2002 OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION PLAN TOWN OF MEDFIELD Prepared By: Town ofMedfield Open Space Committee Town ofMedfield Park and Recreation Commission July, 2002 TABLE OF CONTENTS PLAN SUMMARY 3 INTRODUCTION 4 Statement ofPurpose 4 Planning Process and Public Participation 4 Public Hearing 6 COMMUNITY SETTING 7 Regional Context 7 ffi~ory 8 Population Characteristics 9 Growth and Development Patterns 12 ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS 17 Introduction 17 Topography 17 Soils 19 Climate 22 Water Resources 23 Vegetation 25 Wildlife 27 Rare or Endangered Species 28 Scenic Resources 29 Historic Resources 29 Archaeological Resources 30 Summary ofEnvironmental Factors 31 INVENTORY OF LAND OF CONSERVATION OR RECREATION INTEREST 37 Introduction 37 ProtectedOpen Space and Conservation Lands 37 Open Space with Little Protection 38 Existing Recreation Facilities 38 Lands Acquired since 1994 38 Chapter 61, 61A, and 61B Lands 50 COMMUNITY GOALS 53 ANALYSIS OF NEEDS 55 Summary ofResource Proteetion Needs 55 Summary ofCommunity Needs 57 Summary ofManagement Needs and Potential Changes ofUse 58 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 59 Goals Setting 59 Open Space Goals and Objectives 59 Recreation Goals and Objectives 62 FIVE YEAR ACTION PLAN 65 Open Space Recommendations 65 Recreation Recommendations 72 Potential Implementation Mechanisms 75 Medfield Five Year Action Plan Summary 79 REFERENCES 88 PUBLIC COMMENTS APPENDIX I: Open Space Survey Form APPENDIX II: Open Space Survey Results APPENDIX III: Public Hearing Information APPENDIX N: List ofActive Subdivisions APPENDIX V: ADA Compliance Survey APPENDIX VI: Topographic Map Symbols APPENDIX VII: Chapter 61 Protocol and Procedures Tables Table 1. Population 1970 to 2000 9 Table 2. Population Density 10 Table 3. Education 10 Table 4. 1989 Income Levels 10 Table 5. 1990 Employment by Occupation 11 Table 6. 1990 Age by Category 11 Table 7. Number ofBuilding Permits Issued 1998 to 2000 16 Table 8. Rare Species Occurrences 28 Table 9. Medfield Scenic Resources 34 Table 10. Medfield Historic Resources 35 Table 11. Illventory ofExisting Open Space and Conservation Lands 40 Table 12. Inventory ofOpen Space Lands with Little Protection 46 Table 13. Inventory ofExisting Outdoor Recreation Facilities 47 Table 14. Inventory ofExisting Indoor Recreation Facilities 49 Table 15. Chapter 61 Land (Forestry) 51 Table 16. Chapter 61A Land (Agricultural) 52 Table 17. Chapter 61B Land (Recreation) 52 Maps Map 1. Current Zoning Map with Parcel Lines 13 Map 2. Current Zoning Map without Parcel Lines 14 Map 3. USGS Topographic Map 18 Map 4. General Soil Conditi~.;.. 21 Map 5. Major Watersheds 24 Map 6. Public Water Supply and DEP Approved Zone II Wellhead Protection Areas 26 Map 7. Scenic and Cultural Resources 33 Map 8. Open Space Map 39 Map 9. Chapter 61 Land 50 Map 10. Medfield State Hospital (Aerial View) 56 Map 11. Action Plan Map 66 2 PLAN SUMMARY The 2001 Medfield Open Space and Recreation Plan represents an update of the 1994 Plan. Medfield has had previous Open Space plans drafted and approved in 1974 and 1980. Although Medfield has shown to be a very proactive town in both purchasing and preserving its open space this plan continues to focus on the need to preserve those remaining open space areas and maintain the existing open space areas in town. Throughout this planning process it was stressed to the Open Space Committee that preserving the character ofthe Town was extremely important to the residents. This plan attempts to address that issue. The plan contains the following major elements: • Description ofPublic Input • Demographic Profile • Summary ofRecent Growth Trends • Enviromnental Portrait ofthe Town • Inventory ofexisting open space and recreational areas and facilities • Analysis ofOpen Space and Recreation Needs • .Summary ofCommunity Goals • Statement ofGoals and Objectives • Five Year Action Plan • Public Comment This plan recommends a combination of acquisition and regulatory measures to expand the open space and recreation inventory, protect natural resources more specifically water resources, to manage growth to limit its impact on Town services and character and to provide linkages between the existing open space areas expanding the existing trail system throughout town, and to expand the recreational resources ofthe town to serve the changing needs ofthe residents ofMedfield. 3 () INTRODUCTION Statement ofPnrpose The purpose ofthe Medfield Open Space and Recreation Plan is to ensure that Medfield's open space and recreation resources continue to be protected and augmented as theyhave been in the past. The Town has completed Open Space and RecteationPlans in 1974,1980, 1988)1I11tH994.... 2.oo..,t These plans have guided the Town in its proactive approach to preserving open space and the rural character ofthe Town. Great progress has been made in achieving the goals and objectives that were recommended in the 1994 Open Space Plan including the acquisition ofthe Holmquist property offPlain Street, development of a system to evaluate Chapter 61, 61A, and 61B lands, acquisition of easements surrounding Well #6, and the completion ofthe Medfield portion ofthe Bay Circuit Trail. Many ofthe goals and objectives stated in the 1994 Open Space Plan are ongoing and continue to be carried out by the Open Space Committee, the Conservation Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission and the Board ofSelectmen. This 2001 Open Space and Recreation Plan continues to build on the accomplishments ofthese previous plans. and serves as an update to these previous plans. Many ofthe goals and objectives that were stated in these previous plans are still valid though much progress towards these goals has been achieved. Recognizing this progress the Open Space Committee has extensively reviewed and ultimately modified the goals and objectives for the 2001 Plan. The Open Space Plan is not to be considered a static document but one that should be reviewed and updated as needed. At a minimum the Plan should be reviewed on an annual basis.. The Plan will need a complete update in 2005. The Plan should continue to provide a common vision for the Town and continue to serve as a guide in the protection of open space and recreational resources. Planning Process andPnblic Participation The Open Space Committee conducted this plan update with assistance from the Conservation Committee and the Park and Recreation Commission. The residents ofMedfield as well as the volunteer boards and commissions contributed greatly in establishing the goals and objectives of this plan. This is the most critical part ofthis plan since it is the residents who will ultimately ensure the implementation ofthis plan. The first phase ofpublic participation for the plan included a town wide survey that sought input in several areas including how open space should be preserved, prioritization of preservation efforts, and how the current open space and recreational facilities in town are utilized. The information gathered from the survey served as the basis for the draft plan update. A draft plan was then placed at the Memorial Library and Town Hall for review beginning the second phase ofpublic pll\iicipation. Residents were asked to review the draft plan and attend a public hearing held on September XX, 2001 to provide comments regarding the plan. 4 Open Space andRecreational Survey In March of 1999 a survey was distributed, through the local paper, foevery household in Medfield. A total of 4,391 surveys were distributed. A copy of the survey is included in Appendix I along with the complete results ofthe survey. The survey, divided into three parts, included a total oftwenty questions concerning both open space and recreation. The first part of the survey asked residents to identify what types of land and or buildings it was important to preserve and if necessary purchase, then went further by asking residents to prioritize the most important reasons for purchasing open space. The survey also asked residents how they currently utilize the open space areas and the trail system in town. This part of the survey concluded by asking what the residents ofMedfield like the best about the open space areas in town and what could be done to improve on these areas. The second part of the survey focused on the recreational aspect of the plan. Residents were asked to rate the park and recreational facilities in town and identify the importance of recreational facilities to their household. Residents were also asked how satisfied they were with the facilities that were available and how those facilities were utilized. As in the first part ofthe survey, residents were questioned as to what they liked best about these facilities and what improvements could be made. The final part ofthe survey asked residents to provide some basic demographic data including how long they had lived in town, how many residents in each household and how many children were in the household under the age of 18. Respondents also had the option of an additional section into which to provide comments for the committee. These comments are included in Appendix II. LandAcquisition Other expressions ofpublic input for this plan include several Proposition 2 'h overrides for land acquisition. The most important expression ofpublic support for preserving open space lies with Town Meeting. The residents have responded positively to three requests for land acquisition since the 1994 plan. These include purchasing the Newell property, which is approximately ten acres, the Wallingford property, which is approximately 30 acres, and the Hinkley property, which is ten acres. However the most memorable town Meeting vote occurred at a Special Town Meeting held in June, 1999 when voters turned out to overwhelmingly support the purchase of the 100 acre Holmquist property on both sides ofPlain Street. Although only 760 official votes were cast in the unanimous vote to purchase the land, more than 1,000 residents filled the standing room only auditorium and hallways while an additionally estimated 1,000 residents were standing in line waiting to enter the building.