not Applicable Potential Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Appli- cable Applicable Not Applicable Applicable Current Use ConditionResidential Recreation Tillage Light industrial Cropland Conservation Not Animal farm Agency of Trustees Reservations Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Conservation Not John and John Jennifer Lee and George Jeanne Ellis Gary Whitehouse Catherine Kennedy 7 Sterling Lane Trust Family Frank Mahoney Wisteria II Ways Homeowners Trust Farm/ Cynthia Green Trail Jeanne Ellis Name Ownership Management 2040-2050 Kennedy Lane Con- dominium Mahoney Ways II Ways Subdivision Site Key 55 Glengreen Land - Restricted Privately-owned 59 George and 56 Main Street 60 Catherine 57 Sterling 61 Frank 58 Wisteria

Town of Walpole 49 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW 113.2 Acres 24 12.1 100.3 28.2 36.3 Limited – Chapter 61B Degree of Protection Limited – Chapter 61A Limited – Chapter 61A Limited – Chapter 61B Limited – Chapter 61B Limited – Chapter 61B RA Zoning District RA RA RA RA RA Public Grant Accepted Public Access None None None None None None None None None None None None Not Applicable Potential Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Current Use ConditionRecreation Recreation Pasture Gun club/ area wooded Golf club Gun club Agency Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable SM Lorusso Tracy FirthTracy Not Applicable Horse Farm Not Jessamine Warren Walpole Walpole Sportman’s Club Walpole Walpole Country Club Westwood Westwood Gun Club & Sons Name Ownership Management Warren Sportman’s Sportman’s Club Country Club Gun Club Site Key 62 SM Lorusso 63 Firth Tracy 64 Jessamine 65 Walpole 66 Walpole 67 Westwood

Town of Walpole 50 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW 49 49 49 49 67 29 60 67 29 43 63 13 52 49 13 13 13 64 29 29 13 29 41 59

30 49 50 49 9 49 49 47 17 51 10 25 4 32 20 31 42 21 22 3 39 58 7 34 37 26 36 1 46 15 12 11 27 23 8 24 44 62 65 55 38 19 65 47 6614 57 5

35 6 28 33 61 45 56

48 18 53 40 54 2 16

Town of Walpole 51 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Bird Park Image: MAPC Town of Walpole 52 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Section 6: Community Vision Description of the Process whether each Goal should be considered a The Town’s Open Space and Recreation Low, Medium, or High priority by using dot Plan Core Group guided the development voting. Participants were also provided space of Walpole’s Open Space and Recreation to write any additional goals they would like Plan. This Core Group was comprised to see incorporated into the plan. Attendees of representatives from relevant Town were invited to complete a “SWOT” analysis departments, boards, and committees. of Walpole’s open space resources, with The work of the OSRP Core Group was space to indicate the system’s Strengths and coordinated and supported by the Town’s Weaknesses, as well as identify Opportunities Conservation Agent. Throughout the planning and Threats. process, the Core Group and Town staff met regularly with the lead project planner Participants were also invited to review a map from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council displaying the inventory of open space and (MAPC) to review and contribute to elements recreation properties throughout Walpole of the plan and assist with community and indicate areas that they enjoy visiting or engagement strategies. In order to incorporate highlight areas that present challenges. Post- perspectives from the larger Walpole its were available to provide park specific community, MAPC and the Town of Walpole comments or suggestions. Please see Section 7: organized and hosted public forums on Analysis of Needs for summary and analysis October 29, 2019 and September 2020, and of the received feedback and Appendix C for administered an online survey. complete vote tallies and responses.

October 2019 Public Forum Open Space and Recreation Survey At the October forum, the lead project planner In order to provide a wider array of introduced the purpose and utility of Open residents, beyond those able to attend the Space and Recreation Plans and presented community forums, an opportunity to weigh an overview of Walpole’s demographics, land in on the process MAPC also developed a use patterns, and highlights of the Town’s open survey for broad distribution. The survey was space and recreation properties. Following administered through an online service, and the presentation, members of the public in was widely publicized through a variety of attendance were invited to ask questions and channels, including posting a link to the Town provide comments about the presentation website and social media accounts, posting and the OSRP. Following the Q&A, the forum flyers at Town Hall, and emailing a notice shifted to an open house style event, with a to the Recreation Departments email list. series of engagement activities available for Responses were accepted from January 31, interested attendees to complete. 2020 through February 28, 2020. The survey received 375 responses in total. Please see At the first station, attendees were presented Section 7: Analysis of Needs for summary with a series of boards presenting the OSRP’s and analysis of the received feedback and five subject specific goals (See Section 8: Appendix C for complete vote tallies and Goals and Objectives) and asked to indicate responses.

Town of Walpole 53 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW September 2020 Public Forum [To be completed after the Final Forum]

Walpole Open Space and Recreation Vision Statement Walpole’s vision for Open Space and Recreation is a Town with a green open space network with walking and bike trails that connect a series of recreational fields and other community amenities, as well as provide access to natural areas and the town’s abundant ponds. The vision includes an abundance of clean drinking water from our Town wells and other groundwater sources. The vision includes an abundance of playing fields for youth and adults where overuse does not exist. The vision includes clean water resources (rivers, ponds, streams, wetlands, and aquifers) for today and the future; where our ponds are clear and free of nuisance aquatic vegetation and available for fishing, boating, skating and other passive recreational uses. This vision includes walking trails and canoe launches along the Neponset River; trails for dog walking and bridge watching; and habitat for wildlife. This vision includes a Walpole with a mixture of the new and the old; where our most significant natural, historic, and cultural resources are saved for future generations. Town of Walpole 54 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Section 7: Analysis of Needs Introduction careful monitoring of drinking water resources The analysis of Walpole open space and in the town. recreation needs is based on information received from the Core Group guiding the In addition to protecting drinking water, these Open Space and Recreation Plan, Open Space protection measures benefit groundwater and Recreation Plan community meetings, the more generally and help to improve the Open Space and Recreation Plan community quality of water in surface water features. survey, the Athletic Fields Master Plan, The town’s many ponds, rivers and streams townwide Master Plan, and the previous 2011 are a continuous focus for maintenance and Open Space and Recreation Plan. As it was improvement efforts to assist the heath and presented in that plan, the analysis of needs functioning of these natural systems. The need is grouped into three categories: resource to reduce wastewater contamination, reduce protection, community needs, and management invasive species, and decrease sedimentation needs. The resource protection needs relate to should be monitored and managed for each of the natural systems and resources of the town. the town’s ponds, rivers, and streams. Community needs relate to the needs of the population of the town and the quality of life The surface water features in the Town are and lifestyle expectations for the residents of important habitats. Habitat areas include Walpole. The management needs relate to streams, wetlands, river corridors, forests, how resources should be managed and what agricultural lands, and other natural areas procedures and routines should be in place that are of critical importance in the Town to ensure appropriate stewardship of these and should remain a continued focus for resources over time. resource protection. Protecting and restoring a water body, river, or stream benefits Resource Protection drinking water, groundwater and habitat for The protection of the Town’s existing and future both fish and wildlife. These areas include water supply is a fundamental need for the important habitat land including BioMap2 town. The source of Walpole’s drinking water Core and Critical Natural Landscape areas is aquifer-based and drawn on by public and riparian buffers. The riparian buffers wells. The aquifer water supply is finite and include land within 100 feet of surface waters irreplaceable and the quality and quantity of and wetlands. The conservation and protection water in the aquifer needs to be protected. of these lands enhances biodiversity and this This protection is achieved both through resource protection remains a priority for the groundwater protection and treatment in the town; particularly as more land continues to Mine Brook River and School Meadow Brook face development pressure and may result in watersheds and through the conservation fragmented habitat areas. of water resources through regulation and education. The town will need to continue to The review and approval of future devote resources to protecting drinking water development remains an important aspect and respond to any threats identified to the of resource protection. The Planning Board, quality or quantity through the continuous and Conservation Commission, Zoning Board of

Town of Walpole 55 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Appeals and other committees and boards require therapeutic recreational services. More responsible for project review should continue active seniors tend to enjoy walking, golf, to review projects from a perspective of tennis and swimming, among other activities. resource protection and define conditions for Elderly residents may also have similar needs approval that will improve conservation and as residents with disabilities in terms of their resource protection efforts in the town. This ability to access recreation facilities. may include placing conservation restrictions on critical portions of a development parcel As it relates to open space areas, seniors to add to contiguous conservation areas that and those with disabilities would benefit may be adjacent to the parcel, to encourage from more benches, paved pathways around low impact development techniques as part of parks, sufficient shade trees, and more the development plan, and to retain natural age-appropriate and low impact active features on the property. programming such as bocce, shuffleboard, corn hole, and walking groups may be uses that Community Needs enhance a sense of welcome and inclusion. Although the town continues to strengthen a network of convenient and amenity-rich Different age and user groups within the town open space resources, many groups within each have particularized needs, which can be the community may not feel included or accommodated through good planning and accommodated in park and recreation spaces. design. The use of Universal Design concepts It is important that a network of parks and in parks provides accessibility for those with open spaces provides active and healthy disabilities and enables multi-generational recreational opportunities for all users and play between youth, teens and seniors. The that a sense of inclusiveness and welcome be Center for Universal Design at North Carolina strengthened among the open space resources. State University provides the following seven In Walpole, the demographics and community guiding principles for Universal Design: discussion point to seniors among an aging population as the group most in need of future 1. Equitable Use: The design is useful and accommodation and a thoughtful approach to marketable to people with diverse abilities inclusiveness. 2. Flexibility in Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and Seniors, particularly seniors that live alone, abilities. are more vulnerable to social isolation and 3. Simple and Intuitive Use: Use of the design physical and mental health issues that may be is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s associated with lower levels of activity. Parks, experience, knowledge, language skills, or open space, and recreational facilities provide current concentration level. settings where seniors can interact with others, 4. Perceptible Information: The design get active and exercise, and enjoy the benefits communicates necessary information effectively and beauty of the natural surroundings. The to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or needs of elderly residents are generally the user’s sensory abilities divided between the younger, more active 5. Tolerance for Error: The design minimizes senior citizens and the less active elderly hazards and the adverse consequences of population that may be experiencing declining accidental or unintended actions. health. The less active elderly generally Town of Walpole 56 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW 6. Low Physical Effort: The design can be sense of social cohesion where individuals of used efficiently and comfortably and with a different backgrounds and abilities are coming minimum of fatigue. together to share community spaces and 7. Size and Space for Approach and Use: resources. As all users feel more welcomed and Appropriate size and space is provided invited to participate, the more likely positive for approach, reach, manipulation, and use social interactions become in these community regardless of user’s body size, posture, or spaces. This has the potential to create benefits mobility. for social cohesion in the community and creates opportunities for other benefits, such as In order to best serve elderly residents and intergenerational spaces. other individuals with mobility limitations, both the design of internal park layouts and the Another way to enhance access to the open pathways residents take to access them should space resources in Walpole is to enhance the be evaluated and improved as necessary. multimodal connections to them. Walpole is Following these principles helps to reinforce already connected to the Bay Circuit Trail, one inclusion and welcoming for all users in the of the great multimodal trails in the region. community. This type of inclusion can build a The Bay Circuit is a permanent recreation

Turner Pond Image: MAPC

Town of Walpole 57 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW trail and greenway extending through 37 The Warner Trail is a hiking trail perpendicular towns in Eastern Massachusetts, linking parks to the Bay Circuit running southwest to and open spaces in fifty-seven Boston area northeast and connecting Rhode Island to communities. In Walpole it passes through Sharon MA. Efforts to connect this trail to the Walpole Center. As the town considers changes north with the Skyline Trail in the Blue Hills and improvements in Walpole Center, the would also make this a local entry to regional Bay Circuit Trail should be considered as part connections. Near Moose Hill the trail merges of the transportation network improvements. with the Bay Circuit into Walpole. Each of The trail could be improved in the center by these trail locations and opportunities are improving signage and prominence of the mapped with a conceptual routing as part of linear park and trail connection. MAPC’s Landline plan and trail map.

There are several other great opportunities Increasing the awareness of open space to create linear park or rail trail connections resources in another way to enhance that would cross the municipality and connect knowledge and access for the community. many of the existing open space resources. The Town has open space resources that are The first opportunity is the rail corridor along underused because people are unaware of the Framingham and Foxboro Line. This line is the available resources. This fact was evident shared with an active single-track freight line, and confirmed by the number of respondents but the corridor may have enough width and to the Open Space and Recreation Survey that space to accommodate a multimodal path. were not aware of many of the open space The corridor runs through the center of town resources in town. The existing open space and could potentially provide a multimodal areas need signs, maps, and programs to connection from Walpole to Gillette Stadium publicize what resources are available and the and Medfield. amenities offered there.

The Walpole-Wrentham Line is another Management Needs opportunity to connect local assets and make Management and maintenance of the Town’s regional connections through a linear park open space and recreation facilities is on a past rail corridor. Locally, this linear critical to the safe functioning and continuing park could connect assets such as Bird Park, operation of these resources. Maintaining safe the middle school, high school, and the Town and secure access by residents, maintenance of Forest. This corridor is occasionally interrupted grounds and fields, maintenance of equipment, by development, but could be continued using and protection against vandalism are a few multimodal paths on adjacent residential of the many issues which must be addressed streets. Future development along the corridor on a routine schedule by the Town. Funding for should be required to retain its continuity management and maintenance of open space through a preserved right-of-way or easement. and recreation facilities must be evaluated A local friends group, The Friends of the when considering the acquisition of future King Philip Greenway, has been formed to resources. support the trail to advance the utilization of the abandoned railroad corridor in Walpole, The athletic fields in town are in high demand Norfolk, Wrentham, Plainville and North and have the potential to become overused. Attleboro. This may lead to maintenance issues with Town of Walpole 58 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW the fields unable to rest in many locations to were identified by the community including allow for restoration and re-growth of natural flooding, snow and ice, extreme temperatures, turf. Some of the town’s fields need drainage and severe weather events. The workshop improvements to mitigate impacts of overuse. identified several concerns relevant to this Poor turf coverage and compacted soil from plan and management needs. The town’s overuse can lead to hazardous conditions for culverts and bridges need to be assessed players. The current field conditions cannot with a detailed inventory to catalogue the support the ongoing level of play. Many of size and condition of culverts town-wide. The these needs have been outlined in detail in the town-owned dams are regulated under State Walpole Fields Master Plan (2008) and the dam safety regulations. Less information Town has made great progress in implementing is available for private dams in the town. these recommendations. Increasing The town has conducted improvements and maintenance for town fields is a continuing repairs to the Allen Reservoir Dam and need that is addressed in detail in the fields Turner Pond Dam. The Willet Pond Dam and master plan. Bird Pond Dam are known dams of concern that may require improvements or repairs. The Community Resilience Building Workshop The feasibility of dam removals has not yet (2019) also identified management needs been explored in depth, but may become an to respond to the top four hazards that important future management consideration as

Walpole Town Forest Image: MAPC

Town of Walpole 59 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW dam maintenance and function may become water features. The management of invasive stressed with increased precipitation and plant species is another important routine to flooding related to climate change. follow on the town’s open space network. The management of pests and disease control is Increased maintenance of the stormwater another important aspect of the open space management systems in the town may become and conservation lands of the town. Mosquitoes necessary with increased precipitation and and ticks with vector-borne diseases are flooding related to climate change. The increasing in the state and require proactive town’s many waterbodies require continued management to control. Walpole is a voluntary attention and management efforts. In 2018, member of the Norfolk County Mosquito Walpole completed a pond restoration project District. on Memorial Pond to dredge the pond’s The Community Resilience Building Workshop sediment. Other ponds may have similar identified the following top recommendations requirements and benefit from management to improve resilience in Walpole. Additional efforts to reduce excessive weed growth, information for these recommendations can sedimentation to improve the environmental be found in the Community Resilience Building conditions and water storage capacity of these Workshop Summary of Findings (2019).

Stone Field Image: MAPC

Town of Walpole 60 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW The highest priority items that are also Section 4 and site analysis, field use policy management needs in the town include: and recommendations in Section 5. The town has made progress in improving management • Conduct a field inventory of culverts and and maintenance procedures for athletic fields, bridges but recommendations of the report remain • Complete a town-wide dam inventory and relevant. assessment of all public and private dams • Develop a comprehensive tree, forest and One aspect of open space and field land management program management that is not addressed in these • Assess additional mosquito/tick/pest control previous documents are considerations options pertaining to COVID-19. The town’s open • Increase maintenance of catch basins, space resources are likely seeing renewed conveyances and detention ponds use and attention during the time of social The moderate priority recommendations that distancing and outdoors activity. Signage are also management needs include: defining safe use of open spaces should • Perform a risk assessment of the drinking be posted at the entry of each open space water pump stations resource highlighting the importance of safe • Study the possibility of expanding the public social distancing and the use of facemasks. water supply For specific resources, other management • Provide public education and outreach to procedures may be necessary, such as limiting private well owners the number of people present at one time, • Continue to offer extended hours at public placing social distancing markers on the swimming pools ground where people may wait for the use of • Pursue opportunities to fund open space an amenity, or marking painted circles on a acquisition lawn to show proper social distancing. • Continue to develop relationship with the Neponset River Watershed Association While these management procedures are • Develop a management plan for Great shifting dynamically as more is learned Cedar Swamp about safe and responsible activities during The lower priority recommendations that are these pandemic times, it is important to also management needs include: highlight them as an important management • Review and revise town stormwater consideration. One example of this type of regulations responsive and innovative approach to the • Explore options to make town fields and use of open space resources during this time parks more resilient to weather impacts is the town’s Open Space Pilot Program in • Pursue opportunities to fund pond restoration Walpole Center during the summer of 2020. • Develop comprehensive invasive species Street segments in the town center were closed management to expand pedestrian space around the town • Update mapping of town-owned open space common and to provide additional space and parks for socially distanced seating in an outdoor Finally, athletic field needs and field use policy environment. recommendations are outlined in the Town of Walpole Athletic Fields Master Plan (2008) as part of the report’s Needs Assessment in Town of Walpole 61 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Mylod Fields Image: MAPC Town of Walpole 62 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Section 8: Goals and Objectives Introduction Town’s overall open space and recreation The Open Space and Recreation Plan Core activities. Group decided to accept and reinforce its commitment to the goals and objectives Overall Goal articulated in the Town of Walpole’s previous “Preserve and enhance the overall quality of 2011 Open Space and Recreation Plan by the natural and cultural environment within using those goals as the basis for this plan. the Town of Walpole while providing a Walpole residents also reviewed, commented well maintained system of parks, recreation upon, and affirmed these goals at the October facilities and conservation lands, trails, town 2019 public forum. These goals were designed forest, ponds and other lands subject to land to reflect the values of the Walpole community restrictions that meet the diverse needs of the and guide the community’s efforts to protect community and make Walpole a healthier and enhance its open space and recreation community.” resources. Conservation Goals Goals for 2020–2027 • Goal 1: Protect and improve the quality of The following six goals and their associated Walpole’s surface and ground water. objectives guide the 2020-2027 Plan and • Objective 1.1: Protect, preserve and maintain are based on a review of the Town’s recent existing and potential groundwater supply, accomplishments, as well as its vision for ground water recharge areas and watershed the future. The “General Goal” articulates protection districts within the Town to ensure the overarching value statement informing sufficient quantities and quality of safe the OSRP, and the remaining goals are drinking water. categorized between “Conservation Goals” • Objective 1.2: Enhance the Town’s ability to and “Recreation Goals”. A series of objectives protect rivers, streams, ponds, floodplains and are nested beneath each of the subjective other land important for water quality and specific goals, which provide general areas of wildlife habitat while providing opportunities action to advance the related goal. for passive and active recreational uses. These goals and objectives provide a continuing mandate for the Town to pursue a • Goal 2: Protect and encourage preservation coordinated and focused plan for protecting of the Town’s natural and cultural resources. and managing open space and recreation • Objective 2.1: Preserve, through acquisition facilities, working collaboratively within and/or regulatory strategies, unique and/ the Town and throughout the region to or ecologically valuable and significant land ensure continued protection of our fragile areas. environment, and enhancing public awareness, • Objective 2.2: Encourage the preservation accessibility, and stewardship of the existing and conservation of agricultural parcels and open space resources in Walpole. The large forested parcels. numbering and categorization of the Goals • Objective 2.3: Identify and protect wildlife and Objectives do not reflect their priority habitats and corridors, particularly those of level. All are important components of the endangered and threatened species.

Town of Walpole 63 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW • Objective 2.4: Preserve the Town’s heritage • Objective 4.2: Continue to implement goals and character through the preservation of of 2008 Athletic Fields Master Plan. scenic areas, roads, and structures of historic • Objective 4.3: Encourage public, nonprofit, significance. and private partnerships in planning and • Objective 2.5: Acquire additional development of outdoor recreational facilities. conservation lands, easements, and restrictions, • Objective 4.4: Encourage multiple uses of adjacent to existing Town-owned open space. recreation and conservation facilities through • Objective 2.6: Work with Federal, State, coordinated efforts of the schools, various Local and private parties to clean up identified Town departments and private organizations. brownfields and other existing contaminated lands and ensure that future contamination • Goal 5: Maintain and manage existing does not occur. recreation facilities. • Objective 5.1: Provide adequate resources • Goal 3: Maintain and manage existing Town and management for the maintenance of parks open space land. and recreation facilities. • Objective 3.1: Develop management plans • Objective 5.2: Educate the public on outdoor for all Town ponds and other Town-owned opportunities currently available in Walpole. Open Space. • Objective 5.3: Develop a plan for making • Objective 3.2: Develop a plan for existing, as well as new, playfields AAB/ADA educational programs and accessibility accessible as required. (specifically signage, maps, ADA accessibility, and awareness). Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor • Objective 3.3: Provide a budget to maintain Recreation Plan (SCORP) and manage existing Town Open Space The Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor properties. Recreation Plan (SCORP) is the • Objective 3.4: Forge private, nonprofit Commonwealth’s equivalent of a municipal and public partnerships to help with open space plan. SCORP plans are developed management and maintenance of Open by individual states in order to be eligible Space properties including active and passive for federal Land and Water Conservation recreational areas. Fund (LWCF) grants. In 2017, the Executive • Objective 3.5: Connect existing and potential Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Open Space with trails, sidewalks and bicycle completed the Massachusetts SCORP to help paths. guide the distribution of federal funding • Objective 3.6: Develop methods to restrict to state agencies and municipalities for the use of motorized vehicles on Town Open Space acquisition of open space, renovation of properties other than Town authorized vehicles. parks, and development of new parks. The SCORP is a planning document that discusses Recreation Goals the available recreational resources in a • Goal 4: Continue to expand recreational state, as well as its needs, and identifies the facilities to provide a wide variety of active gaps between the two. The goals of the 2017 recreation opportunities to encourage a SCORP are to: healthy and active community. • Objective 4.1: Continue to implement goals • Goal 1: Improve Access for Underserved of the trails master plan and revisions. Populations Town of Walpole 64 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW • Goal 2: Support the Statewide Trails Initiative Another alignment is with Goal 3: Increase the • Goal 3: Increase the Availability of Water- Availability of Water-based Recreation. The based Recreation SCORP describes this goal as serving multiple • Goal 4: Support the Creation and Renovation purposes in the protection of water resources. of Neighborhood Parks Protecting water resources is a major goal in Walpole’s plan. The SCORP objectives This plan is consistent with these goals and has associated with this goal include supporting particular alignment with Goal 2: Support the the acquisition of land that will provide for Statewide Trails Initiative with the asset of the water-based recreation, support the acquisition Bay Circuit Trail and other local trail networks of land that will increase drinking water throughout the town. Given the existence of supply protection, and develop water-based trail assets in the community, the focus would recreational facilities, including swimming be less on the objective of acquiring new land areas, spray parks, boating facilities, fishing for development of new open spaces that can areas, or others. provide a trail network and more focused on Finally, this plan is aligned with Goal 4: filling gaps in the existing trail network and Support the Creation and Renovation of ensuring that any existing or new trails are Neighborhood Parks in that residents must fully accessible to people with disabilities. know and care about parks and open spaces to ensure future protection and maintenance. Another alignment is with Goal 1: Access This plan seeks to expand awareness, for Underserved Populations that includes access, and use of open space resources in people with disabilities. This plan includes Walpole. The SCORP objectives for this goal increasing accessibility to new and existing include developing amenities supported by playfields and recreation facilities. One of the neighborhood parks, such as playgrounds, SCORP objectives for this goal recommends off-leash dog parks, and community gardens developing parks and open spaces that offer and working with community development amenities that go above and beyond ADA organizations to improve walking access to requirements for people with disabilities. local parks.

Endean Trail Image: MAPC

Town of Walpole 65 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Adams Farm Image: MAPC Town of Walpole 66 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Section 9: Seven-Year Action Plan Introduction • The Fisher School field was lengthened to The Town of Walpole’s Open Space and accommodate lacrosse and other youth sports Recreation Plan’s Seven Year Action Plan • New bleachers were installed at Turco field, translates higher level goals and objectives and an ADA accessible pathway leading to the into concrete actions for the Town to pursue John Lee Press Box was constructed during the period between 2020 and 2027. • The former Sharon County Day Camp was It strives to deliver on the goals and objectives acquired by the Town, and renamed Jarvis expressed throughout this process with a Farm. The 25-acre property includes active program of tangible steps for the Town to take recreation facilities, and trails on the property over the next seven years. connect to the adjacent Town Forest. • The Trails Committee received a $14,000 These actions are targeted to address the grant through the Recreational Trails Program physical and organizational issues confronting (RTP) which was used to construct a boardwalk the Town, as described and analyzed in through the Meadow Brook wetland and link previous sections of this Plan, especially Jarvis Farm to the east parcel of the Walpole in Chapter 7. This Action Plan attempts to Town Forest examine various needs and visions realistically • The Spring Brook Park Project activated in light of current economic conditions, while underutilized through landscaping and the maintaining a focus on the substantive issues construction of a pedestrian bridge across of open space and recreation, preservation, Spring Brook. The Bay Circuit Trail was acquisition, enhancement, management, and rerouted through the enhanced green space maintenance. to connect with Memorial Pond. The project was a collaborative partnership with the Town, Progress since the 2011 Plan Northeastern University, and the American Since the development of the 2011 OSRP, the Society of Civil Engineers. Town has acquired new open space property, • A new wading pool at the Center Pool was maintained its management of open space completed in 2015 resources, and actively made improvements • Acquisition of Route 1A Land and vote to to its park and recreation system. Highlighted build new athletic fields accomplishments since 2011 include: • A vegetable garden was installed at the Old Post Road School in 2014 • In 2012, the Conservation Commission • A 100th Anniversary event celebrating the received ownership of 16 acres of land Walpole Town Forest was held, featuring tree off Plimpton Street and Atlantic Court. The planting, horse drawn carriage rides, and property includes part of Plimpton Pond and demonstrations of forestry equipment adds to the Town owned property adjacent to • The DPW constructed a rail trail on Town Bird Pond. Forest property, running behind the newly • The Parks Department made multiple constructed police station, community center, upgrades to the irrigation systems of athletic and Senior Center. fields and implemented a rigorous turf • The South Walpole common received a management strategy new bench dedicated to Mrs. Kathy Winston,

Town of Walpole 67 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW former Selectman, and a new concrete 2020-2027 Action Plan walkway was added to improve the overall appearance of the common. The Seven-Year Action Plan provides specific • The Town purchased roughly 64 acres of recommendations for meeting the goals and land from the state that is deed restricted for objectives in Section 8. The Open Space and conservation and recreation purposes. The Recreation Plan Committee developed the deed restriction allowed the Town to acquire 2020-2027 Action Plan, with guiding input the land for a relatively low price. Site designs provided by Town staff, the project planner, to use the space for a new athletic fields and citizens who participated in the planning complex were prepared, and following an process. Using the 2010-2017 Action Plan as unsuccessful Town Meeting vote in spring 2019, a basis, actions completed since the prior plan funding for an amended proposal including were removed from the present version, while multipurpose turf fields, grass soccer fields, actions not yet performed but still relevant and diamond fields was approved at 2019 were retained. Additional action items were Fall Town Meeting. added to reflect new opportunities and priorities. Some of these actions are already in the planning process; others are ongoing but need additional support. The Seven-Year Action Plan lists a wide range of action items, and Map 8 indicates the project areas of select action items.

The following table identifies the specific actions to be undertaken by the Town to implement this plan. Each action item is organized by goals and where applicable, a funding source is identified. The timing for implementation is broken out into short- term (1 to 3 years), medium-term (4 to 5 years), long-term (6 to 7 years), and ongoing timeframes. The designation of a target year is meant as a guide only; it is more important to be flexible and take advantage of opportunities as they arise. Many items will need to occur over several years and in each case, a primary responsible party or parties is identified. The formation of a committee or board (most likely the Open Space and Recreation Committee mentioned earlier in this plan) will be key to advancing successful implementation of this plan, and it is this Trailhead Sign group that will take charge of delegating the Image: MAPC recommended responsibilities and actions to

Town of Walpole 68 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Town departments, local nonprofit groups, and other stakeholders. This Committee will also be responsible for public outreach and education regarding actions being taken.

Responsible Parties Acronyms List of Potential Funding Sources • BOH – Board of Health • Chapter 90 - State transportation funding • BOS – Board of Selectmen allocated for roadway projects • CC – Conservation Commission • Complete Streets – Grants provided through • COA – Council on Aging the MassDOT’s Complete Streets Funding • DPW – Department of Public Works Program • HS – Historical Commission • CPA – Community Preservation Act • ODS – Office of Dam Safety • LAND – Local Acquisitions for Natural • PB – Planning Board Diversity Grant Program through the Division • PC – Ponds Committee of Conservation Services (DCS) • PD – Parks Department • LWCF – Land and Water Conservation Fund • RC – Recreation Committee Grant Program through DCS • SWC – Sewer and Water Commission • MassTrails – Includes both Recreational Trails • TC – Trails Committee Program (RTP) grants, which are federally • WHS – Walpole Historical Society funded and Commonwealth Trails grants, which • WPD – Walpole Police Department are supported by the state’s annual Capital Investment Plan. • PARC – Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities Grant Program through DCS

Clarks Pond Conservation Area Image: MAPC

Town of Walpole 69 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW 1 Protect and improve the quality of Walpole’s surface and ground water. 2 Protect and encourage preservation of the Town’s natural and cultural resources. 3 Maintain and manage existing 1 Town open space land. 4 Continue to expand recreational facilities to provide a wide variety 3 of active recreation opportunities 4 to encourage a healthy and active community. 2 5 Maintain and manage existing recreation facilities.

5 5 2 2

4 3 2 5 5 2

5 2 4

5 2 4 3 2

3

2

5

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DRAFT FOR REVIEW 2020-2027 Action Plan

Action Responsible Potential Time Frame Parties Funding Sources Goal 1: Protect and improve the quality of Walpole’s surface and ground water. Objective 1.1: Protect, preserve and maintain existing and potential groundwater supply, ground water recharge areas and watershed protection districts within the Town to ensure sufficient quantities and quality of safe drinking water. 1. Coordinate with partners to identify and CC, Neponset Massachusetts Short-term pursue priority watershed restoration River Watershed Environmental (1 to 3 projects in these areas. Association Trust years) 2. Identify locations for stormwater DPW, CC, SWC Massachusetts Short-term management improvements (e.g. Division of (1 to 3 undersized culverts or pipes contributing Ecological years) to stormwater issues) utilizing the Restoration’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Culvert (MVP) funded culvert survey. Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant Program 3. Develop stormwater management best DPW, CC, SWC Massachusetts Mid-term practices for municipal systems to enhance Department of (4 to 5 compliance with Municipal Separate Environmental years) Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit Protection requirements. Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Grant Program Objective 1.2: Enhance the Town’s ability to protect rivers, streams, ponds, floodplains and other land important for water quality and wildlife habitat while providing opportunities for passive and active recreational uses. 1. Continue with clean-up of invasive species CC, DPW, SWC Town staff and Ongoing that impair water flow, water quality, funding or negatively impact native plants and animals.

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DRAFT FOR REVIEW Action Responsible Potential Time Frame Parties Funding Sources 2. Require low impact development and PB, CC, SWC Massachusetts Short-term water conservation techniques in new Department of (1 to 3 development and redevelopment to Environmental years) reduce water usage and add connections Protection to the surrounding open space network. Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Grant Program 3. Evaluate existing dam locations and ODS, DPW, CC Division of Long-term conditions and plan to remove any Ecological (6 to 7 obsolete dams. Restoration years) (DER) Restoration Potential Model Tool, DER Priority Project Program Goal 2: Protect and encourage preservation of the Town’s natural and cultural resources. Objective 2.1: Preserve, through acquisition and/or regulatory strategies, unique and/or ecologically valuable and significant land areas. 1. Create a new source of funding for BOS, PB Town staff and Short-term land conservation, open space, and funding (1 to 3 preservation through the Community years) Preservation Act. 2. Identify significant BioMap2 lands that CC, BOS, PB Commonwealth Short-term are a top priority for protection and Conservation (1 to 3 encourage conservation restrictions on Land Tax years) these properties. Credit (CLTC) offered to land owners 3. Explore a transfer of development rights PB, CC Massachusetts Mid-term (TDR) program to balance conservation Executive (4 to 5 and development. Office of years) Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) grant

Town of Walpole 72 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Action Responsible Potential Time Frame Parties Funding Sources Objective 2.2: Encourage the preservation and conservation of agricultural parcels and large forested parcels. 1. Partner to protect Norfolk Agricultural CC, BOS, PB Town staff and Short-term School vacant parcels funding (1 to 3 years) 2. Work with Norfolk County to pursue CC, BOS, PB Town staff and Short-term conservation restrictions on Norfolk County funding (1 to 3 Agricultural owned property. years) 3. Encourage landowners to enroll properties CC Town staff and Mid-term in the Chapter 61 program. funding (4 to 5 years) 4. Establish a Town of Walpole Agricultural BOS Town staff and Mid-term Commission to support agriculture and funding (4 to 5 farming activities. years) 5. Draft and adopt a Right to Farm Bylaw. BOS Town staff and Mid-term funding (4 to 5 years) Objective 2.3: Identify and protect wildlife habitats and corridors, particularly those of endangered and threatened species. 1. Identify parcels that would increase large CC, PB Town staff Mid-term areas of contiguous land and explore and funding, (4 to 5 appropriate acquisition, conservation, MassWildlife years) management, or regulations. Land Protection Program 2. Work with the Natural Heritage and CC, BOH Town staff and Mid-term Endangered Species program with the funding (4 to 5 Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to years) identify all vernal pools in Walpole. Objective 2.4: Preserve the Town’s heritage and character through the preservation of scenic areas, roads, and structures of historic significance. 1. Define and advance local Historic Districts. PB, HC, WHS Town staff and Mid-term funding (4 to 5 years) 2. Promote public awareness of the Scenic PB, HC Town staff and Mid-term Roads Bylaw and the procedures funding (4 to 5 required for changes on these designated years) roadways.

Town of Walpole 73 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Action Responsible Potential Time Frame Parties Funding Sources 3. Identify priority structures for historic PB, HC, WHS CPA, Mid-term preservation and pursue historic Massachusetts (4 to 5 designation of these structures with the Preservation years) National Register for Historic Preservation. Projects Fund Objective 2.5: Acquire additional conservation lands, easements, and restrictions, adjacent to existing Town owned open space. 1. Identify locations that would improve CC, PB Town staff and Short-term access to existing open space resources funding (1 to 3 (e.g. parcel near Adams Farm, parcel years) near Cedar Swamp Trail). 2. Establish a fund that can be contributed BOS Town staff and Short-term to each year for acquisition of priority funding (1 to 3 conservation lands. years) Objective 2.6: Work with Federal, State, Local and private parties to clean up identified brownfields and other existing contaminated lands and ensure that future contamination does not occur. 1. Follow the success of local innovative BOS, PB Town staff and Mid-term models for productive use of brownfield funding (4 to 5 sites for solar energy (e.g. the Bird years) Machine Solar Farm). 2. Partner with owners of suspected BOS, PB Environmental Mid-term brownfields where contamination is Site Assessment (4 to 5 not known, to pursue Environmental funding from years) Site Assessment funding from the Massachusetts Massachusetts Brownfield Redevelopment Brownfield Fund. Redevelopment Fund Goal 3: Maintain and manage existing Town open space land. Objective 3.1: Develop management plans for all Town ponds and other Town-owned Open Space. 1. Develop pond management plans for PC, DPW, CC Town staff and Mid-term Clarks, Turners, Cobbs, and Memorial funding (4 to 5 Ponds. Memorial Pond was recently years) dredged. 2. Develop open space management best DPW, CC Town staff and Short-term practices with a baseline for each open funding (1 to 3 space resource in the town and specific years) management requirements for unique activities or features.

Town of Walpole 74 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Action Responsible Potential Time Frame Parties Funding Sources Objective 3.2: Develop a plan for educational programs and access (specifically signage, maps, and awareness). 1. Promote awareness of open space BOS, CC, PB, RC, Town staff and Short-term amenities through education and outreach. TC funding (1 to 3 years) 2. Continue current recreation programming RC Town staff and Long-term in the parks with adaptation for future funding (6 to 7 community needs or requests. years) 3. Address specific ADA and universal access BOS, CC, PB, RC, Town staff and Mid-term improvements that have been defined in TC funding (4 to 5 the ADA Self Assessment Appendix. years) Objective 3.3: Provide a budget to maintain and manage existing Town Open Space properties. 1. Define best practices list of annual DPW, CC Town staff and Short-term maintenance procedures for each Town- funding (1 to 3 owned recreation and conservation land. years) 2. Identify resources and partners to DPW, CC Town staff and Mid-term bridge gap between best practices and funding (4 to 5 current practices integrating efforts with years) community clean-up days and other volunteer opportunities. Objective 3.4: Forge private, nonprofit and public partnerships to help with management and maintenance of Open Space properties including active and passive recreational areas. 1. Support development of “Friends of…” BOS, RC, PD Town staff and Short-term groups to supplement management and funding (1 to 3 maintenance activities and funding needs years) for open space properties. 2. Assist interested Town residents to RC, TC, PD Town staff and Short-term organize for improvements to parks and funding (1 to 3 open spaces. years) Objective 3.5: Connect existing and potential Open Space with trails, sidewalks and bicycle paths. 1. Identify and prioritize sidewalk TC, PB, DPW Massachusetts Ongoing installations, extensions or improvements Complete that would expand connections between Streets Grants neighborhoods and open spaces.

Town of Walpole 75 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Action Responsible Potential Time Frame Parties Funding Sources 2. Support the development and design of TC, PB, DPW Massachusetts Mid-term the Walpole-Wrentham Line rail trail and MassTrails (4 to 5 linear park, with potential to extend from Grants; years) Attleboro to Plainville, working with other Federal regional partners such as the Friends of Transportation King Philip Greenway. Alternatives (TA) Program 3. Explore the development and design of a TC, PB, DPW Massachusetts Long-term rail trail parallel to the active rail corridor MassTrails (6 to 7 of the Framingham-Foxboro Line. Grants; years) Federal TA Program 4. Advance a trail extension behind the TC, PB, DPW Massachusetts Mid-term Senior Center under Common Street MassTrails (4 to 5 toward Walpole Center in coordination Grants; years) with Housing Authority. Federal TA Program 5. Improve visibility, signage and integration TC, PB, DPW DHCD Short-term of the Bay Circuit Trail with Walpole Downtown (1 to 3 Center transportation improvements. Initiative years) Objective 3.6: Develop methods to restrict use of motorized vehicles on Town Open Space properties other than Town authorized vehicles. 1. Increase signage that defines restrictions CC, DPW MA EOEEA Mid-term for motor vehicles or other activities at PARC grant (4 to 5 town open spaces. program years) 2. Increase police patrol and enforcement WPD, CC, DPW Town staff and Short-term where motorized vehicle use of open funding (1 to 3 space is identified. years) Goal #4: Continue to expand recreational facilities to provide a wide variety of active recreation opportunities to encourage a healthy and active community. Objective 4.1: Continue to implement goals of the trails master plan and revisions. 1. Pursue the design and installation of TC, CC, DPW Town staff and Short-term consistent trail marking systems that funding (1 to 3 provide uniform and recognizable years) trailhead markers and blazes. 2. Support and work with friends groups and TC, CC, DPW Town staff and Ongoing volunteer efforts to maintain trails and funding forge new trails.

Town of Walpole 76 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Action Responsible Potential Time Frame Parties Funding Sources Objective 4.2: Continue to implement the goals of the 2008 Athletic Fields Master Plan. 1. With new playing fields in place, RC, BOS Town staff and Ongoing enforce Walpole Field Use Policies and funding Procedures for all fields to maintain field conditions. 2. With new playing fields in place, set aside BOS, DPW Town staff and Mid-term funds and time period to renovate existing funding (4 to 5 facilities years) 3. Provide annual town operating budget BOS Town staff and Mid-term funding to renovate and maintain existing funding (4 to 5 fields. years) 4. Continue to install state-of-the-art water BOS, DPW Town staff and Short-term conserving irrigation systems at all town funding (1 to 3 fields. years) Objective 4.3: Encourage public, nonprofit, and private partnerships in planning and development of outdoor recreational facilities. 1. Leverage Earth Day, Town beautification BOS, PD Town staff and Short-term days, or other annual volunteer traditions funding (1 to 3 to advance volunteer improvements at years) town open spaces. 2. Partner with the Norfolk Agricultural BOS, PD Town staff and Short-term School and other private schools to funding (1 to 3 share outdoor resources and strengthen years) connections to nearby open space assets. Objective 4.4: Encourage multiple uses of recreation and conservation facilities through coordinated efforts of the schools, various Town departments and private organizations. 1. Use scheduling procedures to maximize RC, PD Town staff and Short-term coordination and use of shared facilities. funding (1 to 3 years) 2. Identify town-owned property that could CC, PB, RC, PD Town staff and Mid-term be used more flexibly for additional funding (4 to 5 active recreation uses. years) Goal #5: Maintain and manage existing recreation facilities. Objective 5.1: Provide adequate resources and management for the maintenance of parks and recreation facilities. 1. Codify field maintenance operations PD Town staff and Short-term outlined in the 2008 Athletic Fields funding (1 to 3 Master Plan into a written plan of annual years) maintenance standards for each field.

Town of Walpole 77 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Action Responsible Potential Time Frame Parties Funding Sources 2. Continue to increase annual Town budget BOS, DPW Town staff and Short-term for field maintenance. funding (1 to 3 years) 3. Continue to build Department of BOS, DPW Town staff and Mid-term Public Works staff capacity for field funding (4 to 5 maintenance. years) Objective 5.2: Educate the public on outdoor opportunities currently available in Walpole. 1. Create a user-friendly inventory of CC, PD, TC Town staff and Short-term publicly accessible open space based on funding (1 to 3 the OSRP inventory with the location, a years) photo, and description of amenities for each resource. 2. Develop a consistent welcome signage CC, PD, TC Town staff Mid-term and a wayfinding system to be installed and funding, (4 to 5 at all open spaces. DHCD’s years) Downtown Initiative Grant Program Objective 5.3: Develop a plan for making existing, as well as new, playfields AAB/ADA accessible as required. 1. Add universal accessibility play features BOS, DPW, PD Massachusetts Mid-term to town playgrounds. Office on (4 to 5 Disability years) (MOD) Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act Grant 2. Address accessibility needs defined in the BOS, DPW, PD Massachusetts Short-term Accessibility Self Evaluation and outlined Office on (1 to 3 in the 2008 Athletic Fields Master Plan. Disability years) (MOD) Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act Grant

Town of Walpole 78 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Potential Local Funding Sources observation and the like are encouraged. Community Preservation Act Access by the general public is required. This The establishment of a real estate transfer tax state program pays for the acquisition of land, was signed into law on September 14, 2000 or a partial interest (such as a conservation as the Community Preservation Act (CPA). CPA restriction), and associated acquisition costs is a tool for communities to preserve open such as appraisal reports and closing costs. space, park and recreational facilities, historic sites, and affordable housing. The Community Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Preservation Act is statewide enabling This is a federal program administered by the legislation that allows cities and towns to State Division of Conservation Services for the exercise control over local planning decisions acquisition and development or renovation of by providing an additional funding source. park, recreation and conservation land. The CPA must be enacted locally through a Town Federal Land & Water Conservation Fund Meeting vote. The funding created through it (P.L. 88-578) provides up to 50% of the total can be used to address four core community project cost for the acquisition, development concerns: and renovation of park, recreation or • Acquisition and preservation of open space conservation areas. Municipalities, special • Improve park and recreation facilities districts and state agencies are eligible to • Creation and support of affordable housing apply. Nearly 4000 acres have been acquired • Acquisition and preservation of historic and hundreds of parks renovated using the buildings and landscapes $95.6 million that Massachusetts has received from the state side portion of the federal A minimum of 10% of the annual revenues program since 1965. DCS administers the of the fund must be used for each four core state side Land & Water Conservation Fund community concerns. The remaining 70% program in Massachusetts. Access by the can be allocated for any combination of the general public is required. allowed uses. This gives each community the opportunity to determine its priorities, plan for Recreational Trails Grant Program (RTGP) its future, and have the funds to make those The Recreational Trails Program provides plans happen. grants ranging from $2,000 to $50,000 on a reimbursement basis for a variety of trail Potential State and Federal Funding Sources protection, construction, and stewardship Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) projects throughout Massachusetts. It is part Program of the National Recreational Trails Program, The LAND Program (formerly the Self-Help which is funded through the Federal Highway Program) was established in 1961 to assist Administration (FHWA). Funds are disbursed municipal conservation commissions acquiring to each state to develop and maintain land for natural resource and passive outdoor recreational trails and trail-related facilities recreation purposes. Lands acquired may for both non-motorized and motorized include wildlife, habitat, trails, unique natural, recreational trail uses. In Massachusetts, the historic or cultural resources, water resources, Department of Conservation and Recreation forest, and farmland. Compatible passive (DCR) administer funds, in partnership with the outdoor recreational uses such as hiking, Massachusetts Recreational Trails Advisory fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing, bird Board. Town of Walpole 79 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW Town of Walpole Open Space and Recreation Plan September 2020 Town of Walpole 80 Open Space and Recreation Plan

DRAFT FOR REVIEW