properties in two others; Town Meeting voted to support CPA as a funding source for conservation land protection; 1992 Open Space Plan). The open space framework (Part I) was a reference and planning guide for decision-making by Town leaders and by residents in several of the above cases.
B. Broad Open Space and Recreation Objectives
The central overall open-space vision for the Town, as highlighted and portrayed by the Open Space Framework (Part I), is an open space network of large natural areas and large agricultural areas connected by major wildlife and water-protection corridors. Somewhat narrower objectives are:
• A public trail network in Town adequate and convenient for residents, plus convenient access for residents to a regional trail network; • Adequate playing fields and other intensive-recreation facilities to serve residents of all abilities; • Protection of biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and connectivity for wildlife movement; • Ponds, streams and rivers with high quality water; and • Good protection of special sites of scenic, ecological, recreational, etc. importance scattered across the Town.
Section 7: ANALYSIS OF NEEDS
A. Summary of Resource Protection Needs
Information and analyses in the preceding sections point clearly to the need to complete the network of large natural areas and large agricultural areas connected by major wildlife and water-protection corridors (Section 6: Community Vision, and Part I: The Open Space Framework). Individual issues and needs for each large intact area and major corridor are presented in more depth in Appendix I (Priority Open Space Resources). More detailed needs for other environmental resources are presented in context throughout the report. However, the needs for trails and handicap accessibility are especially important in Concord, and therefore are explored here in more depth.
1. Major Trails
Trail activities, including hiking, walking, jogging, nature study, bicycling, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing, continue to be very popular at the state, regional, and local levels. In Concord there are many ways to obtain maps and information about open-space, conservation lands, and trail information, including: • Town of Concord Conservation Land Guide (June 2000) by the Town of Concord Natural Resources Commission
88 • A Guide to Concord Conservation Lands (March 1975) by the Concord Department of Natural Resources • Property Maps (1994) by the Concord Conservation Land Trust • Concord’s Mill Brook: Flowing through Time, a guide to the Lower Mill Brook, by Richard T. T. Forman, prepared for the Mill Brook Task Force and the Town of Concord Natural Resources Commission (1997, 2nd ed. 1999)19 • Mill Brook Historic Tour: Glimpsing Concord’s history through the eyes of the Mill Brook (May 2003) by the Mill Brook Task Force, Division of Natural Resources, Town of Concord
Access to the land through a growing network of walking trails allows Concord residents to engage actively with their beautiful surroundings and has helped to build a strong constituency for land preservation. Concord continues to add to and improve its impressive system of trails (see four maps: Public Trails & Handicap Accessible Trails). In recent years much progress has been made in expanding or improving local and regional trails, as described below.
Recent trail improvements in Concord
Route of the Colonial Militia: On the 225th anniversary of the Concord Fight, the citizens of Concord voted in 2000 to designate an existing path on town land from Monument Street to Bedford Street a “Trail of the Colonial Militia.” It marks the path the Militia took from North Bridge toward Meriam’s Corner. Voters urged town officials “to accommodate the approximate route of this trail in any future use of the Town-owned land.” The portion from Bedford Street to Meriam’s Corner remains unfinished. There are several possible routes, including from Bedford St. to Birch Dr. to Ridgeway Rd. to Ripley School grounds to an “ancient way” owned by the Town to Meriam’s Corner.
Mill Brook trails at Heywood Meadow: In 2000, a short, mulched trail was created through the woods along the edge of Heywood Meadow, providing good access to the Mill Brook.19 In addition, the Commission has cut a short rough trail providing additional access to the Mill Brook from conservation land behind the Middlesex County Courthouse.
“Oxbridge Trail”. Minute Man National Historical Park has recently cleared this short trail off Route 2A at the Concord-Lincoln line. The trail along the old townline road provides access to a single-stone-slab bridge, apparently on an 1820s deed, over a former livestock route between fields to the east and an ox pasture and farmstead to the west.
Deaconess Well Trail to Mattison Field: Upon acquisition of the Mattison Field Conservation Land in 1998, the Natural Resources Commission constructed a trail, circling the field itself, skirting Sudbury River wetlands, and connecting with an existing trail across Sudbury Rd. from the Town’s Deaconess Well.
Walek-Dorvel Trail. In 2004 a new trail was cleared from Sudbury Rd. to Mattison Field, crossing a footbridge built by the Town. The trail follows an
89 easement granted to the Concord Land Conservation Trust by the previous landowner.
Fairhaven Trail and trails in Wright Woods, Bigelow Field, Newbury Land, Hosmer Land, and Monument Farm/Two Rod Road. Through the efforts of the Concord Land Conservation Trust and others, conservation ownership and restrictions have provided open trails along the Sudbury River and Spencer Brook, in the Estabrook Woods, and abutting the Concord Country Club. These trails link to existing trails from Lincoln (Adams Woods), Walden Pond State Reservation, Bear Garden Hill, and the town of Carlisle. a). Proposed new local trails. More work is required to complete the Town’s system of trails and to increase its accessibility to all, including individuals with disabilities. The Town should continue its study and planning efforts toward creation of other local walking trails (see maps on pages 92-95) that have been proposed by various Town committees and task forces. Five in particular stand out.
Assabet-Nashoba Trail. Concord Park, an independent living and assisted- living residence, opened in 2001 behind the West Concord railroad station. Its grounds along the Assabet River feature a picnic area and walking trail accessible to wheelchairs. Though modest in length, this beautiful new trail links the West Concord train station to two existing informal trails. One runs along the western bank of the Assabet and up the south side of Nashoba Brook to the arched footbridge (behind Nashoba Brook Bakery). The other follows the old railroad right-of-way that crosses Nashoba Brook and runs northwest between commercial buildings and the Concord Prison, intersecting Commonwealth Ave. not far from the public access road to Warners Pond. This right-of-way is proposed to become part of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (see below). Creating a confluence of regional and local trails linking Concord Park, the scenic junction of the river and brook, Warner’s Pond, and the arched bridge with the planned regional trail is an opportunity that should not be missed. The Town should take steps to formalize this informal trail network. It should also consider creating a new trail along the north side of Nashoba Brook, extending from the footbridge to the railroad right-of-way, completing an outstanding loop trail along the brook.
Landfill and Brister’s Hill trails. Concord’s 2001 Town Meeting created a study group to work with interested residents and the Walden Woods Project to arrive at a permanent use of the Town’s 35-acre closed landfill site. In 2002, Concord’s Landfill Committee recommended that the Selectmen offer to swap the landfill site for a state- owned parcel on which the Town could continue public works functions, including yard waste recycling, mulching, and snow dumping. Municipal land west of the rotary is also a possible location for these uses. The state could then protect the former landfill site as part of the Walden Pond State Reservation (and possibly re-route Route 126 to better protect the internationally significant Walden Pond area). This would facilitate the creation of a permanent trail linking the landfill site to Goose and Walden ponds and, through a proposed overpass for wildlife and walkers across Route 2, to trails on adjacent Brister’s Hill and the Town Forest. In addition, the Walden Woods Project has proposed a loop trail through a Brister’s Hill interpretive site, which would be accessible from walking trails in different directions. If effective wildlife crossing of Route 2 is a priority, walking trails in the vicinity of the landfill and Brister’s Hill should be limited and carefully designed. Also the valuable pitch pine stand on Brister’s Hill requires
90 protection. Indeed the trail network on the Route 2 side of Walden Pond may already be excessive for a natural area.
Thoreau-Emerson Trail. A proposed walking trail would run from Concord Center along the Mill Brook trail at Heywood Meadow, passing behind the Emerson House, following the new primitive trail behind the Middlesex County Courthouse, through Hapgood Wright Town Forest, crossing Route 2 through a proposed wildlife corridor and entering Walden Pond State Reservation. This would accomplish a long- recommended walking route, a “vegetated stream corridor with intimate walkways and footbridges.”19 This proposed trail would also serve as a beautiful link in the Bay Circuit Trail, permitting the latter to be re-routed off of Cambridge Turnpike.
Heywood Meadow to North Bridge Trail. A proposed path running from Heywood Meadow to North Bridge, passing through Concord Center, riverfront Town conservation land (behind the Keyes Rd. Town facilities; see also Section 4C5) and Old Calf Pasture, crossing the Lowell Rd. bridge, and through the Minute Man National Historical Park to the North Bridge. This proposed path could also serve as a link in the Bay Circuit Trail, allowing it to be re-routed off of Monument St. and Lowell Rd.
Old Mill Crossing (or Milldam Crossing). The Town should build a footbridge over the Mill Brook at the site of, and in recognition of, the original mill built at the founding of Concord (by today’s Main Streets Market & Café). This would link the visitor center and Town parking lots with Monument Square.
In addition, many informal neighborhood trails and paths on private land link Concord residents to the Town’s open spaces. Concord’s 1992 Open Space Plan notes: “the NRC [Natural Resources Commission] believes that formalizing trail use or publicizing this type of trail at this time would be counterproductive for the overall system, and so has made no unified effort to acquire trails or trail easements on private land.” Yet Concord’s trail system is both important to its citizens and vulnerable. The Town should act to secure existing trails when opportunities arise, such as when subdivisions are proposed.
b). Bikeways. Bicycling has grown enormously in popularity, both for recreation and fitness. Safe and convenient bicycling routes should be greatly expanded in Town for recreation as well as transportation usage. Indeed, the Town’s new “share the road” signs suggest the importance of roads as a major component of an effective biking network and that much needs to be and can be done. Work on the bicycle trails in the north/south rail corridor, as well as the Route 2 crossing at Route 126 and south to the Lincoln line, were recommended by the 1995 Concord Bikeways Task Force. The Town should study and plan for bicycle use in the Concord to Bedford corridor (see map, p. 94) and from Route 126 to Concord Center. Also the multi-use Bruce Freeman Rail Trail should be developed through Concord.
c). Regional trails. Regional trails (see maps, p. 12 and pp. 92-95) not only help link the communities in Concord’s Region, but provide beautiful, convenient access for Concord residents to countryside and open spaces in neighboring towns.
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! E-2 (Regional Trails, continued from p. 91) Battle Road Trail. The Battle Road Trail, an award-winning feature of Minute Man National Historical Park, extends 5.5 miles, from Meriam’s Corner in Concord to Fiske Hill in Lexington. This trail is almost complete, lacking only some interpretive signage and completion of a pedestrian tunnel under the Hanscom Field Access Rd. in Lincoln. The main Battle Road Trail is fully accessible to wheelchairs and to bicycles, except for a steep 200-foot section leading westward from Meriam’s Corner up onto The Ridge.
Bay Circuit Trail (BCT). This 200-mile walking trail, extending through 45 Massachusetts towns and cities, from Newburyport to Kingston, is nearing completion. The Concord segment runs from the Acton line in the Annursnac Conservation Area, passes over the historic Old North Bridge, through Concord center and the Hapgood Wright Town Forest, reaching the Lincoln line in Walden Pond State Reservation. The entire portion, except for two blocks through Concord center, has been blazed (marked). For hikers’ safety, the Concord portion of the BCT should be re-routed through the proposed wildlife overpass (landbridge) across Route 2. Also for safety and to enhance the woodland experience, the route should be removed from College, Barrett’s Mill, and Barnes Hill roads, and instead established on existing trails from Strawberry Hill Rd. across Spencer Brook Valley, through Estabrook Woods, and down Estabrook Road to the present BCT just before it reaches Old North Bridge. Furthermore, an additional BCT link should be created along the abandoned railroad right-of-way from Monument St. to the Bedford line, where it will join the Bay Circuit Alliance’s alternative branch of the BCT. Finally, a link should be added from that railroad right-of-way along the proposed extended Trail of the Colonial Militia to Meriam’s Corner, then through the Palumbo and Kenny Farms (with a new footbridge over the Mill Brook), and down Hawthorne Lane and Cambridge Turnpike, joining the currently blazed section of the BCT as it enters the Town Forest.
Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. The old Framingham-Lowell railroad right-of-way is a valuable north-south corridor that runs intact for approximately 25 miles, from just north of Route 3 in Lowell to close to Route 9 in Framingham, with significant sections in Chelmsford, Acton, Concord, and Sudbury. Designs are complete for converting the northernmost section into a multi-use rail trail, passing from the southern edge of Lowell through Chelmsford and ending at Route 225 in Westford. The Massachusetts Highway Department has received authorization to solicit bids and begin construction on the Chelmsford section in 2004. The trail has been named the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in honor of the former Chelmsford State Representative who was its first strong advocate. The 3.5-mile Concord section of the right-of-way enters from Acton just before crossing Route 2, passes close to Warner’s Pond, and crosses Commonwealth Ave., Nashoba Brook, Main St. and the Assabet River at Concord Junction. It then skirts scenic woodlands, farmlands, wetlands, and White Pond before crossing into Sudbury.
This rail trail would provide Concord with a valuable recreational and alternative transportation resource. It could serve walkers, joggers, bicyclists, children in strollers and on tricycles, scooters, cross-country skiers, snow-shoers, and possibly wheelchair users and equestrians. It would connect West Concord Center – including the MBTA commuter rail station – to the playing fields behind Sanborn Middle School, and the walking trails in the Old Rifle Range. Potentially the route could also be used by the Town for underground utility purposes. In 2004 the Selectmen approved a preliminary engineering study of the Concord section of the trail, and a local Friends group has raised the required funds for the study. Crossings of both Route 2 and the Assabet
96 River will require solutions. In March 2003 the Concord Selectmen indicated that the Mass Highway Department should include the abandoned railroad right-of-way crossing over Route 2 (as well as the Nashoba Brook wildlife corridor under the highway) in its designs for a new rotary area. Discussions of the rail trail feasibility, attributes, etc., including the important Nashoba Brook/Route 2 crossing and White Pond water quality and neighborhood impacts, have begun in Concord. Attributes of this important regional recreation resource should be sensitive to the other major aspects of Concord’s Open Space and Recreation Plan 2004.
2. Accessibility of Trails to Persons with Disabilities a). Federal and state standards. The 1992 Open Space Plan recommended that the Natural Resources Commission “work with the town’s Section 504 coordinator to identify the level of effort that should go into upgrading or creating Class I and Class II trails.” Since then, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, has largely replaced Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act in setting the requirements for making town facilities and services accessible to persons with disabilities (see Appendix VII for ADA self-evaluation of Town’s facilities and services). The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (“Access Board”), the federal agency with ADA responsibilities, is developing proposed regulations for “Outdoor Developed Areas,” including access to trails. These will be based on the final 1999 report (known as the “Guidelines”) of the “Regulatory Negotiation Committee on Accessibility Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas.” However because of the long governmental process involved, as well as differences of opinion on the Access Board, the regulations may not be issued for some time. Until then, the 1999 Guidelines constitute the most authoritative federal document setting trail accessibility standards. b). Existing wheelchair accessible trails. Three existing trails in Concord are said to meet the Guidelines’ standards for accessibility to persons with disabilities, but can easily become unusable if not maintained (see photo on following page: Ramp Impassable for a Wheelchair User). Two of these are federally maintained: the Battle Road Trail (accessible except for a 200-foot section climbing onto The Ridge) in the national park and the Dike Trail in Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (the ramps at the ends of bridges over two spillways are sometimes in need of repair) (see maps, pp. 92-95). The other trail is the Town-maintained Chamberlin Path in Concord Center, which was recently improved with new planking and a new ramp to the footbridge.
Although the trails in Walden Pond State Reservation may not meet wheelchair accessibility standards, many individuals using wheelchairs are capable of traveling the rather steep paved path from Route 126 to the stone walkway between the beach and bathhouse. The Reservation makes a “beach wheelchair” available to visitors upon request, and a permanent ramp runs from this walkway down to the beach. Despite periodic regrading by the Reservation, however, at the point where the ramp meets the beach, shifting sand sometimes creates a several inch drop onto the sand. This problem might be corrected by extending the ramp a foot or more beneath the sand surface. A similar
97 improvement may also be useful at two places where dirt trails (one leading to the site of Thoreau’s cabin) meet the stone walkway.
Ramp impassable for a wheelchair user c). Proposed trails to be made accessible for wheelchair users. So that all of Concord’s residents and visitors may partake of the Town’s natural resources and beauty, the Town should make several more existing or proposed trails accessible to people using wheelchairs (see maps, pp. 92-95). Some trails would be seasonally accessible. The Town should focus its effort on improving access for disabled persons on six important trails as follows (described in Appendix VI: Proposed Trails Accessible for Wheelchair Users).
Assabet-Nashoba Trail: From the West Concord train station along the west side of the Assabet River and south side of Nashoba Brook to the arched footbridge; also a spur across the old railroad bridge northward on the railroad bed to Commonwealth Ave. near the access to Warner’s Pond.
Town Forest Trail: From the Walden St. parking lot to the Fairyland Pond spillway.
Punkatasset Trail: From Monument St., bearing left at the gate, to the brook entering Hutchins Pond.
Landfill and Brister’s Hill trails: Proposed trails on both sides of Route 2; routes to be selected.
Old Mill Crossing (Milldam Crossing): Proposed footbridge connecting visitor center and Monument Square.
Hillside Ave. in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery: The cemetery lane on the southeastern side of Authors Ridge.
98 d). “Assessed trails” and universally accessible trails. The Massachusetts Division of State Parks and Recreation (formerly the Department of Environmental Management) has designated seven state trails as “Accessible” (constructed for universal accessibility). In addition, it now defines a new class of “Assessed Trails,” which are “unimproved hiking trails [that] offer a more rugged experience” for persons with disabilities. Five such trails have been designated in Massachusetts. Concord should designate certain of its trails as “Assessed Trails.” Both the Accessible and Assessed trails in Town should be identified as such with appropriate signage, as well as in Town maps and guides.
Some trails should be made usable also by individuals with disabilities other than mobility impairments, such as sight impairments. The Massachusetts Audubon Society has created a trail through its Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick that is accessible to individuals with partial or total blindness. A universally accessible trail should have an uninterrupted guide handrail running its entire length and may include interpretive signage in Braille or audiotape, as well as in standard print format.
The Town should make similar accommodations on one or more relatively level trails, such as the Chamberlin Path, the proposed Assabet-Nashoba Trail (or portions thereof), and the proposed footbridge over Mill Brook in Concord Center (see maps, pp. 92-95). Also, because the latter two would be constructed after enactment of the ADA, there is perhaps a stronger legal (as well as moral) mandate that they be made as fully accessible as is reasonably feasible.
e). Trails committee and meshing trail and conservation objectives. Overall, to aid the Town in trails issues and facilitate processes related to them, a Town Trails Committee (to replace the Bay Circuit Trail Committee) reporting to Concord’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC) and coordinating with the Natural Resources Administrator is recommended. Members of the committee should monitor the condition of all Concord public trails, both existing and proposed, and advise the NRC on trail issues including, but not limited to: trail marking, routing or re-routing, handicap accessibility, trail blockages or deterioration, any restrictions required for trail preservation, trail maps and descriptions, and instances of improper encroachment or interference with trail use. Committee members should also assist the NRC, where appropriate, in implementing recommendations made by the committee and approved by the NRC.
Finally, trails should be consistent with conservation objectives. Trails facilitate the movement of people for recreation, largely through natural areas. That movement when concentrated, and especially when accompanied by dogs, can be expected to have detrimental effects on natural populations of key wildlife. The diversity, density, habitat and movement routes of many forest species are likely to be reduced or disrupted. Parts of the recently completed Battle Road Trail though Minute Man National Historical Park may illustrate this problem. For the trails recommended above, the Walden Woods large natural area is the area most likely to be negatively impacted due to the Brister’s Hill/landfill trails, 99 Thoreau-Emerson trail, and Bay Circuit Trail (in addition to the dense network of other trails present). Minimizing the lengths of these trails and their effects on sensitive wildlife is important in Walden Woods/Town Forest. Indeed, some trail closures or dog limitations may be appropriate in the other large natural areas, such as the Estabrook Woods area, to protect natural populations of wildlife.
B. Summary of Community Needs
1. Recreation Resources
In their spare time, some people enjoy hiking, canoeing or tracking animals. Others are drawn to organized sports or long-distance bicycle riding. Still others find satisfaction in walking along our roads or gardening or landscape painting. Concord is fortunate to have resources that can support a wide range of recreational interests and many programs that connect people of all ages with activities to help them be physically active and engaged.
Particularly from the perspective of open space, it is convenient to consider separately intensive-use (includes field-based, playgrounds, picnicking, and bike trails) and recreation nature-based (or resource-based) recreation. Yet it must be emphasized that many valuable recreational opportunities might not fit into either category because they are not associated with land resources. Art classes, walking groups, and visits to museums are a few examples. While no formal inventory of such opportunities in Concord has been carried out to the knowledge of the Task Force, anecdotal evidence suggests that we are a town blessed with an abundance of such offerings.
Concord has been (see Town of Concord 1985 Open Space Plan)35, and is, relatively well endowed with intensive-use recreational resources (see accompanying table). Yet significant shortcomings exist. As the Town assesses lands for potential additional playing field use, however, it is critical to carefully evaluate the open space and resource protection values associated with those lands as well. The open space framework laid out in this plan is designed in part to identify those valuable natural and agricultural areas that would be unsuitable for such activities and, conversely, to guide planners to built areas and neighborhoods where playing fields would be appropriate, easily accessed and enhance the community.
The protected open space of Concord provides highly varied recreational opportunities.31 Outdoor recreation can include active pursuits such as hiking, canoeing or bicycle riding, or more passive activities such as wildlife viewing, photography, and quiet appreciation of the scenic corners or historic treasures in town. For recreational activities that are resource-based, such as hiking and fishing, protection of the areas and sites of the open space framework would meet many of these demands.
Because of their large size and relative remoteness, the Town’s seven large natural areas (see map, p. 18) together provide opportunities for walking, 100 horseback riding, fishing and hunting, cross-county skiing, and nature study. Also, our canoe corridors (rivers) and the existing and potential inter-town paths are elements of the framework in part because of their recreational importance.
Many special sites (see map, p. 26) of the open space framework, which include discrete relatively unique resources with either high value to the Town or beyond the Town, are also of major recreational importance. These include:
• Sightseeing areas: Minute Man National Historical Park, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and the Historic Districts • Swimming in natural water bodies: Walden Pond and White Pond • Boating areas: the SuAsCo (Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord) rivers and 3 ponds • Fishing areas: the SuAsCo rivers, 5 ponds, and 3 brooks • Sportsmen’s club property: Musketaquid Sportsmen's Club and Concord Rod and Gun Club, and • Golf course property: Concord Country Club and Nashawtuc Country Club.
Also local, neighborhood open space resources provide opportunities for nature-based recreation, affording easily accessible wildlife viewing, nature education and opportunities for frequent, personal, quiet connection to the natural areas of Concord. Even the Town’s three community vegetable garden areas on Walden St., Barrett’s Mill Rd. and Cousins Field provide residents with deep linkages to the land and nature.
For a town of its size and population, Concord provides an extensive and broad range of outdoor recreational opportunities. The focus here is on Town resources, though private and other public resources (from private schools, clubs and beaches to major state and federal lands) greatly enrich the recreational opportunities in Concord. Recreation programs have long been, and are, handicap accessible, and a wide range of properties, facilities and equipment, is handicap accessible (see Appendix VII). For more detailed information on and issues involving the Town’s trail resources, see section 7A.
101
Outdoor Recreational Activity Availability in Concord Camping Allowed by permit only, in 9 Town-owned areas Hiking Trails through Town-owned conservation land; state and federal land; Land Trust land Hunting Two private sportsmen’s clubs, some state lands, and private property with permission. Organized natural/historical/cultural Four historic districts and numerous tours and staffed and sightseeing sites, such as Minute Man NHP, Walden Pond State Reservation, Great Meadows Refuge, Old Manse, Emerson House, Concord Museum Picnicking Picnic tables at Emerson and Rideout playgrounds; numerous open, grassy areas elsewhere in Town Archery/target ranges 2 private sportsmen’s clubs Baseball/softball 18 baseball or softball diamonds Soccer/lacrosse 21 multiple use soccer/lacrosse fields Golf 2 private 18 hole courses Tennis 15 public courts; >25 courts at 6 private clubs Basketball 6 public outdoor courts General playgrounds Emerson, Rideout and at 5 elementary schools Skateboarding Skateboard Park opened in 2004 at High School Bicycling Narrow paved pathways along roadsides have limited use; off-road bicycling on Battle Road Trail; Concord is a popular rendezvous for individual cyclists and regional bicycle clubs, which use area roads Horseback riding 4 major areas Ice skating 10 ponds with public access and extensive riverine areas Skiing (cross-country) See hiking above Boating 3 public access points on rivers and 3 on ponds; 2 private launch areas, including the popular boat/canoe rental business at the South Bridge Boathouse Fishing Same rivers and ponds as above; 3 ponds on sports- men’s club property; 5 brooks with limited public access Swimming (pools) 1 public facility; 5 private clubs; Concord-Carlisle Community Swim and Health Center scheduled to open in 2005. Swimming (freshwater) 1 public area; 3 private clubs
Concord meets the demand for recreational activities in a number of ways: by extrapolating from the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP); by evaluating the level of use of existing programs, resources, and facilities; by occasionally conducting surveys; by referring to existing plans and policies; by maintaining close communication with other agencies and organizations; and by listening to comments at public meetings on issues ranging from town budgets to plans such as this. The most recent SCORP report, Massachusetts Outdoors 2001, also assesses demand for recreational facilities and activities in a variety of ways.
102
Most Popular Recreational Activities Statewide
The most popular forms of recreation in the state, based on a 1995 statewide telephone survey of 1400 people.
Activity Percentage of Respondents Walking 56.5 Swimming 54.6 Sightseeing, tours, events 54.0 Hiking 30.8 Fishing 26.5 Playground 26.1 Golfing 24.7 Picnicking 22.6 Watching wildlife 21.7 Sunbathing 19.6 Road biking 15.8 Mountain biking 12.5 Source: SCORP
The SCORP report also considered needs in various recreational activities that are not being met. Statewide, the highest perceived needs among respondents were, in order, for swimming, walking, road biking, playgrounds, tennis, golfing, hiking, and mountain biking. The SCORP report divides the state into seven regions within which particular demand is assessed. Concord is included in the northeast region of the state, where the activities with the highest unmet need were road bicycling, playground activity, swimming and walking.
In 1997, as part of the development of a report by the Strategic Municipal Land Task Force, the Concord Recreation Department identified its priority unmet recreational needs in Town. In recent communications related to the development of this open-space plan, the Town’s Recreation Director confirmed that these needs continue to be priorities, especially: (1) field-based activities, and (2) indoor swimming facilities. With the Town’s 2004 purchase of the Ammendolia Land near Bedford St. and the construction of the Concord-Carlisle Community Swim and Health Center underway, these needs should be addressed at least in part in the near future.
The 2001 SCORP report also looked at demand by type of recreational area. In this analysis it found the highest inferred need within the northeast region for, in order, parks and golf courses, agricultural lands, lakes and ponds, rivers and streams, and bikeways.
103 2. Field-based and Other Intensive-use Activities
a). Playing fields. Three playing-field areas in Town are considered to be protected for park or recreation purposes under Article 97 of the state constitution. (1) Emerson Field (ca. 3.5 acres) in 1924 was “granted to the inhabitants of the Town of Concord” “for the purpose of a free public playground for children and youth,” among other permitted uses, and subject to the restriction that “at least one and three quarter (1 ¾) acres shall be kept open and unencumbered by fences, walks, trees, shrubberies, fountains, monuments, statues, permanent buildings or other obstacles.” (2) Rideout Field (ca. 11 acres) was purchased in 1911 “to maintain as a public playground,” and a ca. 1/3-acre lot “on the easterly and southerly side of Conant Street” (currently with vehicle parking) was added in 1979 “for public playground purposes.” (3) South Meadow Playing Field was purchases in 1961 for the Town’s “Recreation Commission,” with adjacent land concurrently purchased for the Town’s “Conservation Commission” (Natural Resources Commission). A fourth area, Cousins Park (ca. 4 acres), was acquired in 1975 by the Town, “upon written request of the Natural Resources Commission, acting as a Conservation Commission,” “for open space and recreation purposes.”
The Concord Recreation Department has identified the demand for field- based activities as the highest priority, and in 2001 the Town Manager and Selectmen established a Playing Fields Study Committee with a charge to evaluate the status of all outdoor recreation fields in Town. The committee had a consultant assess the conditions of fields, considered whether existing fields would be able to meet the existing and planned demands of the organized sports program in the Town, and recommended appropriate steps that could be taken to improve usage of fields.
The Committee’s 2003 report identified a number of trends fueling an increased demand for outdoor playing fields in the Town. The report describes an 11% increase in the youth population of the Town using fields over the past 12 years (during a time when the overall Town population remained relatively steady and children aged 0-9 decreased). Second, there is an increase in the number of sports programs available in Town. Soccer and baseball continue to be extremely popular, while new sports programs, including lacrosse and flag football, are increasing in popularity. Finally there is a continued increase in participation in organized sports among girls and young women. Overall, nearly 2000 children and young adults participate in organized sports programs in Town, including town recreation programs, team leagues, and school-sponsored programs.
The study identified 18 baseball or softball diamonds and 21 multi-use soccer/lacrosse fields in Concord. They vary in condition from good to poor. The report outlines the need for best management practices to improve and maintain the conditions of the fields, including the need for periodic “rest” for fields during some seasons.
104 The playing fields study identifies an immediate need for four additional full size lacrosse/soccer fields and one additional 60-foot baseball diamond to meet existing demand. If demand continues to grow as projected, the report identifies a need for an additional 60-foot baseball diamond. A parcel (Ammendolia) near Bedford St. was acquired by the Town in 2004 and may provide two regulation ball fields to help fill the reported need. The report describes several options to add to the existing playing field resources:
• Reorientation and minor expansion of existing field facilities into adjacent town-owned areas • Reorientation and relocation of play equipment and court facilities to allow major field areas to be developed. • Expansion into adjacent Town-owned areas. • Consideration of constructing artificial-turf facilities which do not require “resting.” • Cooperation with neighboring communities to develop shared facilities. • Cooperation with Concord Academy and other institutions in Town to develop shared facilities. • Work with the Town planner to identify available parcels for purchase by the Town. The report urges the Town to play an active role in helping identify land for new outdoor playing fields. • Utilizing industrial parks and corporate headquarters lawn areas for field development.
Small informal playing fields, mainly for neighborhood use, are also a valuable recreation resource. Such areas provide additional opportunities for children who cannot participate in, or wish to have additional options to, the organized teams and activities requiring regulation ball fields. Examples might be a small site bordered by Chestnut St., Partridge La., and Authors Rd., a piece of the Harrington Farm field on Harrington Ave., Heywood Meadow, and other places known by residents in their neighborhoods. Moses, Crosby’s and Macone’s ponds for ice-skating and hockey and the Nashawtuc sledding hill are winter examples. Located within convenient walking or bicycling distance of homes, tiny neighborhood fields provide opportunities for spontaneous and multi- age recreation. They also reduce the need for vehicular travel and tight scheduling by families, and additionally could reduce pressure on the regulation ball fields. Convenient small informal playing fields provide places for neighbors to meet; in essence, they enhance neighborhoods.
New playing fields of course require resources for maintenance by the Concord Public Works Department. In many cases neighborhoods should be able to aid the process for small informal neighborhood fields.
b). Indoor swimming facility, playgrounds, and skate park. A non-profit community organization, C.C. Pools, Inc., has been formed to spearhead the development of an indoor swimming facility for Concord and Carlisle, to be located on the grounds of the Concord-Carlisle Regional High School. Building
105 on a generous bequest, the group is fundraising and overseeing the design and construction of the 32,000-square-foot pool complex. Ground was broken in 2004, and opening is scheduled for December 2005.
The 1992 Open Space Plan identified a need for enhanced playground facilities for young children in Concord. In 1995 and 1996, a volunteer-led community effort resulted in the construction of new wooden playground facilities on Town-owned playgrounds at Emerson Field in Concord Center and Rideout Field in West Concord. In addition, playground equipment has been upgraded at schools in Town, including new equipment in recent years at Willard and Thoreau schools.
The Concord-Carlisle Teen Alliance, Concord Police Department, Recreation Department, groups of parents and youth have worked together to identify a location and fund the creation of a skate park in Town. An approximately 10,000-square-foot park for skateboarding and inline skating at Concord-Carlisle Regional High School was completed in 2004.
3. Water-based outdoor recreation
Concord’s abundance of natural water resources allows residents and visitors alike to enjoy a variety of water-related recreational activities year-round. From swimming and kayaking to fishing and ice-skating, our outdoor experiences are enhanced enormously by Concord’s rivers, streams and ponds. Providing appropriate public access to our natural surface waters for water-based recreational activities should be a priority. These types of activities provide exercise without the structure of organized sports and reinforce a connection with the natural world that is often elusive in our modern lives.
C. Land Management Needs
1. Land and Habitat Management
Protected land, enjoyed every day by huge numbers of residents and visitors, remains arguably the most outstanding resource in Concord. Although users are overwhelmingly respectful of the land, with this usage inevitably there are continuous impacts to trails, pollutants entering streams and ponds, habitat degradation, and inadequate protection of sensitive species. Invasions by exotic plant species are degrading habitat in many areas. State regulations now partially protect wetlands and unbuilt areas near streams and rivers, which is especially critical in a town trisected by three rivers with numerous associated wetlands (see map, p. 43). Two major responsibilities of Concord’s Natural Resources Division are wetlands protection and management of the Town’s conservation lands. Considering the magnitude and importance of land and habitat management to the Town and its citizens, and the importance of support for it, a brief overview is useful.
106 Property boundaries tend to define open space parcels and recreation spaces. In contrast, natural resources, such as water and wildlife, readily move and are distributed across many properties, both private and public.
In addition to the 1300 acres of conservation land held by the Town, other government land and habitat managed for its natural values includes the: Minute Man National Park, 1200 acres; Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, 480 acres (Walden Pond Reservation); and Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, 250 acres (see map, p. 50). Harvard University owns over 678 acres in the Estabrook Woods, and the Concord Land Conservation Trust owns over 804 acres of land and has a total of over 1000 acres under its control. Substantial acreage held in private and non-profit ownerships, though not permanently protected, currently serves the functions of open space and contains significantly valuable natural habitats. Owners of these significant open space holdings include the Middlesex School, Musketaquid Gun Club, Concord Country Club, Fenn School, Nashoba Brooks School, and Concord Academy.
In addition,117 properties in Town have permanent state-listed conservation restrictions (CRs) (Appendix VIII), which prohibit development and may contain other limitations on land use. The great majority of these CRs are granted to the Town. Other properties have CRs for a limited term, which expire sequentially. Most CR properties have public access, though protecting the land is more important than providing access. However, CR land without public access should be monitored with extra care for compliance.
The state also enables properties to receive reduced local property taxes in exchange for maintaining the property in agriculture, forestry, or open space recreation (Appendix VIII). The town has a right of first refusal when a property is to be sold. In 2004, Concord has 7 properties with Chapter 61 designation for forestry; 72 properties with Chapter 61A designation for agriculture; and 31 properties with Chapter 61B designation for open space. Chapter 61 right-of- first-refusal cases are infrequent, but notices of such are likely to be promptly distributed to the Natural Resources Commission and many other interested parties. A system for effectively checking all properties with conservation restrictions and Chapter 61, 61A and 61B designations needs to be enhanced, in order to regularly confirm that the important conservation, open space and other conditions are being met. This is especially important for CRs which remain on the property as different owners come and go.
Managing land and natural habitats is a vital aspect of ownership responsibilities. The following paragraphs provide an overview of the different approaches to management presently occurring in Town. It is fortunate that Concord has an ongoing tradition of leaders who run a relatively open Town government, as well as a Concord Public Works department with a quite strong interest and record in environmental protection. Consequently, local boards and agencies generally communicate well and conflicts relative to open space and recreation are limited.
107 a). Town conservation land and its management. Land acquired under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 8C is deemed conservation land and permanently protected from development uses. Conservation land is granted a special status to be maintained in its natural condition in perpetuity and is under the care and control of the local Conservation Commission. In the Town of Concord, the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) is the ‘Conservation Commission.’
Town lands acquired for conservation and open space purposes since 1965 include over 1300 acres of varied habitats, including woodlands, meadows, steep hills, agricultural fields, drumlins, fresh water ponds (Warner’s Pond) and free running streams. Town conservation lands include Annursnac, Old Rifle Range, Punkatasset, Calf Pasture, Mattison Field, Town Forest and many important small areas (see map, p. 50). Guidance and oversight of management on town conservation land is the responsibility of the Natural Resources Administrator.
Management of Town conservation land is highly diverse, and almost always arises through collaborative endeavors. One exception is a summer conservation crew reporting to the Administrator, which helps maintain trails and fields, manage invasive terrestrial and aquatic species, maintain and erect trail signage, mow conservation fields, and maintain foot bridges, among other activities.
Citizens, including the Heywood Meadow Stewardship Committee and the Mill Brook Task Force, provide welcome but limited stewardship of conservation lands. These two NRC subcommittees conduct field days and participate in land management undertakings, including engaging consultants to develop master plans, implementing stream clean ups, and watershed-based tagging and monitoring of catch-basins.
Warner’s Pond is a valuable water asset under the care and control of the NRC. It has been the focus of recent attention, including hand pulling and mechanical harvesting of aquatic invasive species. Likewise, a significant cooperative effort in Fairhaven Bay was undertaken to remove water chestnut that may have invaded from upstream by Route 27 in Sudbury. The Concord Land Conservation Trust and the Town of Lincoln worked closely with Concord’s Natural Resources Division and Concord Public Works in this effort, made possible by the loan of an aquatic weed harvester from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A cooperative effort among the Towns of Concord and Carlisle, the land trusts in each town and Minute Man National Historical Park has brought a flock of sheep to area fields for several summers in another effort to control invasive vegetation. Many other management issues relative to special opportunities, abutting threats and so forth are embedded in the appropriate sections throughout this report.
In many instances staffing of management activities is done in conjunction with Concord’s Department of Public Works, notably its Parks and Trees 108 Division. Annual activities regularly undertaken with the Parks and Trees Division includes field mowing, invasive species management, trail maintenance, maintenance of water-related structures, including the Chamberlin Park footbridge and the stone headwalls at Punkatasset.
While Concord’s Natural Resources Division is fortunate to have such effective partners for conservation land management, the responsibilities and challenges seem to overwhelm the available resources. (Another major responsibility is the implementation of state statutes, especially the Wetlands Protection Act). Although the array of land-management issues and collaborations just outlined represents a challenge, the array is much broader. Issues involving beaver, deer, rare species, hunting, dogs, grassland birds, trails, ice-skating, fire, parties and more demand attention. Funds allocated for land and habitat management should be consistent with the amount spent on a per- acre basis by other conservation organizations, such as land trusts and government agencies. Resources need to be established at a continuing dependable level, commensurate with the magnitude and importance of open space to Concord and its residents.
Sufficient operating funds and staff time must be devoted to the management of Town-owned conservation land. Having acquired land for conservation, Concord has a responsibility to provide thoughtful stewardship for each parcel, determined by inventory and delineation of each property with a management plan in place to protect its values and enhance and define the visitor experience. Proper signage, parking and trail markers should be installed where appropriate to make our public lands accessible to all. Proper management of presently owned Town conservation land will help to build a constituency of thoughtful stewards and advocates for our land long into the future.
Furthermore, to enhance staff time and resources, a volunteer conservation restriction subcommittee reporting to the NRC should be appointed to review and monitor all conservation restrictions owned by the Town. This group should begin compiling information about existing conservation restrictions and meeting with landowners. b). Municipal, state, federal and private conservation land management. Man- agement of municipal lands (in contrast to conservation lands) is accomplished principally by the Concord Public Works (CPW) Parks and Trees Division, with oversight by the Natural Resources Administrator. The CPW cares for all of Concord’s public streets and ways, including maintenance of drainage facilities. It also cares for cemeteries and Town recreation lands such as Emerson Field and Playground.
Town lands also include land under the care and control of the Water and Sewer Division of CPW. All Town well sites fall within this category. Parcels that have been acquired and designated as well sites maintain special status and are principally preserved for water supply purposes. Water supply regulations 109 require land to be maintained in an undeveloped, natural condition. For instance, uses allowed on conservation lands, including agriculture and grazing of livestock are prohibited on Zone 1 water supply lands.
Concord has considerable land managed by federal and state agencies, each with different objectives and management priorities. Minute Man National Historical Park is managed by the U.S. National Park Service to preserve and protect a national historical treasure, to educate visitors and to provide appropriate recreation in a historic landscape. Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service primarily for protection of wildlife habitat, especially for migrating water birds, and passive recreation related to wildlife. Walden Pond State Reservation is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation primarily for protection of the pond and historic landscape, plus passive recreation related to them. MassPort manages Hanscom Field primarily for safe aircraft operations, which includes vegetation management and associated activities. The Massachusetts Correctional Institution and Northeastern Correctional Center are managed by the Department of Corrections primarily as a medium-security prison and a detention center, and include a considerable amount of farmland and other open land. Mass Highways of the Department of Transportation manages slivers of land by roads for present or potential transportation purposes. All of these lands are of open space importance.
Other than the Town, the largest landholder in Concord is the Concord Land Conservation Trust. This non-profit conservation organization has been a key catalyst for land conservation in Town since its establishment in 1959. CLCT employs a part-time land manager to manage its land holdings. Recent activities include deer management, water chestnut removal in Fairhaven Bay, and long- term mowing of fields to maintain valuable field habitat. Field edges are maintained, the spread of invasive species contained, trails mowed, and brush cleared. CLCT manages its lands both to preserve natural values and to offer opportunity for public access and enjoyment of its land holdings.
2. Practical Ways for All Landowners to Improve Land in Concord
To preserve and enhance open space, natural resources and recreation in Town, as well as address the primary environmental problems present and enhance stewardship and care of the resources in each neighborhood, an illustrative array of ideas follows. These are suggestions for individual residents on private land, for the Town in managing conservation and municipal land, for federal and state land agencies, and for organizations managing their lands. Additional printed recommendations are normally available at the Natural Resources and Public Works department offices on Keyes Rd. Ideas are grouped into four somewhat-overlapping categories: (A) species and habitats; (B) water; (C) materials; and (D) human activities.
110 a). Species and habitats 1. Learn to identify the plant communities, vernal pools, and other aquatic habitats in Town, and protect scarce ones. Loss of a scarce natural resource is an impoverishment of the Town’s rich resource base. 2. Do not remove plants or animals rare in Town (or in the state), and avoid damage to their habitat. Loss of individuals of a rare species may lead to its disappearance, and difficulty for its reestablishment in an ever-changing area. 3. Maintain small piles of brush and branches near yards or buildings as appropriate. Such brush piles provide useful cover for many wildlife species. However, do not place them in natural habitats which would alter natural ecosystem food webs. 4. Retain dead standing trees, dead branches on trees, and fallen logs so long as they do not pose hazards to safety or property damage. Dead wood provides important habitat for numerous species, including woodpeckers, flying squirrels, chickadees, wrens, and salamanders, as well as for beetles and other valuable insect foods for wildlife. 5. Plant only or mainly native species, and if non-native (exotic) species are used, rigorously avoid invasive species that spread into natural habitats. This helps protect native species in natural conservation areas against the invasions of exotic plants. Common buckthorn, Asiatic bittersweet, Norway maple, glossy buckthorn, Japanese barberry, Japanese knotweed, multiflora rose, purple loosestrife, winged euonymus, and shrub honeysuckles are among the prominent invasive exotic species in Concord. 6. Remove invasive species where permitted ( not within 100 ft. of a wetland) and appropriate, but in the process retain a relatively continuous vegetation cover for wildlife. 7. Work with local and regional nurseries to eliminate known invasive species from their inventories. This should reduce the number of such future plantings in yards. 8. Identify and protect dog-free natural areas. Wildlife tend to be inhibited by the presence and urine scent-marking of dogs. 9. On appropriate large open areas, use management approaches that enhance grassland birds and other open-country species. b). Water 1. Maintain a relatively wide strip of natural vegetation, especially woody cover, along streams, rivers, and ponds. This provides shade and branches/logs for fish and other aquatic organisms, and reduces erosion, sedimentation, and chemical substance inputs to maintain water quality. 2. Minimize the watering of lawns, gardens and outdoor plants. In Concord’s lush climate, lawns rarely require supplements to rain; even in droughts one soaking per week normally keeps a good green lawn. 3. Watering of lawns, gardens and outdoor plants should be done late in the day (if a noticeable fungus problem ever occurred, early morning watering may help, though excessive watering may be the cause). During the heat of the day in the growing season, much of the water is evapo-transpired, and hence wasted. 4. Private well-water use should be minimized. Most of Concord’s public water supply comes from rainfall and groundwater, the same source as most private well water. Removal of groundwater during dry periods may result in well water shortages and a premature drying out of streams and wetlands, with associated ecological degradation. Residents are in a groundwater “bathtub” together and are neighbors in a town together, so lawn-watering practices and restrictions that protect water supplies apply to neighbors with public or private water supply alike. 111 5. Learn where groundwater flows within and from a property, and where stormwater drains and pipes lead. These are key steps in decreasing impacts on aquatic ecosystems and fish. 6. Minimize the use of road salt on driveways and roads. This helps protect against contamination of groundwater, wells, vernal pools, and other surface water. 7. Minimize the use of sand on driveways and roads. Some is washed through pipes or directly into streams, which alters stream-flows and smoothes out stream bottoms, thus reducing habitat for fish, valuable aquatic insects and plants. 8. Disconnect roads from water bodies such as streams and ponds where appropriate. Instead of having water flows carried directly and rapidly from road to stream- or pond-side, causing many negative hydrological and ecological effects, break up the route so that water percolates as much as possible into the ground. c). Materials 1. Avoid or minimize the use of fertilizers containing phosphorus or nitrogen. These elements tend to infiltrate through groundwater or wash directly into streams and ponds, causing eutrophication blooms of algae with disruptions of natural food webs and fish populations. 2. Avoid or minimize the use of insecticides and other pesticides. Almost all insects, including grubs, ants, and larvae perform important ecological roles in both natural and lawn/garden ecosystems. 3. Prevent hazardous wastes, including gasoline, oil, paints, stains and chlorine, from reaching the soil and water. They are toxic to native organisms and may move in the groundwater to wells and drinking water, as well as to aquatic ecosystems with fish. 4. Take steps to reduce incoming junk mail, bags and packaging material. This means there is less to be hauled away and less reaches the Town’s roadsides, streams and natural ecosystems. 5. List all outputs, e.g., solid waste, chemicals, noise, light and vehicles, from a property or business, and attempt to reduce each. This should lessen effects on neighbors, the community, and surrounding natural ecosystems. 6. Mulch or leave grass clippings on lawn and, where appropriate, recycle leaves and branches on site and compost vegetable scraps. This provides mulch or fertilizer for gardens, enhances soil, benefits wildlife, and reduces costs to the Town. d). Human activities 1. Do not remove or loosen historical or archaeological objects, e.g., from a stonewall or cellar hole on conservation land. These represent Concord’s heritage over generations and are often of historical and scientific interest. 2. Identify and mark some trails that are appropriate, and inappropriate, for mountain biking and/or equestrian use. Also mark walking trails to avoid especially sensitive natural areas. This should reduce soil erosion and damage to natural vegetation. 3. Walk or bicycle for short trips (typical ½-mile walk = 10 minutes; typical bike ride 1 mile = 6 min.; brisk walk 1 mile = 15 min). This decreases vehicle noise and other outputs, benefiting both water and wildlife. 4. Acquire and use small fuel-efficient vehicles within Town. This reduces noise, emissions, road deterioration and chemical pollution, and can reduce the area of driveways and parking lots required, as well as benefiting water and wildlife. 5. Reduce the area of mowed lawn and the frequency of mowing. This will decrease the amount of gasoline, oil and emissions. It also reduces noise, both the deafening and the incessant background types. Electric and rechargeable battery mowers produce minimal noise and local air pollution.
112 6. Rake leaves; leaf blowers are significant polluters of both hydrocarbon emissions and noise. Raking provides some exercise and nature appreciation. 7. Establish a diversity of flowers and plants in lawns and gardens by reducing the use of water, fertilizer and pesticide, and by mowing, mulching, weeding and trimming to favor a richness of native plants. This should reduce costs. It helps protect groundwater, streams and ponds. And a big reward will be the increase in butterflies, pollinators, birds and other wildlife. 8. Mainly use reasonable-size, nimble fire trucks in Town, so over time many streets and intersections can become smaller. These are safer for children, the elderly and walkers, and have less hard surface and reduced stormwater runoff impacts. 9. Learn how the Town works: the intriguing wastewater treatment facility; the Wheelabrator Waste-to-Energy Incinerator, where trash is taken for disposal; the original water-storage reservoir atop Nashawtuc Hill and the present water-storage location atop Pine Hill; the power substation, where electricity is captured and brought to a residence or business; a recycling facility, to learn what happens to materials after leaving the street curb. Knowledge of the processes involved should lead to resource conservation and less impact on the neighborhoods of Concord.
Section 8: SPECIFIC GOALS
A. The Primary Goals
Based on the material presented in Sections 1-6 and synthesizing and expanding the general objectives and needs outlined in Sections 7-8, fifteen specific goals emerge as central for Concord’s open space and recreation planning:
1. Incorporate the Open Space and Recreation Plan in Town and community decision-making. 2. Think regionally and work collaboratively with towns in Concord’s region. 3. Protect Concord’s large natural areas. 4. Protect Concord’s large agricultural areas and farming. 5. Protect major wildlife and water-protection corridors. 6. Strengthen neighborhoods in Town. 7. Manage water-related issues to protect the Town’s groundwater and surface water. 8. Protect and monitor Concord’s streams, rivers, ponds and wetlands. 9. Monitor wildlife and biodiversity and protect key habitats. 10. Reduce the major impacts of Route 2. 11. Meet intensive-use recreational needs consistent with Concord’s open space framework. 12. Solidify the local/regional trail network for transportation and nature-based recreation. 13. Provide handicap access to open space resources. 14. Manage all land in Town consistent with open space objectives. 15. Secure funding and partner with other entities for open-space land protection.
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