Chapter 5: Open Space and Recreation
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5. Open Space and Recreation An important aspect in judging quality of life, open space and recreational resources are crucial to sustaining a community’s appeal. Introduction source of Town input; a public forum to present the findings from the survey and get more input An important aspect in judging quality of life, from the residents; meetings between the open space and recreational resources are crucial Conway students, Open Space and Recreation to sustaining a community’s appeal. The subcommittees, and other Town departments; Commonwealth recognizes this importance and and a second public forum to present the plan encourages each community in the state to have and field more suggestions. The key points from a current Open Space and Recreation Plan that document are summarized and updated in (OSRP), which is to be updated every five years. this element of the Town of Southborough When an OSRP is completed and approved by Master Plan. the Division of Conservation Services (DCS), the community is eligible for grant programs While open space resources, passive and active administered by DCS to fund open space recreation are discussed in this chapter, natural acquisition or enhancements to recreational resources, such as water and wildlife, are facilities. discussed in more detail in Chapter 6, Natural and Cultural Resources. Southborough is currently in the final phases of updating its 1999 Open Space and Recreation Community Setting Plan. The 2008 Open Space and Recreation As indicated in Chapter 3, Housing, of this Plan was prepared with assistance from the Plan, Southborough is currently one of the Conway School of Landscape Design and was fastest growing communities in the Common- conditionally approved by DCS in June of wealth, in terms of population, and certainly 2008. Implementation of the Plan will begin in along the Rt. 495 corridor. The rapid rate of 2009. In addition to active population growth has raised concern among recreation, e.g. the Southborough’s current residents who seek to The 2008 OSRP involved a concerted and soccer match shown protect Southborough’s remaining open space thorough public outreach component. This here, Southborough and preserve the rural aesthetic that character- included the Open Space and Recreation provides it residents izes Town. A growing population puts pressure Survey, which was designed by the Open Space numerous opportunities on the lands identified for preservation, because and Recreation Committee and was a primary for passive recreation. these may also be developable properties. 95 5 Open Space and Recreation Open Space and Recreation Definitions recreational facilities, and parks and greens; in fact, in June 2006, the mowing budget for the Protected Open Space is defined by the Town as that portion of the lot Town was cut by $15,000. Furthermore, the area that is not covered by any structure and not used for drives, parking, Town has no money to maintain the newest storage and display. Wetlands, ponds, and man-made detention areas are open space parcel, the Breakneck Hill Conserva- considered open space. All open space shall be permanently protected by tion. Therefore, Southborough must also recorded deed. carefully consider how it will maintain its current supply of open space and recreation If not permanently protected, privately owned and undeveloped land shall parcels and the Town’s ability to maintain future be considered merely Vacant Land. land acquisitions. Chapter 61, 61A and 61B refer to a Massachusetts program designed to Active Organizations preserve and enhance forest, agriculture and recreational land (respective- ly). These lands are not considered permanently protected. Southborough has a number of organizations active in the preservation of open space: Passive Recreation refers to things such as walking, picnicking, relaxing on a park bench, hiking, bird watching, etc. Open Space Preservation Commission The Open Space Preservation Commission Active Recreation includes field sports, running, golf, Frisbee, and similar (appointed by the Board of Selectmen) was activities formed recently to facilitate the protection and preservation of open space in the Town. It is important to identify key land parcels that Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT) should be protected as open space. Southbor- ough’s Open Space and Recreation Committee, Recreation Commission, Open Space Preserva- tion Commission, and the Conway School of Landscape Design developed a guide to open space and recreation planning for 2008 – 2013. Sudbury Valley Trustees is a regional land trust, Because this was a recent study, much of the founded in 1953. For over 50 years, SVT has existing conditions remain as described in the been dedicated to conserving land, wildlife 2008 OSRP. However, where new parcels have habitat and ecological integrity of the Sudbury, been permanently protected or vacant land has Assabet and Concord River basin. Guided by a been lost to development, this chapter updates strategic plan and with the help of over 3,000 the 2008 OSRP. members, SVT carries out its mission to protect wildlife habitat and the ecological integrity of While preservation and conservation is a the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers significant priority for key parcels in Southbor- Valley for the benefit of present and future ough, management and maintenance of that generations. Working in close collaboration with land is a great concern. The Town has limited landowners, businesses, local conservation budget to care for its protected open space, 96 Sudbury Reservoir circa 1900. Photo from the Library of Congress. commissions and government agencies, SVT Sudbury Watershed Monitoring and Protection pursues its land protection goals through land (SWAMP) acquisitions and stewardship, advocacy, and Formed by two local residents in 1998, education. SWAMP works with local and state agencies, land trusts, and other watershed groups to Southborough Open Land Foundation (SOLF) protect the Sudbury River and its watershed. Concentrating on a four-mile section of the river, members collect water quality samples including pH, dissolved oxygen, saturated oxygen, clarity, conductivity, temperature, and The mission of the Southborough Open Land depth and flow. The group also monitors Foundation, Inc. (SOLF) is to preserve and development and land sales that could nega- protect the open spaces and rural character of tively affect or enhance areas contributing to the the Town of Southborough. SOLF accepts protection of the river’s water quality. SWAMP donations of properties of all sizes, from less also sponsors the annual “River Fest,” in late than one acre to its largest 20-acre parcel spring which includes canoe rides on the river. recently donated. 97 5 Open Space and Recreation A perfect June day at Summary of Natural Resources According to Mass Geographic Information Chestnut Hill Farm. Systems (MassGIS), there are no primary Hilltops, valleys, reservoirs, wetlands, red maple surface or ground water supplies in Southbor- Photo courtesy of Southborough swamps, wooded drumlins, ponds, lakes Planning Board. ough. However, there are some private wells that streams, rivers, agricultural fields, and a are not regulated by the Town. Nonetheless, plantation forest are all part of the natural groundwater recharge and water pollution features found within and near Southborough. prevention are important to the residents of The largest feature by far is a portion of the Southborough. The Town distributes pretreated Sudbury Reservoir. Nearly 25 percent of water from the Massachusetts Water Resources Southborough’s acreage is comprised of the Authority (MWRA). The newly constructed reservoir and the surrounding land owned by John J. Carroll Water Treatment facility owned the Commonwealth. The reservoir serves as an and operated by the MWRA became operation- emergency on-line backup supply for Boston al in 2005. and is not currently used as a local water supply. However, because it is a potential source of The Sudbury River flows east along the drinking water, active recreational use on and southern boundary of Southborough in a series around the reservoir is restricted. The reservoir of oxbows, separating Southborough from and its surrounding land are discussed in more Hopkinton and Ashland. detail in the section on Natural Resources. 98 There are many scenic open space and recre- The Bay Circuit Trail, a long-distance trail ational opportunities surrounding Southbor- system being developed by the non-profit Bay ough including Hopkinton State Park, located Circuit Alliance, runs through the northeastern less than a mile south of Town; Cedar Swamp, edge of Southborough along the Sudbury situated near the southwestern edge of Town in Reservoir. Upon completion, the entire trail is Westborough; Marlborough State Forest planned to be a 120-mile arc between Route situated to the north; Ashland Town Forest to 128 and I-495, connecting the Parker River the east; and Richard Callahan State Park to the Wildlife Refuge in Newbury with Bay Farm in northeast in Marlborough. Passive recreation Duxbury and Kingston. Currently, portions of and conservation open space opportunities the Bay Circuit Trail in Southborough are within the Town boundaries include the Town unprotected and incomplete. Forest, Breakneck Hill Conservation Area, Wilfred J. Turenne Wildlife Habitat, and Table 5-1 identifies the amount of land held Chestnut Hill Farm. Active recreation areas under Chapter 61, 61A, or 61B, which are include the 911 Fields, as well as school