Town of Easton Massachusetts Conservation Commission
Open Space and Recreation Plan
Prepared by Old Colony Planning Council April, 2008
Town of Easton Massachusetts Conservation Commission
Open Space and Recreation Plan
Old Colony Planning Council April 2008
This report was prepared under contract with the Town of Easton by the Old Colony Planning Council under the supervision of Executive Director Pasquale Ciaramella by the following members of OCPC staff:
Bruce G. Hughes EDP, Economic Development Specialist/Community Development Planner: Report writing Susan J. McGrath, GIS Coordinator: Town Census Tract map
This 2008 Easton Open Space and Recreation Plan was prepared with the participation of members and staff of the Easton Conservation and Recreation Commissions with review by the Easton Department of Planning and Community Development. Maps by Old Colony Planning Council and the Easton Department of Public Works.
Conservation Commission Patricia Haederle, Chairman Dr. Kyla Bennett, Vice Chairman John E. Grant Jonathan Chase Michael A. Ganshirt
Recreation Commission Michael McDonald, Chairman Tana Babbitt Leonard Cidado Charles Hammond Elizabeth Nikiciuk
Recreation Staff Jennifer Hruniak, Recreation Director Anne Daley, Program Director
Department of Public Works Wayne P. Southworth, DPW Director Adrienne M. Edwards, GIS/CAD Specialist
Department of Planning and Community Development Marc R. Rousseau AICP, Planning Director Alice Savage, Staff Planner Stephanie Danielson, Land Use Agent Pamela Almeida, Principal Clerk
Old Colony Planning Council Bruce G. Hughes EDP, Economic Development Specialist/Community Development Planner Susan J. McGrath, GIS Coordinator
Cover Photos: Top to bottom, left to right Meadowbrook, Unionville Playground, Yardley Rink, Wheaton Farm, Sheep Pasture, Thomas Truman Farm
Table of Contents
Page
I Plan Summary 1
II Introduction 4 A. Statement of Purpose 4 B. Planning Process, Public Participation and Recent Progress 4
III. Community Setting 8 A. Regional Context 8 B. History of the Community 9 C. Population Characteristics 10 D. Growth and Development Patterns 16
IV. Environmental Inventory and Analysis 26 A. Geology, Soils and Topography 26 B. Landscape Character 29 C. Water Resources 31 D. Vegetation 33 E. Fisheries and Wildlife 37 F. Scenic Resources and Unique Environments 43 G. Environmental Problems 49
V. Inventory of Lands of Conservation/Recreation Interest Open Space Protected by Fee Ownership 53 A. Commonwealth of Massachusetts 53 B. Town of Easton 55 Open Space Protected by Less than Fee Ownership 67 A. Conservation Restrictions held by the Conservation Commission 67 B. Conservation Restrictions by Natural Resources Trust of Easton 67 Partially Protected Lands Held for Other Purposes 67 A. Town of Easton Water Dept. 67 B. Miscellaneous Town Properties 67 C. Town –owned Water Areas 68 D. Land under Chapter 61 – Forestry 68 E. Land under Chapter 61a – Agriculture 68 F. Land under Chapter 61b – Recreation 69
Recreation and Athletic Facilities 69 A. Easton School Department 69 B. Southeastern Regional Voc-Tech School 70 C. Town-owned Recreation Facilities 71 D.. Quasi-Public Facilities 72 E. Private Recreation Facilities 72
F. Privately Owned Water Areas 73 G List of Outdoor Recreational Facilities in Easton 75 Unprotected Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest 76 A. Wheaton Farm-Hockomock Swamp Greenbelt, West of Foundry St. 76 B. Wheaton Farm-Hockomock Swamp Greenbelt, East of Bay Road 77 South of Prospect St., and West of Howard St. C. Mulberry Brook Headquarters 77 D. Poquantitcut Brook/Borderland State Park Greenbelt 78 E. The Black Brook Greenbelt 80 F. Unionville/Stonehill College/North Easton 83 G. Eastondale 83 Miscellaneous 84
VI. Community Goals 86
VII. Analysis of Needs 88 A. Conservation Needs 88 B. Recreation Needs 90 C. Access/ADA Compliance 97
VIII. Goals and Objectives 99
IX. Five Year Action Plan 102
X. Public Comments 110
XI. References 113
Appendix A Summary of Recreation Playing Field Usage/Needs Appendix B Section 504 Self-Evaluation Appendix C Letter from Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Appendix D Recreation Summit Notes Appendix E Analysis of Needs Questionnaire
List of Maps Areas of Critical Environmental Concern 7 Census Tracts 15 Zoning 25 Soil Limitations for Septic Systems 28 Water Resources 34 Priority and Estimated Habitats 40 BioMap & Living Waters 41 Vernal Pools & Primary Forest 42 Special Landscape Features Follows Page 48 Open Space Map Follows Page 85 Open Space Plan Map Follows Page 109
EASTON OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION PLAN
SECTION 1 - Plan Summary
The following plan updates the 2001 Easton Open Space and Recreation Plan and draws upon past work by the Conservation Commission and Old Colony Planning Council. The current plan reviews the influences on the town’s growth, outlines a vision for future town character, describes present and potential lands of open space and conservation interest and recreation facilities and needs; establishes goals and objectives and offers a five-year action program. The program recommends acquisition or protection of major resources and means of connecting such existing and proposed holdings. The plan also outlines other educational, financial, regulatory and planning activities needed to ensure program effectiveness and long run continued efforts.
The overall recommendation is to take a range of actions to maintain Easton’s semi- rural character, to protect major scenic landscapes, valuable wildlife habitat, and water resources; to provide varied open spaces in or near every neighborhood; to preserve the agricultural heritage of the town, to provide access to conservation-recreational facilities and to meet recreational needs of a diverse population. In particular, the town wants to make best use of its stream system. As the Natural Resources Trust of Easton has noted: “If all brooks in Easton and their wetlands are protected, along with adjacent uplands wherever that is possible, all homes in Easton will have protected open space nearby, birds and other wildlife will have corridors of protected land through which they can safely move, a variety of natural habitat types will be available to help maintain wildlife diversity, and a system of hiking trails can be established through the town.” These ideas are further explored in Section 6, Community Goals.
The major recommendations of this plan are:
1. Continue to work on acquiring parcels within the north-south Poquanticut Brook/Mulberry Brook Open Space Corridor or Greenbelt segments through the growing western portion of the town from Wheaton Farm to Borderland State Park. (Goal 1)
2. Continue working on acquiring parcels within the east-west Greenbelt from Wheaton Farm to the Hockomock Swamp. (Goal 1)
3. Continue working on acquiring parcels within the north-south Greenbelt through the central portion of the town from Flyaway Pond to the Hockomock Swamp. (Goal 1)
4. Acquisition/protection of open space to give each developed or developing section of Easton an “open space setting” through proximity to a sizable varied area of fields, woods and wetlands. (Goal 1)
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 1 5. Selection, acquisition/protection of a range of smaller properties meeting local open space needs, or protecting particular resources or present holdings. (Goal 1)
6. Identify land requirements for the creation of additional team sports fields as needed and work on acquisition of suitable and appropriately-sited land for field construction. (Goal 4)
Major Acquisitions:
1. The town should explore exercising the option it has to purchase twenty-three acres of land adjacent to Militia Park, part of the Friends Crossing condominiums, which are available for purchase for $1.00. The town’s baseball league now plays at Militia Field, near this site. Badly needed baseball and softball fields could be developed on this property. (Goal 4)
2. Marshall Farm - habitat preservation, passive recreation, athletic fields (Goals 1-4)
3. Clover Valley Farm – habitat preservation, passive recreation. (Goals 1-4)
4. The Howard Farm – conservation, recreation and historical value (Goals 1-4)
5. Property located west of Washington Street and north of Main Street – habitat preservation, passive recreation, and athletic fields. (Goals 1-4)
6. The Gill Property – habitat preservation, active and passive recreation (Goals 1- 4)
7. The town should look to acquire a large piece of land, which may be any of the properties listed above, or another suitable tract of land, to site athletic fields that would free the town from dependence on using fields at Southeastern Vo- Tech and privately held parcels. (Goal 4)
8. The town is exploring the purchase of the privately-owned Frothingham Memorial Hall on Barrows Street. It has 5,400 square feet, along with a 1,500 square foot finished basement and about 20 parking spaces. The town has long needed adequate space to house the Recreation Department. It could be used as a home for the Recreation Department and Council on Aging. (Goal 4) update: completed
9. Land on Washington Street, south of Marshall Lane, east of Washington Street, a. the Lomer property – active and passive recreation (Goals 1-4)
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Site Improvements:
1. A short history of individual pieces of conservation land and their important values should be included on the signs identifying conservation land. The pamphlet with maps of all conservation land owned by the Town and that discusses the history of the parcels should be updated. This pamphlet should indicate what type of public use is allowable and should locate the public access points. This pamphlet will help promote a broader appreciation and awareness among Easton’s citizens of the extensive open space network that exists within the town. (Goal 1)
Recreation Facility Improvements and Additions:
1. Improvements to all facilities to address Safety and Accessibility concerns as detailed in the Section 504 Self-Evaluation and concerns of the Easton Commission on Disabilities. (Goal 4)
2. Acquisition of land for much needed town-owned athletic fields. (Goal 4)
3. Construction of a new track at the high school. (Goal 4)
4. Existing and new town-owned athletic facilities should be improved and maintained. (Goal 4)
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SECTION II - Introduction
A. Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this updated Easton Open Space and Recreation Plan is to evaluate the town’s present open space holdings, to examine its resources, and to establish a long term vision for the town and then to establish goals and objectives and to recommend an action program in order to preserve the best of the town’s spaces, to retain significant landscape or recreational resources, and to facilitate a continuing process involving municipal, regional, and non-profit organizations and private individuals. More broadly the purpose is to build on the town’s progress directed by the 2001 Easton Open Space and Recreation Plan and to maximize the town’s eligibility for state and federal assistance.
B. Planning Process, Public Participation and Recent Progress
The plan is an update of the 2001 Open Space and Recreation Plan. It has been prepared by the Conservation Commission in cooperation with the town’s Recreation Commission, the Planning and Zoning Boards, the Department of Public Works, the Easton Natural Resources Trust, the Easton Commission on Disabilities and the Historical Commission. An Analysis of Needs questionnaire was given to attendees of the town Recreation Summit held in July 2007 as well as attendees of an Easton Chamber of Commerce meeting in Fall, 2007. The replies received helped in the preparation of this report.
The town’s citizens have long been supportive of Easton’s open space acquisition and environmental protection, leading to considerable public participation in the planning process and related natural resource protection activities. Since the first plan in 1972, Easton has made steady progress in effecting the original Goals and Objectives. The implementation of the Plan has been steady with most public participation occurring during board or committee meetings.
A range of specialized community groups and regional organizations have taken additional actions. Significant examples are the Areas of Critical Environmental Concern and the Sole Source Aquifer designations pursued by groups such as the Canoe River Aquifer Advisory Committee.
The most notable of these achievements are the designation of two multi-community Areas of Critical Environmental Concern; the Hockomock Swamp designated in 1990 and the Canoe River Aquifer designated in 1992; the establishment of the Canoe River Aquifer Advisory Committee (CRAAC) by State Legislature in 1987; and the 1993 designation of the Canoe River Aquifer as a Sole Source Aquifer under the Committee’s leadership. These nominations received formal review from the Commonwealth including on-site visits, research, public hearing notifications, public hearings, written comment periods and notification to abutting cities and towns. The ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 4 Canoe River ACEC was subsequently expanded in 1991 to include the downstream Lake Sabbatia /Watson Pond area in Taunton. The two ACEC’s comprise 8,960 acres in Easton.
The ACEC designation triggers lower thresholds for environmental impact reviews by the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Act (MEPA) Unit under the Secretary of Environmental Affairs and establishes higher standards for these reviews, thereby increasing the level of protection in these areas.
The Easton Historical Commission was instrumental in researching and affecting designation of the North Easton National Historic District and the more recent Furnace Village National Historic District. The North Easton District is the second largest in the nation. It contains five H.H. Richardson buildings, several F. L. Olmsted landscapes, and all of the physical elements of a 19th century industrial village. These are discussed in Section IV-F-3.
The Natural Resources Trust of Easton, Inc. is a private conservation group with a membership of 600 families. This organization has participated in developing Easton’s conservation and recreation plans since 1968. Beyond the planning stage, they have helped in the implementation of the plan by acquiring land. The extensive land acquisitions by the town, the Easton Natural Resources Trust and the state are described in Section V, the Inventory of Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest.
In April 2001, Easton adopted the Community Preservation Act. The Easton Community Preservation (CPA) Committee is established and functioning. In Fiscal 2006, with CPA funding, the town acquired a 40-acre parcel of land located on Dean Street for $1.375 million. This parcel is located entirely within the Hockomock Swamp area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), is adjacent to Wheaton Farm, and is surrounded on three sides by town-owned land. This parcel serves as a critical link in the “green” corridor that runs from the Hockamock Swamp to Wheaton Farm and onto Borderland State Park.
The CPA Committee has been working with the Recreation Commission on a plan to create new playing fields. The CPA Committee approved the request of the Recreation Commission for up to $25,000 in CPA funds to review the possibility of creating new playing fields at the Foundry Street site the Town acquired several years ago for playing field development. The results of the study were reviewed by the Recreation Commission and they determined that this site is not conductive for recreation field placement. The CPA Committee continues to work with the Recreation Commission toward the creation of additional town playing fields.
Summary of Actions Taken to Implement Recommendations of the 2001 Easton Open Space and Recreation Plan:
• Parcels have been acquired to implement the town’s greenbelt plan.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 5 • The Easton section of the Bay Circuit Trail has opened.
• The Community Preservation Act Committee is working to address the need for increased conservation and recreation lands.
Map of Areas of Critical Environmental Concerns follows.
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______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 7 SECTION III – Community Setting
A. Regional Context
Easton is a residential and agricultural town of 18,842 acres or 29.44 square miles located approximately twenty-five miles southwest of Boston and adjacent to the City of Brockton. In addition to Brockton, the towns of Sharon, Stoughton, West Bridgewater, Raynham, Norton and Mansfield and the City of Taunton border it.
Though originally a self-contained agricultural and manufacturing center, Easton has evolved largely into an upper income suburb with new residents generally coming from the Brockton area and from metropolitan Boston. Its location close to Route 24 encourages such growth of a Boston or Route 128 oriented population.
The town’s attractive setting and good regional accessibility are reflected in its relatively affluent population. Its long history of support for open space, environmental protection and historical preservation activities strengthen this character and continue to attract like-minded residents. (See discussion of population characteristics under C. below).
In addition Easton is within the Bay Circuit Greenbelt. The Bay Circuit Greenbelt was first proposed by the Secretary of Trustees of Reservations, Charles W. Eliot III, (later Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design) in the late 1950s. The concept is a wide, varied greenbelt extending from Crane’s Beach in Ipswich on the North Shore to Duxbury Beach on the South Shore and following a wide arc, roughly between the current Rtes. 128 and 495. The Circuit was to be a region-defining greenbelt in the British tradition, clearly demarcating the edge of the metropolitan area, offering a wide variety of connected landscapes, reservations, and recreation areas, and possibly traversing them with a parkway. Thus it complemented the Metropolitan Parks System conceived by Professor Eliot’s uncle and namesake, and operated by the Metropolitan District Commission.
Professor Eliot’s advocacy led the Legislature to enact the system, in Chapter 631 of Acts of 1956. This designated 50 Bay Circuit Communities and enabled them to plan and implement “a system of privately and publicly owned open spaces, including parks, forests, reservoirs and wildlife preserves, scenic and historic sites and other properties and reservations surrounding metropolitan Boston…” but appropriated no money. In 1984, the General Court appropriated funds for Bay Circuit Open Space Planning but it earmarked no money for acquisition.
The 1986-1988 local Bay Circuit Open Space plans identified opportunities to affect the Circuit on a town-by-town basis, generally at a smaller scale than the original concept. The resulting plans proposed many areas for protection and suggested ways of linking them, commonly along rivers or other linear elements. Easton had recently completed its 1982 plan and did not prepare a Bay Circuit Open Space Plan. More recently a citizens group, the Bay Circuit Alliance headed by Alan French of Andover, has ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 8 continued the process by staging an annual Bay Circuit Trek to hike, paddle, bike or ride the emerging circuit, and to work with local officials on completing the system.
To get a connection through Easton the Alliance proposed a west-east route across the top of the town linking Borderland State Park, the Picker Field area and other holdings and then running south along the unused railroad right-of-way to the Hockomock Swamp and then east on to West Bridgewater. This is a valuable concept but the town’s present proposals allow a much more extensive Circuit segment in character with the original concept. This would go from Borderland State Park to the Wheaton Farm via the proposed north-south Poquanticut Greenbelt, and then to the Hockomock Swamp Greenbelt.
On Saturday, September 8, 2007 the Easton Bay Circuit Committee and Bay Circuit Alliance, Inc. celebrated the opening of the Easton section of the Bay Circuit Trail and Greenway. The eleven-mile pedestrian recreational trail runs from Borderland State Park in Sharon to West Bridgewater and connects many beautiful and historic properties in town.
B. History of the Community
Easton’s heritage begins long before the Europeans came to America. It was the northern border of the range of the Wampanoag Indians. The Bay Road Indian Trail, the main route between Rhode Island and Boston, passed directly through the town and was the main connection between Narragansett Bay and Massachusetts Bay. Some time after the King Phillip’s War ended in 1676, Easton attracted its first English settlers. They came for the waterpower that the three main streams offered, as well as the bog iron and farming land in the southern part of town. Easton was incorporated in 1725.
The “Furnace Village” area in the southern portion of town began Easton’s iron heritage prior to the Revolutionary War and was named for the iron furnaces of the area. Cannons for George Washington’s army were cast at Perry’s Furnace. Even today, the remains of charcoal pits can still be seen. In addition musket parts were made at Quaker Leonard’s Forge in North Easton.
Early in the 19th century, Easton was changed by the establishment of the Ames shovel business in North Easton. This prospered and by the end of the century it was the largest in the world. Production has since been consolidated in the firm’s later plants in the southeastern United States. Much of the Easton plant remains with a portion of it converted to the Shovel Shop Market Place. North Easton remains the town’s most densely developed residential area and contains its traditional civic center featuring a historic district with many significant buildings.
The third generation of the Ames family, particularly Frederick Lothrop Ames, gifted the town with many architecturally significant buildings by hiring Henry Hobson Richardson to build the Town Hall, the library, the railroad station, the Gate Lodge, and
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 9 the Gardener’s Cottage. Ames also retained the noted landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead, to landscape many North Easton properties.
Six of Easton’s first seven families settled in South Easton in the 1690’s. Those claiming land in this area were William Hayward, the original owner of Simpson Spring, William Manley, and John Phillips, who was the first owner of the Morse Pond Area. To the east of this area was the land claimed by Clements Briggs, the first European man to settle in Easton, and Thomas Randall, Sr. The sixth owner, Thomas Drake, settled east of John Phillip’s property. Therefore, Settlers’ Pond is near the middle of the land developed in 1694 and 1695 by Easton’s first owners.
Over time, South Easton grew into a major industrial area as the foundries were joined by firms including the Ross Heel Company, the J. O. Dean Mill, whose turbine Henry Ford purchased for his model 19th century village; the Easton Machine Company, maker of the Morse automobile; and the continuing Simpson Springs beverage plant.
During the 20th century, Easton evolved into a bedroom community. Commercial and industrial growth has spread and become more highway oriented as discussed below in Section D. Growth and Development Patterns. Throughout this period much of Easton’s prevailing historic atmosphere has been preserved and there are several National Register Historic Districts.
This character and the town’s relative proximity to Boston have kept it a desirable area in which to settle. New housing has been developed in former agricultural areas outside of the original centers with some multi-family development along major roads in the eastern portion of the town. Located in the northeast corner is Borderland State Park. The southeast corner which contains the largely state-owned Hockomock Swamp remains largely undeveloped.
C. Population Characteristics
The U.S. Census reports the town population at 22,299 in 2000.The U.S. Census estimated it at 23,031 on July 1, 2006. The first table below shows the town’s growth since 1960. It indicates that Easton’s absolute and proportional rate of growth has dropped considerably since 1980.The second table below shows the growth projections by the Old Colony Planning Council (OCPC). It shows continued growth at a declining rate.
Easton Population Trends (1960-2000)
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 Population 9,078 12,157 16,623 19,807 22,299 % Change N/A +33.9% +36.7% +19.1% +12.6%
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 10 OCPC Population Projections for Easton (2010-2025)
2010 2020 2025 Projection 22,299 25,576 28,461 % Change +14.69% +11.28% +5.06%
(+) Source: Community Information and Data, OCPC, 2006.
The above projections reflect a population growing by 34.10% from the 1990 population to 2025. The projections assume that Easton is going to continue to grow, but at a slower rate than in the last few decades.
In contrast to these projections, the Easton Town Planner using year 2000 Vacant Land Inventory information obtained from the Easton Assessor’s Office calculated a potential for 1,830 more housing units assuming the present zoning and no public sewers. However, detailed site analysis, particularly in wetlands, may lead to significant reductions in final approvable development. Similarly, the actual near-term developability of any parcels which lack direct road frontage will depend on the ability of owners to gain needed access through joint projects or land exchanges/sales.
The 2000 population of 22,299 individuals over the town’s 29.44 square miles gives an overall density of 784.1 persons per square mile, or slightly over one person per acre. Since much of the town is still open its developed neighborhoods have densities of 1 to 5 housing units/acre. With the large lots required for new development, densities of typical neighborhoods are dropping as is discussed under Section III-D, Growth and Development Patterns, and Section VII, Analysis of Needs.
Using Census data to identify possible patterns of need for open space and recreation facilities requires reviewing this data town-wide and on a neighborhood basis. Easton is divided into three U. S. Census tracts as shown on the following map:
Tract 6001 comprises most of North Easton Tract 6002.02 includes most of South Easton Tract 6002.01 covers the western portions of the town
The following table shows the population breakdown of each tract by age and sex.
Year 2000 Population Characteristics by Tract 6001 (NE) Tract 6002.01 (WE) Tract 6002.02 (SE) Tract Age Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female
0-4 458 209 249 723 366 357 276 149 127 5-17 1,311 682 629 1,995 1,044 951 686 358 328 18-24 435 233 202 532 281 251 313 160 153 25-44 1,960 967 993 2,808 1,317 1,491 1,614 806 808 45-64 1,738 858 880 2,409 1,190 1,219 1,257 579 678 65+ 869 358 511 514 251 514 591 256 335 Totals 6,771 3,307 3,464 8,981 4,449 4,855 4,737 2,308 2,429 % Town 33.04% 43.83% 23.11% ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 11
Tract Population by Percentage
6001 (NE) 6002.01 (WE) 6002.02 (SE) Tract Tract Tract Age Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female
0-4 6.8% 3.1% 3.7% 8.1% 4.1% 4.0% 6.7% 3.1% 2.7% 5-17 19.4% 10.1% 9.3% 22.2% 11.6% 10.6% 14.4% 7.6% 6.9% 18-24 6.4% 3.4% 3.0% 10.2% 3.1% 2.8% 9.6% 3.4% 3.2% 25-44 28.9% 14.3% 14.3% 36.5% 14.7% 16.6% 39.0% 17.0% 17.1% 45-64 25.7% 12.7% 13.0% 19.2% 13.3% 13.6% 21.2% 12.2% 14.3% 65+ 12.8% 5.3% 7.5% 3.8% 2.8% 5.7% 9.1% 5.4% 7.1% Totals 100.0% 48.9% 50.8% 100.0% 49.6% 51.4% 100.0% 48.7% 51.3%
As can be seen, North Easton has the largest proportion of persons over 65 (12.8% and the smallest proportion under 18 (13.2%) while the growing western part of the town has the greatest concentration of youth (30.3% and the fewest elderly (3.8%). These patterns suggest that the greatest need for youth-oriented facilities will be in the outlying western, northeastern and eastern portions of the town, while the greatest need for facilities/programs for the elderly will be in the central area of the town around North Easton and South Easton.
One preliminary implication of these data is that the tracts with 20% to 30% of the population under 18 years of age will be found to need more recreation space and facilities in the last 15 years. Other implications reflecting the present distribution of resources will be discussed under the Analysis of Needs.
Housing and Income data can also suggest needs. The total number of housing units in Easton in the year 2000 was 7,631 based on U.S. Census figures. Of these 7,731 units, 142 were vacant. Of the remaining 7,489 occupied housing units, 5,575 were owner- occupied and 1,914 or 25.55% of the total were renter occupied. With a substantial number of rental units densely located on smaller parcels throughout the town, Easton has an interesting challenge to meet the diverse recreational needs of that particular constituency. Of the total family households in 2000 (5,575), 2,803 households or 50% have children under 18 years of age. This also creates a need for diverse open space/recreational activities for the youth of the community.
Income and employment data can also suggest needs. The total number of Easton citizens who were employed in 2000 was 12,403, 67% of the population 16 years old and older. This included 77% of the women over 16 (50.25% of the total workers) and 85% of the men over 16 (49.75% of the total workers). Thus women make up over half of those working and many households have two or more workers.
Income and employment data can also suggest needs. Average employment in Easton in 2007 was 9,669. Services provided the most jobs with 2,418 jobs. Trade was the next largest sector with 1,898 jobs, followed by Construction with 1,093 jobs and manufacturing with 878 jobs.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 12 Like age distribution, household incomes vary between different sections of the town. The table below shows the total number of households per track, the percentage of total households with less than and more than $150,000 household income and the number of low-income households. The last are defined as those making less than 80% of the 2000 median Easton household income of $69,144. While 80% of $69,144 is $55,315, the table uses the readily available figure for households under $49,999 thereby slightly understating the low-income population.
Easton Household Income Statistics by Tract -2000
Tract Tract 6002.01 Tract 6002.02 6001 Total number of households by tract 2,564 2,942 1,998 Median Household Income $63,036 $86,989 $56,996 Median Family Income $76,810 $92,297 $68,125 % of total households: < $150,000 household income 88.1% 84.8% 93.3% > $150,000 household income 11.9% 15.2% 6.7% Number of Households < $55,315 923 674 780 Source: 2000 U.S. Census
The North Easton tract (Tract 6001) has the greatest number of low-income households. In contrast the western part of the town has the highest overall mean income, and the highest median income of the three tracts. Overall Easton is a strong middle-upper income town with sizable pockets of considerable wealth and a tradition of civic generosity. However, the presence of at least 2,377 low-income households requires considering their probable limited mobility and scarce discretionary income when making program recommendations.
In all, the comparison of town-wide versus neighborhood patterns suggests the need for facilities serving the elderly or low-income population will be greatest in North Easton, while facilities for youth and young families will be most needed in the western portion of the town. However these differences are moderate. Recommendations will be made after examining the supply and distribution of holdings/facilities, analyzing remaining needs and noting any unique opportunities in particular areas.
Another consideration in open space and recreation planning is the possible varying interests or needs of different ethnic or cultural groups. Easton’s population is becoming more diverse as shown by the table below. The total non-white population remains small (7.3% of the town) but its 64.7% growth in the decade is notable. This growth may be understated since the number of young minority group members is observed to be under-reported.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 13 Easton’s Population by Race 1990-2000
Year Total White Black Amer. Ind. Asian/P.I. Other 1990 19,807 19,192 337 21 197 60 2000 22,299 20,671 418 56 372 782* %Chg. +12.6% +6.8% +5.0% +47.6% +57.9% +153.3% * 352 (45%) of the 782 are classified as Hispanic or Latino Source: U. S. Census , 1990,2000
Census Tract map follows
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D. Growth and Development Patterns
Patterns and Trends
The town’s primary land use is residential and the greatest proportion of this is in detached single-family homes. While much housing is built along existing roads as “subdivision approval not required” or “Form A” lots, an increasing amount is in new subdivisions. The Form A lots make use of existing roads and hence have less impact on drainage or road maintenance costs than new subdivisions. However they wall off the remaining landscape, converting the view from the road to a view of houses, and costing the town much of its rural character. Subdivisions consume more land but can have less visual impact. Cluster subdivisions can reduce road construction and leave more common land, but require well-crafted bylaws and effective review.
Building Permits by Year
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 73 110 81 81 78 56 Source: U.S. Census
All of these were single-family homes. No building permits for multi-family housing were issued in this period.
Easton has one industrial park. It is 150 acres in size and has 52 firms located in it. Major employers in Easton include Stonehill College, Pharmasol, Shaw Glass, Shaw’s Supermarket, Roche Bros Supermarket, Hannaford Supermarket, Target and TJ Maxx. Easton has attracted some major commercial development in recent years. Two recent large commercial developments are the Roche Brothers Village, a shopping center on Washington Street Route 138 in the northerly part of town. It is anchored by a Roche Brothers Supermarket and a CVS pharmacy. It has 101,341 square feet of building space and 539 parking spaces. The Highlands Plaza is located at the intersection of Routes 106 and 123. This shopping center is anchored by Target, a Hannaford Supermarket and a TJ Maxx. It has 297,395 square feet of building space and has 724 parking spaces. These developments have provided expanded employment opportunities for town residents. They have also increased the commercial tax base of the town. At the same time, care needs to be given to preserving the “small town” characteristics that make Easton attractive to its residents and newcomers alike.
The population of Easton as of the year 2000 was 22,299. Recent population projections by the Old Colony Planning Council suggest growth from the 22,299 in 2000 to 29,903 by 2025. At the present average household size of 2.974 persons this growth would require 2,355 acres of land if accommodated in new single-family detached houses under current zoning.
Long-term prospects are suggested by the Buildout Analysis for the Town of Easton done in the year 2000 as part of the Community Preservation Initiative by the state ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 16 Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. This study found a Net Buildable Area of 4,897.2 acres that could accommodate 16,211 new residents. Added to the year 2000 population of 22,299 this gives a total population at full build-out of 38,510.
1. Infrastructure
Transportation System
The Town of Easton is served by three secondary State Highways; Routes 138, 123 and 106. Route 24 is within a mile in Brockton via Route 123 (Belmont Street) or West Bridgewater via Route 106. Route 24 gives access to Boston and the Route 128 communities via Routes 128 and 95. The outer circumferential highway, Route 495, is one and a quarter miles from the Easton town line in Norton via Route 123 (Foundry Street). Route 95 is within 5 miles in the town of Mansfield to the west via Route 106 and via Route 495.
The state highways and major town streets are generally in good condition affording easy access to most parts of town. However a number of local streets, collector streets and minor arterials, e.g. Chestnut Street in the western part of town, are extremely narrow and are in poor condition. These could be inadequate for significant new subdivisions but such limitations will not necessarily prevent development. These rural roadways contribute to the historic character of Easton and, in many cases, may be a key component in the contextual preservation of significant historical properties, structures and districts.
Sidewalks exist in business areas, along state highways and in newer neighborhoods but not along the older, narrower roads. At the same time there are few or no pedestrian/bikeways connecting subdivision cul-de-sacs to other neighborhoods, schools, parks, stores or other destinations. As a result young people and other non- drivers must go along busy narrow roads to get to destinations which could otherwise be reached by safer, more direct and more pleasant routes. However, there is open space and parks accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists along existing roads and some trails in the major conservation holdings.
The old railroad right-of-way through Easton is mostly intact. It runs north south through the center of town west of Route 138. Where Main Street and South Street cross the right-of-way, just south of the old railroad station, the right-of-way has been filled in to replace two bridges. This rail corridor is already used by many, who take advantage of the well-defined trail for walks, exploration into the Hockomock Swamp and off-road bicycle travel. Although motorized vehicular use is prohibited, the trail shows heavy signs of ATV use and damage.
Easton residents have access to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) commuter rail service in Brockton, Mansfield, Sharon or Stoughton. The MBTA is planning to extend commuter rail service to the cities of Fall River and New Bedford. As of January, 2008, as part of Phase One of this study, 39 alternative ways to
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 17 extend public transportation in Southeastern Massachusetts are being examined. Phase Two of the state’s rail studies, set to begin in January, 2008 will allow citizens to give their opinions on the various alternatives and the criteria the state will use to evaluate each. By April, 2008, state officials plan to whittle the list of 39 down to four to six front runners, and each of these will undergo extensive environmental review. The favored route won’t be selected until 2010, and the projected start-up date for rail service is not until 2016.
Implications The street system may slightly constrain near-term development in some outlying areas or make such development more likely in the more accessible eastern portion of the town. However these limitations will not exclude continued low to moderate density development town-wide. Thus, the constrained roadway system would likely increase priorities for acquisition in the more accessible eastern portions of the town. While, proximity to future rail service might make a neighborhood more desirable, without some kind of incentive, most passengers will likely drive to the station. Thus the most dramatic positive benefits will be limited to the neighborhood within a reasonable walking/bicycling distance of the station. The proposed bike trail along the former right-of-way south of the station may extend this influence along this corridor.
In conclusion, access/transit considerations can guide overall acquisition plans and priorities. However, these factors could be less important than the timely availability of a major parcel in an area of present or future need.
Water Supply System
According to Department of Public Work Director Wayne Southworth, Easton draws on seven gravel packed wells – three in the Queset Brook Aquifer, three in the Canoe River Aquifer and one in the Mulberry Brook Aquifer. A daily average of 2.1 million gallons of water is pumped to a population of 23,123 residents and businesses/public institutions with 7,134 active services (2006) by a system of 161 miles of water mains and 1,446 hydrants and 3,123 street valves. There are approximately 135 private wells serving residential properties.
North Easton was originally served by Brockton’s Silver Lake system and prior to 1950 the two-thirds of the town to the west and south lacked any municipal water. Therefore more than 80% of the system has been installed since 1950. The seven (7) Pumping Stations were built to accommodate growth in the years 1952, 1958, 1965, 1974, 1983, 1993 and 2006.
Growth has strained the system on peak days or during droughts. To upgrade the system and meet projected volumes and patterns of demand the Water Division has a Master Plan for capital improvements. The Division has also developed many programs to encourage water conservation and to protect water supplies, e.g. leak detection, meter maintenance, an increasing block water rate, public education, water
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 18 supply protection zoning and sponsorship of Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days annually.
The Division has made critical land purchases adjacent to wells, and potential land acquisitions are being considered locally, and in some instances, regionally. The last would help to protect the Canoe River Sole Source Aquifer used by Easton and four other communities. The Water Division works hard to educate the public regarding Aquifer protection and it developed the town’s very progressive Aquifer Protection bylaw. This restricts hazardous activities within the Zone 2 and Zone 3 well recharge areas.
The Water Division is also a key part of the Regional Canoe River Aquifer Committee which works to protect the Aquifer in five communities and which sponsored the Aquifer’s successful Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and Sole Source Aquifer Designations.
So far the Water Division has been able to handle Easton’s growth and to serve its 7,631 (2000) housing units. Even before construction of the 6th pumping station, the firm of Metcalf and Eddy listed the town’s developed supply as 3.6 million gallons per day (MGD) or twice present consumption. The firm’s 1989 Report on Taunton River Basin Water Needs expected a 39% increase in demand by 2020 given constant per capita consumption. Even with increasing per capita consumption the firm expected Easton to have a 0.7 MGD surplus over the highest projected demands (2.9MGD, a 61% increase) through the year 2020.
The Build Out Analysis for the Town of Easton done in the year 2000 by the state Executive Office of Environmental Affairs found a Net Buildable Area of 4,897 acres that could accommodate 16,211 new residents. Added to the year 2000 population of 22,299 gives a population at full build out of 38,510 or a potential 58% increase in population. More detailed site analyses may find that soils limitations reduce this build out total to well below the calculated 58% increase in population.
Implications While the Water Division points out that regional water supply solutions may eventually be needed to meet regional needs, the system appears able to supply all probable growth over the next 25 years. Hence water supply is not likely to constrain growth in Easton. Similarly, experience in the adjacent town of Stoughton suggests that the few areas without town water will generally be able to develop adequate private supplies. The pressures of growth and continued land development could impact ground water recharge and quality. Consideration should be given to additional protection of lands within the Zone II Well-head Protection Districts.
Sewer Service
With the exception of Stonehill College and the condominium complex at Friends Crossing (off of Lincoln Street), Easton relies on on-site sanitary disposal systems. The lack of a public sewer system has slowed the Town’s growth. In the 1992 Undeveloped ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 19 Land Inventory, OCPC found that of 5,795.1 acres of vacant land, 1,225.5 acres were in flood plain and 1,344.64 acres were severely restricted for septic systems. According to the map of Soil Limitations for Septic Systems (Section IV, A ) and the map of Water Resources, both Flood Plain and land severely restricted for septic systems are found throughout the town.
The greatest concentrations of land with severe limitations for septic systems are in the western portion of the town between Eastman Street and Rockland Street and in the southern portion of the town south of Depot Street. and Purchase Street west of Bay Road. See the map of soil limitations in Section 4, A. Geology, Soils and Topography, below.
The design criteria for on-site systems are those in the Department of Environmental Protection, Title V, State Sanitary Code and the Easton Board of Health “Instructions for Applicants for Sewage Disposal System Permits, Adopted: May 1, 1979 and Revised: March 31, 1994”.
Local regulations require groundwater determinations to be performed during the months of January through April. The latest revisions to Title V and to new source regulations generally limit flows in well recharge areas to 440 gallons/acre and increase the required distance to streams or water supplies. The regulations also allow various innovative or alternative systems for on-site disposal and allow for privately-owned wastewater treatment facilities for flows exceeding 10,000 gallons per day.
Implications The wide distribution of land with septic limitations or flood hazards will continue to limit growth. However, experience in nearby communities indicates that land with such limitations often can support as many as ¾ of the number of units otherwise allowable. This is particularly true in areas requiring large lots such as Easton. The provisions for alternative systems and private treatment plants could lessen these constraints.
2. Long-term Development Patterns
A majority of the town’s 29.44 square miles are devoted to residential use. In fact, according to the town assessor, currently 87% of the existing land use is residential use. Based on current zoning and development patterns residential growth will continue to be the dominant use of the remaining developable acreage in town. In the past, land consumption far outstripped population growth due to low-density development. Most of this growth has been in large-lot single-family subdivisions. This low-density development provides large individual lots but lessens contact with open countryside or wild lands and consumes such lands at an increasing rate.
Flexible Zoning tools enacted by Easton allow for more contact with open space. Open Space Residential Developments such as “Cinnamon Ridge Estates” have left a portion of the open space as common areas and connected common open space with every house lot. In contrast the town’s few single-family cluster developments have left a ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 20 portion of the land in common areas and have connected common open land abutting every lot. These developments do not reduce overall land consumption but they can give each house access to common land greater than any standard house lot. In “Spring Hill at Easton” on Whitman’s Brook north of Elm Street, the open land appears to include an attractive open meadow and is enhanced by abutting protected woodland owned by the Town’s Water Division.
In the “Buttonbush” cluster development west of Bay Road and south of Rockland Street, the common land abuts Natural Resources Trust and Conservation Commission holdings along Beaver Brook.
These arrangements extend the benefit of the common land and provide a transitional buffer between the public land and the house lots, but require good, sensitive design and effective purposeful review by town boards.
These development patterns and potentials reflect the town’s zoning bylaw. The major zoning provisions affecting development in Easton are the following:
Residential R:
This allows single-family housing on 40,000 sq. ft. as-of-right and two-family housing and cluster development by Special Permits. It also allows various health, educational, and social service facilities.
Residential R1:
This District has the same provisions as Residential –R.
Business B:
The Business District allows a wide range of retail and service activities as-of-right or by special permit, and excludes most industrial uses and open storage commercial uses. It permits site coverage of up to 25% and heights of three floors or 35 feet. In addition it allows single-family houses, row houses, multi-unit development, and the conversion of single-family houses to two-family houses as-of-right, and allows new two-family houses by special permit.
Planned Business Development projects allow mixed uses, up to 1/3 residential, increased building coverage from the basic 25% to 50%, and a 10% reduction in parking requirements. Sites must have at least 5 acres and development shall be in one continuous building or a group of buildings consistent with the intent of the section.
Business Neighborhood BN:
The Business Neighborhood District is intended to allow a narrow range of neighborhood-oriented retail and service activities but still requires the 40,000 sq. ft.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 21 minimum site called for in the Business District. It allows a narrower range of commercial activities than the Business District (excluding restaurants, cleaners, gas stations and service repair businesses). It allows single-family detached dwellings by special permit only and excludes all other residential uses.
Industrial:
The Industrial District permits a wide range of industrial and distribution activities and Planned Industrial Developments as-of-right, though it excludes hazardous or noxious industries, junkyards and open storage activities. It excludes residential uses and many institutional uses but allows most commercial and service activities. It has the same 40,000 sq. ft. minimum lot size as the residential and business districts.
Planned Industrial Development projects are like industrial cluster developments. The regulations permit lot area reductions by 20% so long as 25% of the tract (beyond wetlands and steep slopes) is set aside as common land for open space use. The provisions require a minimum site of 15 acres and limit the number of establishments, not building areas, to that allowable under the normal requirements of the District.
Eleemosynary:
The Eleemosynary District allows most Institutional, Recreation and Education Uses, Agricultural Uses and all Town and Municipal Uses, either as an allowed use or by Special Permit and detached dwellings on a separate lot occupied not more than one family by Special Permit. It prohibits most residential and commercial uses.
Flood Plain District:
The Flood Plain District is an overlay district mapped over areas shown on the Easton Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM maps) dated August 9, 2000. It prohibits activities that reduce flood storage or flow patterns and requires a special permit from the Board of Appeals for uses otherwise allowed in the underlying district.
Municipal or Open Space: The Municipal or Open Space District prohibits all residential uses, office and laboratory and retail Business and Consumer Service Establishments. It allows most Institution, Recreation and Educational Uses and Agricultural Uses, either as an Allowed Use or by Special Permit.
Estate Lots:
An Estate Lot is allowed in a Residential Zoning District and would allow smaller road frontage in exchange for a larger lot than is normally required. An Estate Lot would only be allowed upon meeting certain conditions and after the issuance of a Special Permit from the Easton Planning and Zoning Board. An Estate Lot offers a property owner and alternative to a conventional subdivision. With conventional subdivisions,
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 22 the cost of road development virtually mandates that as many lots as possible are created. The Estate Lot alternative allows the creation of one larger lot assessed as a private driveway. Thus, the long-term costs for the town are reduced and potentially, the numbers of lots on the total tract are reduced.
Residential Compound:
A Residential Compound is a 3-8 lot subdivision allowed in a Residential Zoning District. A Special Permit and Definitive Subdivision approval is required from the Easton Planning and Zoning Board. In this type of development, the required lot size of 40,000 square feet is increased to an average minimum lot size of 60,000 square feet. The required lot frontage is reduced from 150 to 75 feet. The town benefits because the roadway will be privately owned and maintained. A Residential Compound promotes less dense development (fewer homes per acres) with more open space. Residential Compounds also help to maintain rural character through the requirement of a 75 foot buffer from the existing public way.
Adult Retirement Development:
An Adult Retirement Development (ARD) may be allowed in a Residential, Business or Industrial Zoning District by a Special Permit granted by the Easton Planning and Zoning Board serving as a Special Permit Granting Authority. Definitive subdivision approval is also required from the same board. An “ARD” provides an alternative housing opportunity for persons 55 years of age and older, provides an attractive and suitable residential environment that is more amenable to the needs of people in their later years and encourages the preservation of common land for open space and recreational use by promoting the highest and best utilization of land in harmony with its natural features and to retain the rural character of the town. Land in an ARD is specifically limited to use, residence and occupancy by persons who have achieved a minimum of 55 years of age in accordance with MGL Chapter 151B. The minimum tract of land is 25 acres and have at least forty feet of frontage on a public way. Minimum lot size is 9,000 square feet. All streets in the ARD must be private ways.
At least thirty (30) percent of the total tract must be set aside for use of the ARD residents. Said land shall be dedicated and used for natural resource protection, recreation, park-purposes, Community Facilities, outdoor education, agriculture, horticultural forestry, or for any combination of such uses.
Implications
The uniform 40,000 square foot lots will do little to preserve open space and protect the character of the community. On the other hand, use of flexible development zoning tools such as the Adult Retirement Development, Open Space Residential Development and Residential Compound will do much to achieve the following community objectives:
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 23 • Preserving larger tracts of open space. • Preserving Easton’s rural character. • Encouraging development to be more sensitive to the environment. • Minimizing long-term operating costs to the town through proper Land Use Management (e.g. reducing roads requiring maintenance by the town; transforming some of the open space management to private entities such as homeowner associations).
Zoning Map follows.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 24
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 25 SECTION IV – Environmental Inventory And Analysis
A. Geology, Soils and Topography
1) Geology
Easton and the rest of southeastern Massachusetts were blanketed with glacial ice sheets. As the glaciers began to melt, a basin was created in the present Hockomock Swamp (known to geologists as the Leverett Sea). As the ice continued to retreat it revealed the region’s characteristic north-south drumlins while the Hubbard Uplift eliminated much of the Leverett Sea and created the area’s present north-south drainage patterns.
Today the underlying rock formation of the Town is mainly sienite. It predominates in the northeast parts of Town but in North Easton Village and to the south, it alternates or mingles with hard, dark, trap like diorite. There are also a few indications of coal particularly to the south. In the center of Town and in the west and southwest sections, there is considerable very coarse, inferior sandstone.
2) Soils
Soils are important because they influence the ability of different parts of the town to be developed due to their suitability for on-site sewage disposal. Soil association patterns help to anticipate developability of land. However, soils with very different characteristics are sometimes found together in one association. As a result interpretive maps of soils grouped according to their limitations for septic systems can be more useful for anticipating development than maps of the soil associations. Even this should not be overstated. One local health agent reports that even where the most severely restricted soils (3W –a high water table) are mapped, the area’s typical large lots will have some usable soils. As a result mapped 3W areas often accommodate up to ¾ as many units as unrestricted soils. Except for actual wetlands, the 3W soils are a better predictor of future system maintenance problems than of developability. This can be seen by comparing the map of soil limitations with the town’s actual development patterns.
Easton’s soils fall into five basic soil groups or associations.
a) The Whitman, Ridgebury, Scarboro-Muck Association comprising poorly and very poorly drained organic soils and very poorly drained mineral soils occupies 40% of the town including the land along the drainage ways and streams. This group of soils is unsuitable for development. It is generally mapped as 3W on the interpreted soils maps. b) The Millis, Woodbridge Association includes well-drained and moderately well drained soils underlain by coarse but compact glacial till, on to 3 to 15 percent slopes. This group makes up some 15% of the land area. It has generally severe limitations for development and is commonly mapped as ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 26 3H on the interpreted soils maps. This Association is generally a poor source of groundwater.
c) The Hollis Association includes shallow soils over bedrock containing many bedrock outcrops on 3 to 15 percent slopes, but makes up less than 1% of the total Town area.
d) The Hinckley, Merrimac Association consists of droughty and well-drained soils formed on sands and gravel on nearly level or irregularly sloping terrain. It has slight to moderate development limitations and is often used for farming. It covers 19% of the town, including extensive tracts such as the level plain along Route 138 in North Easton.
e) The Canton-Woodbridge Association includes well-drained and moderately well drained soils formed over loose, coarse glacial till on 3 to 5 percent slopes. It covers approximately 25% of the land area and has slight to moderate development limitations.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service maps of soil limitations for sites with On- Site Sewage Disposal show extensive areas with severe limitations. Most of these are due to a high water table (3W) but a considerable area is affected by hardpan (3H), with very few areas in the north portion of town affected by bedrock (3R) or steep slopes (3S). As noted earlier 1,344.64 acres were severely limited by soil conditions alone while another 1,225.5 acres were primarily restricted by floodplain. Comparing the Flood Plain District on the Zoning map with the 3W land on the Soils maps indicates that a very large proportion of the 3W land is also in Flood Plain, particularly in the southeastern portion of the town.
It is clear from both of these sources that much of the town has severe limitations for septic systems. Yet many of these areas are developed since the large lots required by the Zoning bylaw often have some usable soil. Areas with the fewest limitations might well get the highest priority for nearby open space acquisitions since they are the most developable, but acquisitions will also be needed near the more marginal areas.
3) Topography
The topography of Easton consists of gently rolling hills dropping from northwest to southwest. The elevation varies from a high of about 270 feet above sea level in the northwesterly portion of town to a low of about 60 feet in the Hockomock Swamp to the southeast. The terrain is generally more irregular in the northeastern portion of town and more gently rolling in the west, while dropping to low-lying wooded swamp in the southeast. There are few hills; the highest point in the southern part of town (190 foot MSL) is the top of a very gently sloping drumlin, and even the higher ground to the north offers very little topographic relief or scenic outlooks.
Soils Map Follows
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 27
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 28 Since the town is at the top of the Taunton River Watershed most streams are small. They generally have minimal gradients and expand to form three distinct north-south low-lying, swampy drainage corridors along Queset Brook, Black Brook, and Mulberry Brook. The lack of natural ponds reflects Easton’s well-drained north-south glacial topography, its tight soils and lack of kettle holes. The ponds in town are man-made impoundments of streams or millponds such as Old Pond, New Pond, French Pond, Monte Pond, Shovel Shop Pond and Langwater Pond. These ponds were created at the time of early industrial development in the town. In addition there are areas of standing water in Little Cedar swamp and the excavated sand and gravel pits south of Belmont Street.
Most early road construction and settlement followed the higher ground between these wetlands. This left room for Form “A” house lots on undeveloped land fronting on the existing roads.
4) Significance
The town’s geology, soils and topography set the stage for open space planning by creating Easton’s low-key limited-relief landscape and by constraining development. However the required large lots may allow a large portion of the otherwise constrained lots to be developed, and soil limitations cannot be relied on to keep significant open land undeveloped. Thus it is important to look at the open space significance of the remaining undeveloped land and at the relative developability of the most valuable parcels. This is done below following a discussion indicating that open vistas are particularly scarce and important to preserve.
B. Landscape Character
With its limited relief, Easton’s Landscape depends largely on the balance of open areas (fields, marshes wet meadows and ponds), woodlands and developed areas. As New England evolves from farmland back to forest or to large-lot subdivisions, the open land, which gives scenic vistas and reveals the underlying terrain, is increasingly rare. Surviving fields commonly have a very high water table; are in continuing agricultural use, as is the case with Clover Valley Farm on Poquanicut Avenue, are in recreational use, such as the Easton Country Club; or are protected land such as the Ames family or Stonehill College holdings. Some varied attractive mixtures of woods, streams and rolling fields such as those between Main Street and Elm Street, east of Washington Street are hidden from the road by woods. They must be seen and enjoyed on foot. However one portion of this property preserves a beautiful vista of woods, streams and fields from Elm Street. It suggests a bit of Vermont on the Brockton/Easton line. Vistas that have been protected within the town include: • Langwater Pond north of Main Street • Northeast across Langwater Pond towards the Ames Mansion from the ledge off the town owned Pond Street property
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 29 Other protected or partially protected areas of significant open landscape quality include the Wheaton Farm and the Old Pond/New Pond complex. Wheaton Farm (837 acres) is located between Howard Street and Foundry Street on either side of Bay Road. The vista of fields blending into wooded areas creates a feeling of openness to all who enjoy the passive recreation opportunities present at this location. The combination of New Pond and Old Pond off of Foundry Street includes two dam structures (one of earth, the other a masonry wall) built in the 1700’s and early 1800’s to power foundries in the area during high-flow seasons. The dams are visually compelling from Route 106 and the ponds offer significant open vistas from the top of the dams and surrounding shoreline.
Some major landscape features such as the varied, valuable Hockomock Swamp are not very visible since they are all wooded. In some cases existing open land is walled off by Form A development or by strip malls along existing roads. In other cases new residential development consumes open farmland because it is readily developable though the same amount of housing in woods would be far less visible. This suggests developing regulations, which encourage development in woodlands and preservation of open lands and vistas. The appropriateness of this would depend on the degree of dimensional or other regulatory incentives needed, and the possibility of mitigating the impacts of lost forest cover.
A comparison of soils limitations with development occurring since 1975 shows that most development has occurred in areas without severe limitations for septic systems or with only scattered soils with such limitations. While alternative systems and privately owned treatment plants (package plants) approvable under the revised Title V may lessen the significance of soil limitations outside of wetlands, the unconstrained areas are still more susceptible to near-term development. Thus it is worth looking at the remaining unprotected areas with minimal limitations in order to anticipate the pattern of new development. This in turn can help to identify prospective residential development needing complementary open space preservation, or to note threatened resources needing timely protection.
Review of study maps shows that the remaining land with minimal limitations is scattered throughout the town. The largest such areas of relatively developable open land include:
1. About 11 acres of rolling backland (half open, half wooded) north of Highland Street and east of the Mansfield town line. 2. About 38 acres of Industrially-zoned upland on a low drumlin west of the New Pond-Old Pond conservation holdings, under consideration for acquisition to expand the New Pond area. 3. About 24 acres of wooded upland (possibly containing one house) west of Poquanticut Avenue, north of Clover Valley Farm and south of a power line. 4. An irregularly shaped wooded lot of approximately 16 acres west of Mill Street at the Raynham line. ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 30 5. Approximately 28 acres of upland and wooded swamp essentially within the Town Forest and south of some town-leased recreation land and the Friends housing development. Some of the Friend’s vacant land is to be deeded to the town 25 years after its original plan approval. 6. An estimated 109 acres of rolling wooded upland in two long, narrow north- south strips located east of Bay Road, south of Foundry Street and west of a major area of wooded swamp. 7. About 50 acres of wooded backland west of Washington Street and north of Elm Street. 8. Approximately 80 acres of primarily wooded Ames holdings east of Langwater Pond
C. Water Resources
1. Surface Water
Easton is located in the upper end of the Taunton River Basin and streams generally flow in a southerly direction towards the River. The three main sub-basins are along the Queset Brook, Black Brook, and Mulberry Brook as shown on the Water Resources Map. Whitman’s Brook, Queset Brook, and Black Brook flow to the Hockomock Swamp while Beaver Brook, Poquanticut Brook, Mulberry Brook, and Gowards Brook flow into Lake Winnecunnet in Norton enroute to the River.
In addition to its north-south draining streams, Easton contains numerous natural and man-made water bodies. These scale to approximately 330 acres on the USGS topographic sheet (excluding the dry Flyaway Pond and Little Cedar Swamp which are not longer mapped as open water).
The entire Hockomock Swamp (including portions in other towns) receives an average of 7.5 billion gallons of rainfall annually and stores much of it, thereby maintaining the ground water table. This benefits the abutting town of Raynham’s present system of shallow wells, which depend on the present high water table. Hunters, canoeists, hikers, bird watchers and fisherman all have access to this often acclaimed “Water Wonderland”.
The town contains 15 ponds of various sizes but almost all are impoundments of streams for power, or remnants of sand and gravel operations. The lack of ponds appears to reflect the town’s well-drained north-south glacial topography its frequently tight soils. The impoundments create a number of surface water areas but are shallow and subject to siltation and accumulation of sediment and nutrients. They require maintenance if they are not to become euthophic or return to wetlands.
In all, the town or state controls all but 80 of its 400 acres of surface water. These holdings are described in more detail in Section 5, the inventory. Wheaton Farm also
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 31 includes Ward’s Pond (5 acres) and the larger Fuller Hammond Reservoir. These are open to canoeists, fisherman and hikers.
The town-owned Old Pond (11 acres) and New Pond (13 acres) located off of Foundry Street have parking lots. Varied passive recreation is allowed although swimming is prohibited. Other town-owned ponds managed by the Conservation Commission for public passive recreation are Picker Pond and associated small ponds totaling 12 acres; Ames Long Pond off of Canton Street and bracketing the Easton-Stoughton line, 16 acres’ and the 5-acre Settler’s Pond off of Washington Street.
The Stoughton portion of Ames Long Pond includes a well developed beach reportedly also used by Easton residents.
Borderland State Park includes Leach’s Pond (86 acres in Easton and Sharon) and Pud’s Pond (6 acres in Easton and Sharon) along with parking facilities and a welcome center.
The town’s remaining ponds are privately owned and cover another 80 acres of surface water. All of these ponds are discussed in more detail in the inventory of significant open space and recreation resources below.
2. Flood Hazard Areas
While the town’s location at the top of the Taunton Basin leads to relatively limited stream flows, the flat terrain leads to extensive Flood Hazard areas mapped by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As shown on the Zoning map, (which incorporates the FEMA maps) these run north and south along the major streams and spread out in low-lying areas, particularly the Hockomock Swamp. Some of the low-lying areas may have potential to be managed as enhanced impoundments for increased flood control. At the same time, the flood control zoning provisions may create opportunities for negotiating streamside conservation restrictions, access easements, or fee simple acquisition. This is important because experience shows that even the most enlightened, cooperative developers may withhold streamside access once a project is approved. See the Discussion of “Flooding” under G. Below.
3. Wetlands
Easton’s extensive wetlands provide wildlife habitat, flood storage areas, pollution abatement, flood control and groundwater recharge. In some cases wetlands consist of open marsh or wet meadow, but more frequently they are wooded swamp, such as most of the extensive Hockomock Swamp.
The source of estimates of Easton’s wetlands are from the Massachusetts Map Down Project (“The Macconnell Maps”) directed by Forestry Professor William P. MacConnell of the University of Massachusetts. These maps inventoried vegetation and land use using aerial photos taken in 1952, 1972 and 1985, 1991 and 1999.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 32 The inventory lists eleven types of open fresh water wetlands, flats, bog, shrub swamp, meadow, shallow marshes, deep marsh, open water, and beaver ponds, but leaves wooded swamp included within the forest land category. As a result the map down slightly understates wetlands by including open water but greatly understates it by omitting wooded swamp. Since the Hockomock Swamp has hundreds of acres of wooded swamp, according to the USGS maps, Easton’s total area of swamp probably far exceeds that listed in the Mapdown.
The 1991 tabulation shows 523.3 acres of freshwater wetlands while the 1999 report shows a slight loss, with a total of 522.1 acres. See table below under Vegetation. This slight decline indicates the effective protection of open wetlands such as wet meadow and marsh. The wetlands mapped on the Water Resources map are based on the U.S. Geologic Survey Topographic maps.
The greatest proportion of the town’s wetlands are in the flood plain mapped on the Zoning map, or in the areas with severe septic limitations shown on the Soil Limitations map. Therefore they are at least partially protected through the respective zoning and Health Board regulations, as well as by the Wetlands Protection Act. While it remains appropriate to acquire important wetlands (since ownership is the highest degree of protection), higher priority might well go to the most strategic developable uplands.
4. Aquifer Recharge Area
In May of 1987, I.E.P., Inc. of Northboro, Mass. developed a comprehensive ground water protection program. The scope of work included delineating critical aquifer recharge areas. In 1988 these areas were mapped as the Aquifer Protection Overlay District in Section 5-4 of the Easton zoning Bylaw. These areas are crucial to protecting the town’s water supply by restricting harmful uses where acquisition is impractical.
D. Vegetation
1. General Inventory
As in most of New England, Easton’s undeveloped land is primarily woodland much of it wooded swamp.
There are also scattered areas of wet meadow and open marsh and a few cranberry bogs west of the Little Cedar Swamp in the southeastern portion of the town. Some of the wet meadows may remain open due to their high water table, but most will revert to forest unless grazed or mowed. As land goes out of production this will be a land management concern.
Between 1991 and 1999 the MacConnell maps showed the following losses of farmland, forest, open lands and wetlands: Water Resources Map follows
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 33
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 34
Town of Easton, Changes in Vegetation in Acres
1991 1999 % Change
Forest (inc. swamp) 10,576.5 10,121.4 -4.5% Wetlands 523.3 522.1 -.02% Open Land (inc. meadows) 517.8 443.6 -16.7% Agriculture (cultivated) 782.2 534.5 -46.3%
Land Use Summary: 62.9% forest, wetlands and open space 5.5% agriculture 27.1% residential 3.1% commercial, industrial, transportation 1.5% water. Source: MassGIS 1999
2. Forest Land
The Society of American Foresters classifies New England into six Natural Forest Vegetation Zones named for their dominant species. The Town of Easton falls into “Zone 4 – Central Hardwoods – Hemlock – White – Pine”. The important hardwoods in this zone include black oak, red oak, white oak, and shagbark and bitternut hickories. Red maple, chestnut oak, scarlet oak and black birch is less abundant but nonetheless common and white pine is relatively abundant on sandy sites. One particularly important stand is the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp (Chamaecyparis Thyoides) in the southeastern portion of the town known as the Little Cedar Swamp.
Easton is fortunate enough to have several uninterrupted blocks of forestland. In the southern portion of town the Hockomock Swamp, also known as the Great Cedar Swamp, contains White Pine, Eastern Hemlock, Atlantic White Cedar, Red Maple, Swamp Oak, Red Oaks, and American White Birch. The extensive Wheaton Farm consists mainly of hardwood cover (red/scarlet/black oaks and red maples) interspersed with white pines. This mixture is found of both sides of Bay Road.
To the north of the Town Forest portion of the Clifford G. Grant Reservation/Oliver Ames Parker Reservation/Town Forest complex is basically a fire plain of pitch pine overtopping or competing with White Pine. As a fire-dependent and driven community it relies on periodic forest fires to clear competing species and allow more oaks and pine to seed and thrive. This raises the question of how to maintain this community if the necessary forest fires is problematic in a developed town.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 35 Since most open land in New England returns to forest, privately owned woodlands are found throughout the town. One significant extensive example is the area surrounding the Wheaton Farm between Highland Street, Route 123 and the Norton Town line. Others are discussed below in the Inventory of Unprotected Areas of Conservation and Recreation Interest.
3. Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species
According to the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program as of August 9, 2007, in Easton there are several BioMap areas- the areas of most importance in order to protect the biodiversity of the town, region and state. In the southeastern part of the town around the Hockomock Wildlife Management Area are several BioMap polygons with Supporting Natural Landscape (SNL), separated by highways and development. This area includes sufficient habitat to support viable populations of several species of rare turtles and salamanders, as well as rare and common invertebrates and plants that occur in the state-uncommon natural communities of that area. Fortunately, much of this land is already in conservation protection. Filling out the property boundaries and connecting the separate pieces within the BioMap and SNL areas will greatly improve the biodiversity values of these properties and the area and help maintain the populations of rare and more common species for the long term.
The southern boundary of Easton has several large areas with existing conservation land and little development. The existing conservation land within the polygons should serve as focal areas for additional land conservation efforts, to smooth boundaries and increase their size, therefore enhancing the viability of species within them. There are Potential Vernal Pools in the areas, adding to the habitat mosaic of the areas.
Another BioMap area in Easton is also focused on a large state holding, Borderlands State Park. The park extends into other towns, and provides more biodiversity protection that is apparent from looking at the one town. The town already has some conservation land within that BioMap core area - continuing to protect land within the core areas will enhance the habitat value of existing conservation land.
In addition to these particular areas, the Program’s August 6, 2007 compilation of “Endangered (E)”, “Threatened (T)”, “Special Concern (SC)”, or “Watch List (WL)” items notes the following occurrences in Easton:
Scientific Name Common Name MESA Most Status Recent Year VASCULAR PLANTS Coreopsis rosea Pink tickseed WL Isotria verticillata Large Whorled Pogonia WL 1902 Lycopus Rubellus Gypsywort E 2005 Ophioglossum pusillum Adder’s-tongue Fern T 1900
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 36 Oxalis Violacea Violet Wood-Sorrel SC 1889 Panicum philadelphicum Philadelphia Panic-grass SC 1986 Potamogeton confervoides Algae-like Pondweed T 1972 Scirpus Longii Long’s Bulrush T 1914 Scirpus Pendulus Pendulous Bulrush WL 1987 Spiranthes Vernalis Grass-leaved ladies’ tresses T 1921 Tillaea aquatica Pygmyweed T 1905
NATURAL COMMUNITIES Acidic graminoid fen S3 Acidic Shrub fen S3 Coastal Atlantic white cedar swamp S2
CERTIFIED VERNAL POOLS CERTIFIED VERNAL POOL CVP (36 in Easton) 2007
Key to Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA) Status:
E= Endangered: species are native species which are in danger of extinction throughout all or part of their range, or which are in danger of extirpation from Massachusetts, as documented by biological research and inventory.
T= Threatened: species are native species which are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future, or which are declining or rare as determined by biological research and inventory.
SC = Special Concern: any species of plant or animal which has been documented by biological research and inventory to have suffered a decline that could threaten the species if allowed to continue unchecked or that occurs in such small numbers or with such a restricted distribution or specialized habitat requirements that it continue unchecked, or potentially threatened in Massachusetts because it occurs in small numbers or with such a very restricted distribution or specialized habitat requirements.
WL = Watch List: Species whose condition or threatened habitat suggests a potential for decline worthy concern and monitoring.
S = (state abundance) ranks are on a 1 to 5 scale, with S1 being considered vulnerable, generally having 1 to 5 good occurrences, and S5 being demonstrably secure. Community types ranked S1, S2 and S3 are priority for conservation protection
E. Fisheries and Wildlife
1. Inventory
With 5,300 acres of the 16,800-acre Hockomock Swamp Area of Critical Environmental Concern to the southeast; 3,660 acres of the 17,190-acre Canoe River
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 37 Aquifer Area of Critical Environmental Concern to the southwest; Borderland State Park to the northwest; many water bodies, and extensive areas of productive edge along power lines and around fields, bogs etc., Easton hosts diverse wildlife. For example, the Hockomock Swamp and Canoe River Aquifer areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) each met the nomination criteria based on fishery and wildlife habitats.
The town’s wildlife is reflected on the 1999-2001 “Estimated Habitats of Rare Wildlife and Certified Vernal Pools” map and bio map and described in the pamphlet “The Hockomock Water Wonderland”. Species include deer, foxes, beavers, squirrels, skunks, moles, voles and various other small rodents. The ponds and streams hold a variety of warm and cold-water fish and amphibians along with permanent and migrating water birds. Several types of birds migrate through Easton stopping at the several ponds along the way. They include geese, woodcocks, ducks, and swans, and various shore birds.
2. Corridors for Wildlife Migration
Even with the crisscrossing of roadways, deer travel from the southeast corner of Town (Hockomock Swamp) to the northeast corner of Town (Borderland State Park). Eighty- five percent of this corridor is protected by public ownership but it would be safer without interruptions. Hence the recommended east-west greenbelt and the north-south Poquanticut Greenbelt will provide a nearly continuous protected corridor. Other examples for possibly completing corridors include joining the Metcomet Woods to the Clifford G. Grant Reservation via intervening woodland and/or Black Brook, and connecting it south to the combined state/local northern pocket of the Hockomock Swamp via an acquisition or easement along the edge of several intervening lots.
Such possibilities are noted in the Plan Summary and Inventory of Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest. More discrete corridors probably exist between complementary areas, e.g. connecting shoreline breeding areas with longer-term habitat, but these need detailed field investigations.
3. Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species
The Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program’s August 6, 2007 compilation of “Endangered (E)”, “Threatened (T)”, “Special Concern (SC)”, or “Watch List (WL)” items notes the following occurrences of rare animals in Easton:
Most MESA Recent Scientific Name Common Name Status Year
VERTEBRATES Ambystoma Laterale Blue-spotted Salamander SC 2001
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 38 Ambystoma Maculatum Spotted Salamander delisted Ambystoma opacum Marbled Salamander T 2006 Botaurus lentiginosus American Bittern E 1970 Circus Cyaneus Northern Harrier T 1933 Clemmys Guttatas Spotted Turtle delisted 2001 Emydoidea blandingii Blanding’s Turtle T 2006 Hemidactylium scutatum Four-toed Salamander S 2003 Terrapene caroline Eastern Box Turtle SC 2005 Tyto alba Barn Owl SC 1987
INVERTIBRATES Alasmidonta undulata Triangle Floater SC 2001 (Freshwater mussel) Crangonyx aberrans Mystic Valley Amphipod delisted 1999 Somatochlora linearis Mocha Emerald (dragonfly) SC 2003
Key to Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA) Status:
E= Endangered: species are native species which are in danger of extinction throughout All or part of their range or in danger of extirpation from Massachusetts, as documented by biological research and inventory.
T= Threatened: species are native species which are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future or which are declining or rare as determined by biological research and inventory.
SC = Special Concern: species are native species which have been documented by biological research or inventory to have suffered a decline that could threaten the species if allowed to continue unchecked, or which occur in small numbers or with such restricted distribution or specialized habitat requirements that they could easily become threatened within Massachusetts.
WL= Watch List: species whose condition or threatened habitat suggests a potential for decline worthy of concern and monitoring.
Priority and Estimated Habitats map, BioMap and Living Waters and Vernal Pools and Primary Forest maps follow.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 39 ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 40 ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 41
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 42 F. Scenic Resources and Unique Environments
1. Scenic Landscapes
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management has done an Inventory of Scenic Resources. However neither the original 1982 report nor a later updating lists anything in Easton or other non-coastal portions of southeastern Massachusetts. They concentrate on large scale, multi-community vistas, generally with considerable relief and good visibility from highways and did not look for moderate-scale or minimal relief vistas in individual communities and while it included many agricultural vistas, the inventory missed Southeastern Massachusetts’ characteristic ponds and cranberry bogs.
Easton has many scenic areas. As shown on the Special Landscape Features Map these include: 1. The vista from Main Street looking north up Longwater Pond. 2. The historic section of Bay Road including the Wheaton Farm Conservation Area just south of Highland Street, the near continuous fields along the west side of Bay Road and the rest of the Wheaton Farm Conservation Area itself. 3. The bucolic vista of fields and Dorchester Brook south of Elm Street near the Brockton line. 4. The dramatic, historic walls impounding New Pond. 5. The farm fields and buildings at Clover Valley Farm on Poquanticut Avenue. 6. The prominent fields at the Sheep Pasture to the west of Washington Street complemented by the woods, fields, and college buildings at the Stonehill College Campus to the east. 7. The Truman Farm fields east of Bay Road and south of summer Street. 8. The Morse Brothers Cranberry bogs and adjacent Little Cedar Swamp – best seen from the entrance to the bogs off of Foundry Street. 9. The rolling agricultural land seen east of Purchase Street. 10. The unexpected, gentle view of French Pond and its marshland northeast off of Union Street. 11. North Easton’s complex of 19th Century commercial buildings, Richardson/Olmsted landmarks and surrounding closely-knit neighborhoods. 12. The remaining strip of fields on the west side of Washington Street, north of Main Street. 13. A dramatic view of extensive cranberry bogs west of Bay Road at the Norton Town line.
2. Major, Characteristic or Unusual Geologic Features and Special Landscape Features
The most unusual geologic feature is the fact that Easton is split between the Dedham Conglomerate and the Narragansett Basin. Within the Narragansett Basin unique and
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 43 distinctive fossils, never found in the country before, were discovered in the Berwick Street area. Today these finds are housed in the Smithsonian Institution.
Another major characteristic feature is the scattering of granite outcroppings throughout the town. One of the better known includes the naturally created “Devil’s Footprints” to the rear of the Center School grounds south of Depot Street.
3. Cultural, Archeological and Historic Areas
Many of Easton’s areas of cultural, archeological and historic interest are in the town’s historic districts. In 1972 two areas were selected for the National Register of Historical Places, the official compilation of culture sites prepared by the National Park Service. These were the southern sector of Bay Road from the five corners to the Norton line, known as the Bay Road Historic District, (including Wheaton Farm, a town-owned conservation tract) and the North Easton Village District, which encompasses approximately five hundred acres including the industrial and cultural complex of North Easton. The latter is the second largest historic district in the United States; Williamsburg, Virginia being the largest.
In 1983 the Furnace Village District was accepted into the National Register of Historical Places. It includes Old Pond and New Pond.
The town’s major sites of cultural, archeological or historic interest include:
1. The 1,570 Borderland State Park with diverse outdoor recreation opportunities plus the three-story 1910 stone mansion of Blanche and Oakes Ames designed by Mr. & Mrs. Ames. The park was the boundary between the Massachusetts and Wamponoag tribes. It is also a “borderland” between gradually rising hills to the north and flatter land to the south creating a mix of habitats, as well as between the town of Easton, Sharon, Stoughton and Mansfield. The Park has six ponds in various stages of succession and many glaciated cliffs and outcroppings providing an outdoor classroom. Farming and industry began in the early 1700’s. General Shepard Leach, owner of the Furnace Village Iron Works in South Easton mined the area and create the pond that bears his name in 1825.
2. Stonehill College
Stonehill’s 375 acre campus contains several notable structures: a) The administration building, Donahue Hall, a Georgian Revival house designed by Thomas, Parker and Rice, built in 1905 by Frederick Lothrop Ames and named for the Rev. James W. Donahue, C.S.C., Superior General of the Holy Cross Congregation in 1935, when the estate was purchased from the Ames family. It contains the records and memorabilia of the Ames Shovel Company and retains many of its original features.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 44 b) Alumni Hall, the “Old Gym”, built in 1905 to contain a clay indoor tennis court and a heated swimming pool. It was renovated and renamed in 1990, and holds meeting areas and Alumni Office. c) The Martin Institute containing the Archives of former U. S. House Speaker Joseph Martin and classrooms, faculty offices, an auditorium and a boardroom, this building is the center of the college’s outreach program to the local community. d) The 60-acre 1908 David Ames Clock Farm across Route 138 from the main campus contains the Howard Steeple clock that rings the hours across the Ameses’ former Langwater Farm. The farm itself was home to America’s most famous Guernsey herd. e) The 1912 Hafstrom-Swanson House (formerly the Gingerbread House) is the College president’s house and is named for two Hafstrom sisters who were long time residents.
3. The North Easton Historic District: a) Shingle House/Gardner’s Cottage on Elm Street designed by renowned 19th Century architect Henry Hobson Richardson for the Ames Family in 1884. A designated National Historic Landmark. b) Gate Lodge, a weekend retreat on Elm Street designed for Frederick L. Ames by H.H. Richardson, 1880-1881 and featuring an extraordinary fireplace by Augustus St. Gaudens. A Designated National Historic Landmark. c) Langwater Estate south of Elm Street, grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, mansion built by Snell and Gregerson for F. L. Ames, 1859. d) Mary Ames Frothingham Estate/Easton Town Hall, north of Elm Street, designed by Guy Lowell in 1912 and donated to the town in 1960. e) North Easton Railroad Station/Easton Historical Society commissioned by F.L. Ames and designed by H.H. Richardson in 1881 and given to the Old Colony Railroad and then bought back by William A. Parker, John S. Ames, David Ames and Senator Oliver F. Ames, when service ended and given to the Historical Society. A designated National Historical Landmark f) The Rockery, North Easton Center, a stone monument designed by F. L. Olmsted in 1881-1884 as a public square and modified during the 20th Century. A designated National Historic Landmark. g) Oakes Ames Memorial Hall, North Easton Center, a multi-purpose public hall given by the Family of Congressman and Railroad builder Oakes Ames and designated by H. H. Richardson and F. L. Olmsted in 1879-1881. A designated National Historic Landmark. h) Oliver Ames Free Library, North Easton Center, endowed by Oliver Ames and designed by H. H. Richardson in 1878-1879; then expanded in 1931. A designated National Historic Landmark.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 45 i) Quesset, on Center Street, an Andrew Jackson Downing style “English Cottage” built for Oakes A. Ames in 1854, enlarged in 1875, landscaped by F. L. Olmsted in 1892 and refurbished in the 1920’s. j) Ames Shovel Company Complex, between the railroad and Main Street north of the North Easton Center, and west of Shovel Shop Pond, 10 buildings dating from 1852, now partially updated to office uses. k) Unity Church, Main Street, designed by John Ames Mitchell with windows by John LaFarge.
4. The Bay Road Historic District including the Josiah Keith House, on Bay Road a mile south of the 5 corners, the oldest house in Easton dating from 1717 with various later additions.
5. The Furnace Village National Historic District, Routes 106/123, the original heart of industrial Easton, site of America’s oldest malleable iron foundry, the Belcher Malleable Iron Company dating from 1837 which has closed in 2008, and a National Historic District.
6. Areas of Critical Environmental Concern
The Canoe River and Hockomock Swamp Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) cover much of the western and southern portions of the town and have been discussed earlier. The following draws on the “Resource Summaries” from the respective designations to explain the Areas’ significance.
1. The Hockomock Swamp ACEC (including portions of Bridgewater, Easton, Norton, Raynham, Taunton and West Bridgewater) is the largest vegetated freshwater system in Massachusetts. It contains the headwaters of the Taunton River and three public wells along with vast natural and scenic areas. It houses at least thirteen rare and endangered species identified by the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program and nearby archeological sites spanning 9,000 years, along with productive agricultural lands adjacent to the wetlands, brooks and rivers.
2. The Canoe River Aquifer (ACEC) including portions of Easton, Foxborough, Mansfield, Norton, Sharon, and Taunton) protects an extensive system of surface waters, wetlands, floodplains and high-yield aquifers. It contains much high quality drinking water supplying ten municipal wells and numerous private wells, and provides a rich and diverse habitat for 600 species of vegetation, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Human habitation dates back several thousand years and Bay Road was a Native American path linking the Neponset
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 46 and Taunton Rivers, Massachusetts Bay and Narragansett Bay, and the territories of the Massachusetts and Wampanoag peoples.
Special Landscape Features Map follows
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 47 ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 48 Environmental Problems
1. Hazardous Waste Sites
Like most communities, Easton has a number of hazardous waste sites. These include underground fuel storage tanks, hazardous waste sites, agricultural sites and automotive-related sites. Some are located in the Aquifer Protection Districts.
In all, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection reports 11 hazardous waste sites. Eight of these are commercial, industrial, institutional or municipal uses storing fuel oil, diesel oil, or lubricating oil and 3 are residences storing fuel oil, diesel oil, or mineral spirits; and 5 were unknown uses storing such products for a total of 26 uses involving petroleum products.
Most are minor, and the underground storage tanks are regulated by the Board of Health. They are not a major influence on land development patterns or open space needs/opportunities. In contrast, seven uses involved “hazardous” materials; four involved “both”, and one involved Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH).
2. Erosion and Sedimentation
Given the town’s moderate slopes and prevalent tight glacial till soils, erosion is not a major problem in Easton. The exceptions are excavated but restored sand and gravel pits such as those west of Bay Road and North of Rockland Street. This problem is further limited by erosion and sedimentation control measures included in Orders of Conditions for projects under the Wetlands Protection Act and by the measures required under the town’s Earth Removal bylaw. However, even with such controls siltation and sedimentation are an inevitable concern with Easton’s many stream impoundments. This has led to proposals to dredge selected ponds.
3. Flooding
The town’s location at the head of the Taunton basin limits flood flows, and its extensive wetlands offer significant storm water storage areas. None-the-less Easton has experienced serious local flooding during major storms. This has led to proposals to developing solutions which either pass flows through enlarged culverts or hold it in impoundments and natural retention areas.
These issues are discussed in the Town’s 1974 Master Drainage Study and the Corps of Engineers’ 1977 Floodplain Information Report. The first report noted inadequate drainage leading to problems of “excess standing water along roadways and on private property, along with the aggravation of flooded cellars and saturated leaching fields” rather than major storm flooding. These concerns could often reflect localized inappropriate project siting and design, or the effects of unforeseen upstream development and stream alteration. The study assumed that existing natural detention
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 49 and retention areas would be preserved, but that the 36% of the town’s available land capable of supporting septic systems would eventually be developed.
The 1974 study notes that some small local culverts and narrow pipes cause local problems but have the benefit of providing unintended detention that governs the rate of downstream flow. It is important that such storage be provided in areas which can tolerate short-term inundation.
To guard against flooding of key roads during major storms the 1974 Master Drainage study supplemented its overall 10-year design storm with 50-year storm standards for culverts protecting proposed “emergency arteries” including Routes 123, and 106, Bay Road, Depot Street, Union Street, and Main Street/Lincoln Street. The study calculated respective 10 and 50-year storm flows reflecting full development of the town buildable vacant privately-owned land and recommended a range of selective culvert improvements and stream cleaning. To take advantage of natural storage it also recommended:
1. Modifying pond spillways to keep normal pond levels low enough to supply a useful amount of storage during a storm. 2. Empowering town personnel to raise and then lower spillway flashboards before and after storms in order to take advantage of the ponds’ flood storage potential.
The 1974 study did not identify specific opportunities to exploit existing minor impoundments or potential impoundments above roadways. Where backwater areas are public or unbuildable and roadway embankments are sound, such potential might be tapped by using a small, low pipe to carry normal flows and adding a larger, higher pipe to prevent major flows from overtopping the roads, or by installing a tapered weir. There are V shaped openings which gradually discharge more water as water levels rise.
The 1974 study inventoried the town’s culverts and dams, noting that one at Borderlands State Park had been breached. It did not make any explicit recommendations for modifying any structures to either increase storage or capacity to pass flows.
The subsequent 1977 Corps of Engineers “Flood Plain Information Report” points out that most of Easton’s flood plains results from channel obstructions such as dams and small culverts. Most of these culverts cannot pass storms of greater than 5 to 10 year’s interval, even when unobstructed. As noted above, these situations cause local flooding but protect downstream areas. Even greater protection comes from the town’s natural wetlands, particularly the Hockomock Swamp.
The ponds provide little storage if they are filled at the beginning of a storm. Hence those with breached dams such as Flyaway and Monte Pond actually have increased useful storage because they are low or empty at the beginning of a storm, thus filling before overtopping and passing through the opening. Other ponds have limited storage
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 50 due to the lack of freeboard at the beginning of a storm unless they are designed and managed for flood control benefits. The most severe floods, like those in March 1936 and 1968 (which breached the Flyaway Pond dam) have happened when swamps and ponds were already filled or the ground was frozen and snow covered allowing no infiltration. Thus the 1968 storm dropped only 6.5” to 7” compared to the less destructive 17” storm in August of 1955.
The report concludes that the combination of more severe 100 or 500 year storms and unfavorable conditions could be very destructive. It reviews a range of regulatory measures like those since enacted and non-regulatory measures such as building and managing dams, floodproofing properties and acquiring open space for safe flood storage and recreational use.
4. Ground and Surface Water Pollution
Despite near universal use of on-site disposal systems and many soils with severe limitations for septic systems, the Water Division of the town’s Public Works Department reports that there have been no major problems of ground or surface water pollution. This reflects many factors including:
• Effective, thorough enforcement of the State Sanitary Code (“Title V”) by the Board of Health.
• The fact that most of the soils with septic limitations have high water tables or hardpan layers rather than coarse materials which allow effluent to reach the ground water without adequate treatment in the soil.
• The fact the local industries include few inherently hazardous uses such as processing, printing, petroleum or chemical firms or others with significant amount of potentially hazardous liquid wastes. Instead the town has relatively dry metal trades, a water bottling plant, various construction and distribution activities and much retail trade.
• The presence of very comprehensive Flood Plain and Aquifer Protection Zoning Districts. The first prohibits activities, which would reduce flood storage, or flow patterns and requires as Special Permit for uses otherwise allowed in the underlying district. The second prohibits a wider range of hazardous uses (fuel storage, junk yards, open salt storage, chemical laboratories) and require special permits for any activities using, manufacturing, storing, or transporting toxic or hazardous materials beyond normal household volumes.
5. Development Impacts
The impacts of past development include:
• Loss of open scenic landscapes and meadow land by “Form A, subdivision approval not required” development along existing roads. ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 51
• Consumption of considerable land with the basic 40,000 square feet per lot or 20,000 sq. ft./bedroom lot requirements.
• Maintenance of groundwater supply recharge through the near universal use of on-site disposal systems.
• Partial preservation of usable open space through cluster development such as Button Bush Road and Whitman Brook developments.
• Loss of focus on the compact North Easton Village as new development occurs throughout the town. It is notable that Easton, like many New England communities is losing this neighborly village scale of development just as some other parts of the country are seeking to replicate it with “Neo-Traditional” residential projects.
• Loss of direct contact with permanent open space as an increasing proportion of the town’s housing is in subdivisions in which only the exterior lots abut undeveloped land – at least pending further development.
The first and last of the impacts are mirror images. Development along existing roads dominates the view from the road but leaves the houses in contact with any undeveloped rear land. On the other hand development in subdivisions can preserve a rural appearance, but limits residents contact with the countryside since most houses are landlocked by other house lots or roadway on all sides.
Easton’s few cluster developments offer an alternative since all lots abut a strip of common land which in turn connects with more extensive common land, and sometimes with public or semi-public open land. Thus the west portion of the Springhill development includes wetlands, a brook and a generous open field of perhaps 6 acres, and also abuts town water land. Similarly the west portion of the Buttonbush development backs on to the Fox Mountain lot and Beaver Brook Woods/Rohdin Addition lands.
While the bands of common land between the houses are limited, they do give access to more extensive open land without trespassing through neighbor’s yards. The provisions of the Open Space Residential Development Bylaw require setting aside 60% of the tract as Common Land.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 52
SECTION V – Inventory Of Lands Of Conservation And Recreation Interest
The protection of land as open space in the Town of Easton is important for several reasons. Beginning with the Conservation Commission’s first acquisition of parcels that now comprise the extensive Wheaton Farm complex, Easton has sought to protect important wildlife habitat; provide vast forested and open field areas that can be enjoyed by all the citizens of Easton; and protect and preserve the historic rural characteristic of the town. Open Space protection is an important tool that has been used by the town, the Conservation Commission and the Community Preservation Committee to provide additional protection to sensitive and important wetland resource areas and Easton’s water supply. An important goal for the town in its open space protection going forward is to pursue, acquire and protect land areas that are suited to active recreation uses.
This section provides an inventory of all lands in Easton that are open space and recreation properties that are legally protected lands, as well as lands that are essential for natural resource or recreational purposes that are not protected. “Open Space” is defined for the purposes of this report as land that has been left undeveloped and is or could be used for conservation and recreational purposes. “Protected” property is land that cannot be developed. This designation is crucial to protect vulnerable properties. Without such a designation, open space properties could be adversely impacted by development. “Unprotected” property is property that could possibly be sold in the future. The inventory includes public, non-profit and private properties. The Easton Conservation Commission has contracted with a consultant to develop a management plan for the lands they control.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Borderland State Park
Location: between Massapoag Avenue, Bay Road, Sharon town line, Rockland Street and Allen Road Access: Off of Bay Road Acreage: 671.5 Maps/Lots: R2-3, 4, 5, 6, 7; R3-1, 23, 24, 25, 26; RS-30, 32, 33, 34, 35; R5-22 Mass GIS #: 880143 SCORP ID: 88002 Management: Division of Forests and Parks Zoning:Municipal/Open Space
Other: Borderland State Park is located in the northwest corner of Easton, adjacent to the Sharon town line. The park is the former estate of Oakes and Blanche Ames. The site includes Leaches Pond (86 acres) and Puds Pond (6 acres).
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 53 Recreation opportunities include equestrian and hiking trails, bird watching, nature hikes, cross country skiing, fishing and canoeing; historic and natural history interpretation of mansion and grounds, picknicking and concerts
Hockomock Swamp Wildlife Management Area
Location: This area is in three portions; the largest is south of Foundry Street and west of Howard Street, merging with similar DF&W holdings in Taunton, Raynham and West Bridgewater to the south and east. The other portions are west of Prospect Street with one north and one south of Foundry Street.
Acreage: 1,304.3 acres in Easton. Maps/Lots: R-11-16, 17, 18, 20B; R12-1, 2, 3; R15-10, 11, 13, 14, 39A; R16-24, 25, 26; R20-9, 10, 12, 24, 35, 36, 38, 40-53 inclusive; R22-2, 5-51 inclusive; R23-1-67 inclusive; U41-2, 3, 5, 6, 7; U55-1-5 inclusive; U56-1,2,3; U58-1, 5, 16B; U58-1-5 inclusive Mass GIS Number(s): 88002,88003,88004,88005,880100. 880101, 880110, 880111 SCORP ID: 88026 Management: Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Zoning: Municipal/Open Space Other: These holdings are in the Hockomock Swamp ACEC and are part of the much larger, regionally significant Hockomock Swamp. The main Easton portion is low- lying wooded swamp with one area of high ground, South Island and strips of open marsh along Black Brook and under an electric power line.
State Owned Water Areas
A. Leach Pond: 86 acres B. Pud’s Pond: 6 acres
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Town of Easton Lands, Managed by Conservation Commission
MANAGEMENT ACQUISITION AREA ACREAGE OWNER/MANAGER ACQUISITION METHOD DATE
Beaver Brook Area 98.54 Conservation Comprised of gifts from Douglas King, parcel donations from Douglas Parcels acquired Commission King Builders in conjunction with open space requirements associated with from 1979 through Cluster sub-division; transfer from Tax Title and land donation from 1985 Donajue/Uriuoli.
Black Brook Area 406 Conservation Combination of gifts, purchases, Tax Title transfers, donations from Parcels acquired Commission developers. from 1973 through 2003
Clifford G. Grant 280.47 Conservation Gift from Oliver Ames Parker, Land must remain in natural state; Clifford Parcels acquired Area Commission; School G. Grant Reservation (AKA Black Brooks Woods); Parkview School Inc.; from 1960 through Committee Junior High School (Jr. High is 98 Columbus Avenue) and 1997 Richardson/Olmstead; Strazdes Property; Marinelli Property, Lot 17B, contains portions of the Black Brook; Transferred from Tax Possession, ATM 05-12-1975, Art. 56, Dean/Litchfield; Transferred from Tax Possession, ATM 05-12-1975, Art. 56, Mary B. Howard; Town Forest - transferred per ch 5656 - chapter 49 of the acts of 1979
Dorchester Brook 61.39 Conservation Gift by Vine Brook Realty; Lot 8D; Final Judgment Tax Lien, n05-04-2004 Parcels acquired Area Commission; Selectmen Case No. 113840; Gift - King; Lot 7, FY 98 Subd 'Union Village'; Oliver F. from 1986 through Ames Purchase - Monte's Pond; Oliver F. Ames Purchase - North of 1999 Monte's Pond/Site of Dorchester Brook; Oliver Ames Property; T&M Realty Corp, Area known as Flyaway Pond; T&M Property, known as Lot 26, Subd. 'Farm at Flyaway Pond’; Kelleher Property, west of Flyaway Pond;
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 55 Flyaway Pond - Long 243.34 Conservation Picker Field Property, Elise A. Parker; King property, Lot 27; W.A. Parker Parcels acquired Pond Area Commission property; Transferred from Tax Possessions – ATM 04-10-1995, Art. 35 – from 1965 through Heirs of John Conant Property; Transferred from Tax Possession, ATM 04- 1997 10-1995, Art. 35 (Sarah E. Goward); Tax title acquisition, wetlands, listed as e/bay on tax possession list; gift from Dodd Enterprises, wooded pond; gift Easton Land Co. from J. Ames; Site of Easton's Quillwart (Inc. U6- 14);Transferred from Tax Possession ATM 05-12-1975 (Marion H. Milligan Lot)
Furnace Village Area 124.18 Conservation Lot 15, Tax Possession 08-14-1997, STM 06-04-2001, Art. 13, Camelot III Parcels acquired Commission; Selectmen Sub; Tax Possession, Parcel B, Subd. FY 2002; Lot 19, Tax Possession, from 1984 through STM 06-04-2001, Art. 13, Camelot III Subd.; Transferred from Tax 2001 Possession, ATM 04-10-1995, Art. 35, Remus Realty Tr.; Gift Bonwood Const. Co., Historical/Cultural; Fuller Property, West of New Pond & New Pond (includes New & Old Ponds, R10 Fuller Property, New Pond; Fuller Property, Between New Pond and Old Pond Fuller Property, Old Pond; Fuller Property, Old Pond (Parking Lot/Grist Mill Stone); Gaslight II,
Hockomock Swamp 27.45 Conservation Mirrione Property, Lot 7; Hayward Property (Talbot Lot); Burstyn Parcels acquired Area Commission Property; Purchased from Mucci from 1987 through 2004
Conservation Langwater Area 19.24 Commission Lot A1, Gift from Esther D. Ames, contains Langwater Pond 4/10/2003
Poquanticut Area 169.11 Conservation Dick/Endriunas Gift; Gift Robert Gilmore, upland & wetland; Robert Parcels acquired Commission Cardelli property; Purchase from Grant family; Peterson Property, Adjacent from 1991 through to Borderland State Park; Gift from Krikis, wetland, Lot A; T&M, Parcel A 2003 Mill Pond Estates Subdivision, Gift; Turner Gift, Lot 2 Subd. FY2002 Turner Estates; Gift from Endriunas; Gift from Theresa Pacella; Lot 3, Purchased from Willis Buck Family; McIntyre Property (AKA Currivan Property); Lot 1B
Poquanticut Area / 38.28 Conservation Mirrione Gift (Parcel A; Strawberry Fields Subdivision); ATM 03-20-72, Parcels acquired Beaver Brook Area Commission Arts. 61 & 62 8/11/1972 and 12/26/1996
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Red Mill Road Area 27.99 Conservation King/Endriunas Property; Nowrouzi/Albanese, Transferred from Bd. Of Parcels acquired Commission; Selectmen, ATM 05-08-1990; Gift from Robert Gilmore; LOT 43; 'Sierra from 1990 through Selectmen/Water Hills Phasae III' Subd. 1994 Commissioners
South Easton Area 46.56 Conservation Gift from Lenox Development Corp; NE of Setter's Pond and W of Queset Parcels acquired Commission; Selectmen Brook; Manmade pond, Originally owned by Matthew Welch; Gift from from 1979 through Louis A. Vazza (Adjacent to RR tracks) 2004 Gift Stanger; Lot 2B, Out of U38-32; Lot A, FY 96 Subd.; Lot B, FY 96 Subd., Final Judgment Tax Lien Case No. 120581; Lot C, FY 96 Subd.; Lot A, FY 96 Subd.; Lot B, FY 96 Subd., Final Judgment Tax Lien Case No. 120581; Lot D, FY 96 Subd.; Lot E, FY 96 Subd.; Christopher, Rapaport, McKinnon, Jr. Gift. Wooded & Wetlands, Lot 4 on 12-1; Christopher, Rapaport, McKinnon, Jr. property, Lot 7 on 12-18-1970 plan; Christopher, Rapaport, McKinnon, Jr. property, Lot 8 on 12-18-1970 plan; Christopher, Rapaport, McKinnon, Jr. property, Lot 1 on 12-18-1970 plan
Wheaton Farm Area 1003.49 Conservation Transferred from Tax Possessions, ATM 04-10-1995, Art. 35 (Leon Parcels acquired Commission; Selectman Lincoln Lot); Wheaton Farm, Original Purchase, Daniel Wheaton; from 1967 through Wheaton Farm, David M. & Alma Rohdin; Wheaton Farm, Original 2005 Purchase, Daniel Wheaton; Gift from Werden; Wheaton Farm Rupert L. & Franics Andrus; Wheaton Farm, Original Purchase, Geo & Jessie Williams Wheaton Farm, Subon Purchase, Known as 'Meadowbrook Campground'; Transferred from Tax Possession, ATM 04-10-1995, Art. 35, Hockomock WMA; Wheaton Farm, Parcel C Open Space, Subd. 'Tanglewood II'; Wheaton Farm, Parcel D Open Space, FY2003 Subd. 'Tanglewood; Wheaton Farm, Lot C Open Space, FY2003 Subd. 'Tanglewood; Wheaton Farm, Parcel A-2 from M. Itani shown on a plan entitled 'Tanglewood; Purchased from Grant family; Wheaton Farm, Parcel A, FY87 Subd. 'Milestone Acres'; Wheaton Farm, Purchase from Charles Barboza; Wheaton Farm, Tax Possession; Alice R. Lincoln; (Meadow Lot); Wheaton Farm, Tax Possession; Alice R. Lincoln (Rock Lot); Wheaton Farm, Formerly Tax Poss; Auction 6-9-4, Town Meeting 12-6-2004; Wheaton Farm, Naaman Williams Property (See file re Bank Account); Wheaton Farm, Fuller-Hammond; Wheaton Farm - Transferred from Tax Possession. ATM 03-19-1973 - Art. 34; Transferred from Tax Possessions, ATM 04-
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 57 10-1995, Art. 35, Eliphalet Wilson; Wheaton Farm - Gift from New Maple Assoc. (Property is partly in Norton); Open Space A Gift from New Maple Associates Wheaton Farm, Terry L. Edwards Property; Wheaton Farm, Part of; Trans. From Tax Possession, ATM 04-10-1995, Nathan W; Gift from M. Itani; Wheaton Farm, Trans. From Tax Possession, ATM 03-19-1973 (Martin D. Swanson; Wheaton Farm Original Purchase, Mary Williams Lot; Wheaton Farm Original Purchase, Moses Lincoln Lot; Wheaton Farm, Original Purchase, Daniel Wheaton; Wheaton Farm, Thomas Truman; Wheaton Farm, Gift from Endriunas Brothers; Wheaton Farm, Transferred from Tax Possession, ATM 04-10-1995, Art. 35; Wheaton Farm, Alice R. Lincoln, Estate of, 12-00-1984; Wheaton Farm, Original Purchase, Daniel Wheaton, Lot B, Wheaton Farm Barn; Wheaton Farm, Chadbourne Property (Binney's Hill), Includes R15-49; Wheaton Farm, Gift, Mugar (Winnencunnet Estates); Wheaton Farm, White Craig, Inc. Gift; Wheaton Farm, Gift Barg, Parcel 13 (Barg Estates); Wheaton Farm, Gift Bag, Parcel 14 (Barg Estates); Marsha Levine purchase; Access Easement on R20-5A thru Settlers Glen to Howard; Wheaton Fam, Tax Possession, Auction 06- 08-2004, STM 12-06-2004, Art. 9; Wheaton Farm, Transferred from Tax Possession 03-65, Tucker Lot; Wheaton Farm, Transferred from Tax Possession, ATM 04-10-1995, Art. 35; Wheaton Farm, Tax Title, STM 06- 04-2001, Art. 13; Pump House #6; Wheaton Farm, Original Purchase, Geo. E. Kimball; Wheaton Farm, Alice R. Lincoln, Estate of, 08-00-1983, Lot 2; Wheaton Farm, Alice R. Lincoln, Estate of, 08-00-1983, Lot 1; Failed Perk Test; Rupert L. & Franic R. Andrus Purchase 12-1977; Tax Possession 05- 14-1972; Wheaton Farm, V.G.R., Parcel C, FY 99; Wheaton Farm, Gift from M. Itani,m Parcel B, FY 98 Subd.
Whitman's Brook 36.09 Conservation Gift from Coffman, wetland & upland, habitat; Cemetery on this parcel; Parcels acquired Area Commission Mirrione Property, Parcel I, 'Applewood' Subd. 12/18/1990 and 8/13/1996 Miscellaneous Old Pond/New Pond Conservation Taken in lieu of foreclosure ATM 05-15-2006, ART. 13, Endriunas Area 0.94 Commission property, L 8/28/2005 Beaver Dam Road Conservation Taken in lieu of foreclosure ATM 05-15-2006, ART. 13, Antosca property, Area 0.76 Commission str 8/22/2006 Depot Street Area 6.22 Conservation Lot 10, Kelley Property 1/26/2004
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 58 Commission Conservation Depot Street Area 9.19 Commission Lot 4, Kelley Property 10/26/2004 Bay Road Area 0.01 Cemetery Conservation Transferred from Tax Possession, ATM 04-10-1995, Art. 35 (Kenneth Prospect Street Area 1.51 Commission Kern), De 6/22/1993 Prospect Street Area 2.15 Selectmen Formerly Robert N. Jones, TT 7/31/2000 Town Office 8.6 Selectmen Town Office 6/24/1960 Selectmen/Water Norton Avenue Area 10.8 Commissioners Lot 2B 10/15/1979 Selectmen/Water Norton Avenue Area 1.12 Commissioners Lot 2B 11/5/1980 Cemetery 1.5 Cemetery Commission Cemetery - Washington Street, 1796 Appleblossom Lane Conservation Area (Access Path) 0.1 Commission Wheaton Farm, Gary Werden, 12-1992, Access Path, Walden Woods Subd. Appleblossom Lane Conservation Area (Access Path) 0.1 Commission Wheaton Farm, Gary Werden, 12-1992, Access Path, Walden Woods Subd. Foundry Street Area 1.4 Selectmen Tax Possession, Owner Unknown 4/20/1997 Olde Foundry Street Area 1.8 Selectmen Tax Possession 9/16/1994 Conservation Refer to letter of 04-18-100-, owner unknown, Include 15R-99-frontage for Wheaton Farm Area 2.1 Commission l 8/30/2007 Conservation Wheaton Farm, Parcel D from M. Itani shown on a plan entitled Wheaton Farm Area 3.24 Commission 'Tanglewood E 8/28/2003 Conservation Wheaton Farm, Trans. From Tax Possession, ATM 04-10-1995, Art. 35 Wheaton Farm Area 1.11 Commission (Maria Ge 6/22/1993 Flyaway Pond Area 0.22 Selectmen Parcel A, FY96 Subd. - Parking for Militia Park 6/28/1995 MILITIA PARK 7.6 Recreation Commission Militia Park 8/7/1947 Cemetery 0.18 Cemetery Commission Cemetery 0 Elijah Howard, 1775 Landfill 89.5 Selectmen Sanitary Landfill; Inc. R16-15 and 23; R20-33 and 34 Town Pool and Bldgs. 9.8 Selectmen Town Pool and Bldgs. Town Parking Lot 0.48 Selectmen Town parking lot 3/22/1984 Town Parking Lot 0.23 Selectmen Town parking lot Ames Library Area 0.92 Selectmen Lot 1, ATM 04-06-1986, Art. 5, FY96 Subd. 10/4/1996 Ames Library Area 1.12 Selectmen Lot 2, ATM 04-06-1986, Art. 5, FY96 Subd. 10/4/1996
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 59 Ames Library Area 1.09 Selectmen Lot 3, ATM 04-06-1986, Art. 5, FY96 Subd. 10/4/1996 Ames Library Area 0.95 Selectmen Lot 4, ATM 04-06-1986, Art. 5, FY96 Subd. 10/4/1996 Cemetery 0.23 Cemetery Commission Cemetery - Thomas Manley, 1736 Rockery 0.5 Selectmen The Rockery 5/19/1970 WATER Selectmen/Water COMMISSION LAND 4.56 Commissioners 11/24/1965 WATER Selectmen/Water COMMISSION LAND 11.7 Commissioners LC 39/99 WATER Selectmen/Water COMMISSION LAND 26.65 Commissioners From Subon Co. WATER Selectmen/Water COMMISSION LAND 4.16 Commissioners From Subon Co. WATER Selectmen/Water COMMISSION LAND 1.8 Commissioners WATER Selectmen/Water COMMISSION LAND 1.2 Commissioners WATER Selectmen/Water COMMISSION LAND 5.1 Commissioners WATER Selectmen/Water COMMISSION LAND 4.2 Commissioners WATER Selectmen/Water COMMISSION LAND 6 Commissioners Pump House #3; Cemetery ASA Newcomb, 1827 WATER Selectmen/Water COMMISSION LAND 11.8 Commissioners WATER Selectmen/Water COMMISSION LAND 27.4 Commissioners Pump House #5 WATER Selectmen/Water COMMISSION LAND 0.5 Commissioners WATER Selectmen/Water COMMISSION LAND 1.4 Commissioners WATER Selectmen/Water COMMISSION LAND 0.9 Commissioners WATER Selectmen/Water COMMISSION LAND 2.36 Commissioners LC 39199 Open Space D Gift from New Maple Asspcoates for future construction of Wheaton Farm Area 0.05 Selectmen road 11/8/2002
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 60 Conservation Wheaton Farm, Formerly Tax Poss; Auction 6-9-4, Town Meeting 12-6- Wheaton Farm Area 4 Commission 2004, Art 7/14/2004 Conservation Wheaton Farm Area 26.6 Commission GIFT; GARY WERDEN Conservation Wheaton Farm, Original Purchase, Mary Williams, 03-1966, Deed could Wheaton Farm Area 7.7 Commission also be Conservation Wheaton Farm, Original Purchase, A. W. Oliff, Deed could be in Bk. 1561, Wheaton Farm Area 9.3 Commission Pg Wheaton Farm Area 5.3 BK & Page 933/264 1-18-1950; Land Court 16-6-1949 Electric Park Area 0.24 Selectmen Electric Park Area, from Gregory Thomasetti 9/15/1998 Electric Park Area 0.02 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Lot 11, Tax Possession Electric Park Area 0.06 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Lot 12, Tax Possession Electric Park Area 0.11 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Lots 45-46, Tax Possession 12/11/1963 Electric Park Area 0.06 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Lot 47, Tax Possession 12/12/1962 Electric Park Area 0.08 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Lot 48, Tax Possession 12/11/1963 Electric Park Area 0.17 Selectmen Electric Park Area, from John H. Kelley 7/14/2004 Electric Park Area 0.23 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Lots 55-59, Tax Possession 12/12/1962 Electric Park Area 0.11 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Tax Possession Electric Park Area 0.22 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Lots 99-102, Tax Possession 12/11/1963 Electric Park Area 0.11 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Tax Possession 12/12/1962 Electric Park Area 0.42 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Lots 109-117 12/11/1963 Electric Park Area 0.11 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Tax Possession 11/1/1993 Electric Park Area 0.11 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Lots 124-125, Tax Possession 8/20/1965 Electric Park Area 0.11 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Lots 146-147, Tax Possession 12/11/1963 Electric Park Area 0.08 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Tax Possession 7/28/1986 Electric Park Area 0.05 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Lot 61, Tax Possession 8/2/1971 Electric Park Area 0.1 Selectmen Electric Park Area, Tax Possession 12/11/1964 Wheaton Farm Area 0.41 Selectmen No information Cemetery 0.33 Cemetery Commission Cemetery, Lt. John Williams, 1729 Cemetery 0 Cemetery Commission Cemetery, Col. Or Capt, John Williams, 1797 Wheaton Farm Area 0.7 Selectmen Tax Possession 9/25/1985 Conservation Wheaton Farm Area 28.4 Commission Wheaton Farm, Purchased from Robert H. Harwood 9/28/1977 Wheaton Farm Area 0.63 Selectmen Tax Possession, Did not Perc. 9/15/1998
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 61 Wheaton Farm Area 0.92 Selectmen Wet 6/30/2000 Wheaton Farm Area 1.13 Selectmen Tax Possession (Part of Old R20-7 Lot 4B) 9/15/1998 Wheaton Farm Area 0.87 Selectmen Tax Title 8/24/1992 5.87 Josies Way Lots 18991230 DPW Garage 2.62 Selectmen DPW Building, Storage Shed; Includes Lots 9 & 10 4/9/1951 Hockomock Swamp Conservation Area 5.2 Commission Burstyn Property 12/16/1997 Moreau Hall Area 3.44 School Committee Moreau Hall School 1/28/1981 Moreau Hall Area 0.17 School Committee Lot 11 3/19/1982 Police & Fire Station Area 0.43 Selectmen 7/12/1960 Groveland Park Area 0.11 Selectmen Tax Possession 09-03-1975 High School Complex Area 51 School Committee Oliver Ames High School 11/3/1966 Police & Fire Station Area 5 Selectmen Police & Fire Station, Cell Tower 192 Ft. 7/20/1960 Police & Fire Station Area 1.5 Selectmen Police & Fire Station Area 3.5 Selectmen Police & Fire Station Area 4.7 Selectmen 7/12/1960 Old Baldwin Street Conservation Dump Area 5.5 Commission Transferred from Board of Selectmen, ATM 04-12-1983, Art. 20 Old Baldwin Street Dump Area 2.18 12/28/1973 Water Commission Selectmen/Water Land 4 Commissioners Water Commission Selectmen/Water Land 29.3 Commissioners Received from Donald A & Rose M. Freeman 6/30/1999 Water Commission Selectmen/Water Land 20.4 Commissioners Water Commission Selectmen/Water Land 12.1 Commissioners Pump House #2 & #4 9/9/1959 Water Commission Selectmen/Water Land 1.9 Commissioners 9/11/1971
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 62 Water Commission Selectmen/Water Land 7 Commissioners Parcel 2 9/11/1971 Water Commission Selectmen/Water Land 9.8 Commissioners Water Commission Selectmen/Water Land 4.41 Commissioners Parcel A, FY 2003 Subd. Presidential Paths 12/28/2001 Water Commission Selectmen/Water Land 5.23 Commissioners Lor 3A, FY 2003 Subd. Presidential Paths 12/28/2001 Union Street Area 5.1 Selectmen Tax Possession 8-15-1987 7/15/1987 Metacomet Conservation Subdivision Area 1.13 Commission Metacomet Subd., Parcel B Metacomet Conservation Subdivision Area 1.54 Commission Metacomet Subd., Parcel A 5/21/1984 Conservation Sheridan Street Area Commission Parcel A, Gift from Richard J & Joyce Harb, FY 2006 Subd. 11/9/2004 Elizabeth Way Area 5 Selectmen TT from Anne M. Martin, Unbld - Deed Restriction 7/7/2000 Sheridan Street Area 0.84 Selectmen Tax Possession 6/22/1993 Water Commission Selectmen/Water Land 24.6 Commissioners Pump Station #1; Inc. U32-32 5/12/1952 Cemetery 0.09 Cemetery Commission Cemetery, Oliver Howard, 1803 Cemetery 1.42 Cemetery Commission Cemetery, Central, 1803 Cemetery 0.13 Cemetery Commission Cemetery, Silas Philips, 1842 Town of Easton Depot Street Area 0.68 Selectmen Fire Station #2 Center School/Yardley Town of Easton School Rink Area 13 Department Center School, Inc. U38-18 & Yardley Rink 2/2/1954 Porter Street Area 1.02 Selectmen No notes 3/24/1993 Depot Street Area 0.05 Selectmen Old Dog Pound Purchase Street Area 1.5 Selectmen No notes Purchase Street Area 0.11 Selectmen No notes Purchase Street Area 0.62 Selectmen No notes Purchase Street Area 2 Selectmen Foreclosure Decree 04-20-1988 Cemetery 1.4 Cemetery Commission Cemetery - Cynthia Drake, 1714, Oldest in town, 1st burial Lillian Randall Cemetery - Old Burying Grounds, 1705 - Veteran's Cemetery (Vets. Cemetery 3.2 Cemetery Commission Monument d
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 63 Church Street Area 0.63 Selectmen LC Case #44177 Purchase Street Area 0.44 Selectmen Tax Possession 08-26-1988 Bay Road Area 13.4 Selectmen 11/16/2005 Selectmen/Water Water Tower 1 Commissioners Water Tower 2,000,000 Gal; ROW of Land Conservation Flyaway Pond Area 20.63 Commission King Property, Lot 20 12/26/1997 Conservation Transferred from Tax Possession ATM 05-12-1975, Art. 19, (Lemuel K. Allen Road Area 9.7 Commission Wilbur/ 4/12/1983 Conservation Purchase from Gloria J. Freitas (Recorded 03-10-2003), STM 02-04-2002, Allen Road Area 12.7 Commission Art. 12/14/2004 Cemetery 0.06 Cemetery Commission Cemetery - Jederick Willis, 1820 Cosma Road Area 0.27 Selectmen Tax Title, Most of land in Stoughton 7/31/2000 Pine Street Area 3.31 Lot B, Eastondate Playground Cemetery 0.06 Cemetery Commission Cemetery - Almshouse, 1845 Sweetmeadow Drive Area 0.16 Lot 4, FY 96 Subd. 2/24/2003 Sweetmeadow Drive Area 0.06 Parcel C, FY 96 Subd, Not buildable 2/24/2003 Sweetmeadow Drive Area 0.06 Parcel D, FY 96 Subd, Not buildable 2/24/2003 Old Fire Station 0.08 Selectmen Old Fire Station, Now DPW Storage 2/8/1956 Old/New Pond Area 0.25 Selectmen Swift Park Bay Road Area 2.22 Selectmen Gift from CVS Inc, Lot 2, FY 07 Subd. (Bay Road/Depot Street corner) 5/23/2006 Cemetery - Issac Lothrop, 1796 (Myles Standish daug. buried here - name Cemetery 0.15 Cemetery Commission of Purchase Street Area 0.08 No notes Cemetery 0.08 Cemetery Commission Cemetery - Neheimah Howard 1818 Cemetery 0.73 Cemetery Commission Cemetery - Dr. Edward Dean, 1816 Cemetery 0.4 Cemetery Commission Cemetery - John Selee, 1836 Possum Run Road Conservation Area 9.39 Commission T&M, Parcel B Mill Pond Estates Subdivision, Gift 1/5/1999 Possum Run Road Conservation Area 3.39 Commission Parcel 2, on plan entitled 'Plan of Land in Easton, MA, Prepared for Rockla 12/14/2004 Rockland Street Area 0.7 Selectmen Tax Possession, Mulligan 01-25-1994 4/12/1994
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 64 Rockland Street Area 0.81 Selectmen Tax Possession, Mulligan 01-25-1994 4/12/1994 Rockmeadow Road Area 0.24 Selectmen Lot 26A Unbuildable 7/14/2004 Wedgewood Drive Area 8.97 Selectmen Cons. Restriction; formerly owned by Briarwood Enterprises CO., Inc. 8/31/2000 Miller Road Area 0.1 Selectmen Tax Possession 4/18/1979 Water Commission Selectmen/Water Land 25.7 Commissioners Water Land 8/11/1976 Water Commission Selectmen/Water Land 1.25 Commissioners Water Tank #3 3/3/1984 Highland Street Area 0.32 Selectmen Tax Possession 8-15-1972 8/20/1968 Fire Station #3 9.1 Selectmen Fire Station #3 DPW, Water Dept. 2.4 Selectmen DPW; Water Division, Office Bldg. and Metal Bldg. Conservation Wheaton Farm, Galloway Purchase, Known as Wright's Farm, Lot A FY(( Wheaton Farm Area 50 Commission Subd. 2/20/1998 Highland Street Area 1.41 No notes Joseph Road Area 1.36 Recreation Commission Peterson Playground Rockland Street Area 0.94 Selectmen Tax Possession 05-06-1991 8/14/1991 Rockland Street Area 0.97 Selectmen Tax Possession 05-06-1991 4/14/1991 Cemetery 3 Cemetery Commission Cemetery - Old Bay Road, 1772 Conservation Chestnut Street Area 5 Commission McClurg Property 3/18/1990 Conservation Chestnut Street Area 2.85 Commission Kane Property WETLANDS. ASSESS_LOT NUMBERS 25A, 26A. 3/18/1980 Chestnut Street Area 3.5 Final Judgment in Tax, Lien Case #120382 8/11/2004 Mill Street Area 1 Landlocked 7/14/2004 Peabody Drive Area 0.08 Lot 6, FY 93 Subd. Previous owner Al & Walter Endriunas 2/24/2003 Chestnut/Massapoag Conservation Block 16.49 Commission Parcel F, Open Space associated with sub. Entitled 'Lone Oaks' 11/6/2001 Chestnut/Massapoag Conservation Parcel D from Dennis Welch shown on a plan entitled 'Lone Oak Farms, Block 11.09 Commission Chestn 11/6/2001 Conservation Tufts Farm Property 3 Commission Gift of Tufts family, Adjacent to Picker Field, Deed Restriction - must ke 4/28/1980 Cemetery 0.09 Cemetery Commission Cemetery - Macey Record, 1834 Poquanticut Avenue 0.09 In front of R8-113
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 65 Area Conservation Chestnut Street Area 16.67 Commission Bay Path Corp. Gift 5/18/1999 Fox Mtn/Beaver Brook Conservation Woods Area 5.14 Commission Parcel F, Open Space associated with sub. Entitled 'Fox Hill An Adult Retir 12/22/2003 Wedgewood Drive Conservation Area 0.11 Commission Deed restriction To be used in conjunction with U8-37 2/2/1981 Black Brook Conservation Watershed Area 21.04 Commission Lot A, Wetlands Est., Lot A-2 FY00, Snow Realty Trust 5/6/1998 Black Brook Conservation Watershed Area 16.27 Commission FY98 Subd. 12/30/1999 Bay Road Area 0.32 Selectmen Parcel A/Cemetery (Thomas Keith?), FY 2003, Open Space Fox Hill 4/5/2004 Fox Mtn/Beaver Brook Conservation Woods Area 9.42 Commission Parcel F, Open Space associated with sub. Entitled 'Fox Hill An Adult Retir 12/22/2003 Pammy Path Area 0.69 Selectmen Tax Possession 01-28-1987 1/27/1997 Conservation Christina Drive Area 0.91 Commission Mirrione Property, Lot 10, 'Applewood' Subd. 8/13/1996 Hancock Street Conservation Common Area 4.86 Commission Common Area 1 - 'Golden Oaks' FY 2006 Subd; Lot 1-A, Est. Wetlands 8/1/2005 Shannonmarie Way Conservation Area 3.49 Commission Common Area 2 - 'Golden Oaks' FY 2006 Subd.; Est. Wetlands 8/1/2005 Hancock Street Conservation Common Area 9.66 Commission Common Area 3 - 'Golden Oaks' FY 2006 Subd.; Est. Wetlands 8/1/2005 Hancock Street Conservation Common Area 4.86 Commission Common Area1-B - 'Golden Oaks' FY 2006 Subd.; Est. Wetlands 8/1/2005 Unionville Playground 3 Tennis and Basketball Courts, Unionville Playground 4/15/1946 Washington Street Arrea 1.2 Selectmen Tax Possession 6/5/1979 Conservation Parcel B Open Space associated with sub. 'Dorchester Brook Estates', FY Arborway Area 34.43 Commission 200 12/22/2003
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Open Space Protected by Less than Fee Ownership
A. Conservation Restrictions held by the Easton Conservation Commission (not separately mapped as coterminous with mapped holdings) No public access. 1. Ames Rifle and Pistol Club, Canton Street, 60 acres (total site). 2. White Properties off Bay road – 14.94 acres. Held jointly with the NRT.
B. Conservation Restrictions held by the Natural Resources Trust of Easton No public access
C. Along Quest Brook on the east side of Turnpike Street - 3.3 acres. 1. Between Center Street and the railroad right-of-way – 14.65 acres 2. Land adjacent to east side of Picker Field – 21.12 acres 3. Clock Farm, Washington Street, a restriction on one acre on Queset Brook directly downstream from the Sheep Pasture holdings donated by Stonehill College to further protect the Brook 4. Along Queset Brook south of Main Street – 55 acres
Partially Protected Lands Not Held for Conservation Purposes
A. Town of Easton Water Department
1. Pump 3 and 5 – Off Red Mill Road/Norton Avenue Map/Lots: R13-21, R18-1, 1A, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7, 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 10 Acreage: 94.22
2. Standpipe –West Side Bay Road Map/Lots: R3-3 Acreage: 1.0 (not mapped)
3. Off Elm Street Map/Lots: U4-93 Acreage: 25
4. Pumps 1,2 & 4 – West of Washington Street, East of Center Street Map/Lots: U 28-33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, U32-21,22 Acreage: 79.82
5. Water Division Offices – Bay Road Map/Lot: U50-3 Acreage: 2.4 (not mapped)
B. Miscellaneous Town Properties
1. School Department: 118.46 acres (see Recreation inventory)
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 67 2. Town Offices: 8.60 acres, adjacent to open space of the Spring Hill at Easton cluster subdivision. 3. Cemeteries: 33 cemeteries, 54.85 acres (Approx.) – Town and Private (not mapped)
C. Town-Owned Water Areas 1. Flyaway Pond 66 acres 2. Picker Pond 12 acres 3. Old Pond 11 acres 4. New Pond 13 acres 5. Long Pond 16 acres 6. Ward Pond 5 acres 7. Round Pond 2 acres 8. Unnamed 15 acres 9. off of Washington Street 10. Fuller-Hammond 38 acres (est.) 11. Reservoir
D. Land under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 61, Classification and Taxation of Forestry Lands and Forest Products
1. Vacant Forestry LOCATION ACRES MAP/LOT 105 Howard Street 35.22 20R84 92 Church Street 34.40 39U27
2. Forestry and Structure LOCATION ACRES MAP/LOT 91 Union Street 34.70 5U54 167 Elm Street 89.79 12U18 112 Howard Street 217.10 20R8 107 Dean Street 4.50 21R2 719 Washington Street 14.10 37U75
Land under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 61A, Agricultural and Horticultural Land Assessment
1. Vacant Land LOCATION ACRES MAP/LOT 58 Allen Road 1.22 3R35 44R Allen Road 22.05 3R36 40 Allen Road 1.03 3R36 54 Allen Road 1.01 3R36 146 Poquanticut Ave. 9.0 7R5 35 Chestnut Street 27.89 7R5 437R Depot Street 2.72 8R22
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 68 524 Depot Street 152.26 11R13 12 Howard Street 1.17 16R14 69 Howard Street 1.38 20R86 61 Howard Street 10.0 20R95 126 Church Street 134.82 39U21 94 Church Street 1.47 39U54 100 Church Street 1.0 39U55 106 Church Street 1.03 39U56 114 Church Street 1.12 39U57 321R Turnpike Street 16.0 51U1 330 Turnpike Street 18.0 51U52
2. 61 A Land with some kind of structure LOCATION ACRES MAP/LOT 116 Randall Street 6.0 5R79 120 Poquanticut Ave. 140.80 7R13 131 Poquanticut Ave. 8.9 7R22 435 Depot Street 4.50 8R23 154 Washington Street 12.0 9U24 10 Newell Circle 11.51 11R20 486R Bay Road 7.21 15R5 565R Bay Road 26.96 19R8 492 Bay Road 18.67 19R20 11 Howard Street 6.28 16R13 287 Purchase Street 232.0 46U13 351 Purchase Street 5.27 47U23
E. Land Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 61B Classification and Taxation of Recreational Land LOCATION ACRES MAP/LOT 265 Purchase Street 150.0 16R47 150 Foundry Street 26.23 53U38
Recreation and Athletic Facilities
A. Easton School Department: Total holdings including land and buildings: 118.46 acres.
OLIVER AMES HIGH SCHOOL 100 Lothrop Street Acreage: 65.7 Map/Lots: U26-3A, 3A, 5, 6, 7, 9A, 8B, 9, U31-39 Facilities: Outdoor: Tennis Courts (4) Game Fields Complex Football, Field Hockey, Soccer, Practice Fields: Adults (3)
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 69 Youth (1), Softball Fields: Adults (3) Youth (1); Softball Fields (2), Baseball Fields, Physical Education Fields, Track and Field Facility (440 and 400 meters) Indoor: Jogging, Weight Lifting Room, Gymnastic Room Comments: the track has been condemned, not usable, needs to be replaced. New baseball field has just been installed, will be usable in Spring 2008. The school would like a new track, another football field, goal posts for the football practice field, a turf field and a new volleyball court.
EASTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Columbus Avenue (Adjacent to High School) Acreage: 22.56 Map/Lot: U21-4
PARKVIEW SCHOOL 50 Spooner Street Acreage: 7.56 Facilities: Baseball/Softball fields, Gymnasium Programs: Youth Basketball (practice), Softball (High school practice), Adult League (practice and games) Aerobics
MOREAU HALL SCHOOL 360 Washington Street Acreage: 3.44 Map/Lot: U23-3A Facilities: Gymnasium, Little League field, soccer field Programs: recreational volleyball, Little League baseball Girl’s Soccer Comments: school is sited at edge of the Stonehill College campus.
CENTER SCHOOL 388 Depot Street Acreage: 13.0 Map/Lot: U38-17 Facilities: Playground, softball field and the adjacent Yardley-Wood Skating Rink Comments: School site reportedly includes the geologic feature “The Devil” Footprints
B. Southeastern Regional School District
SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 250 Foundry Street Acreage: 153.61 Map/Lots: R16-28, 29, 30, R20-37 Facilities: Gymnasium, Baseball Field Programs: Church League Basketball (practice)
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 70 Comments: Undeveloped portion of site west of railroad right-of-way abuts DFW Hockomock Swamp land and apparent edge of closed Town landfill site along Black Brook. The Pop Warner football program spent in excess of $85,000 to build a practice field at this site because town-owned land was not available. The Pop Warner program is dependent upon continued use of this site.
C. Town-Owned Recreation Facilities
MILITIA PARK (Easton Youth Baseball Complex) Access: Off Lincoln Street via Mahoney Road Acreage: 7.60 Map/Lots: U15-28 and a 6.0 acre portion of U15-27 Facilities: Six Little League (Youth Baseball) fields and related buildings as described in Section 7. Programs: Little League baseball for boys 8-12. Comments: The majority of the baseball fields are located on property owned by the Southeast Rehab and Skilled Care Center. The center at one time considered giving property to Little League but could not due to mortgage collateral requirements. The Town may want to consider purchasing the property to protect the investment in the facility. Presently the Recreation Commission owns the parking lot and T-Ball field, while the Town owns the restrooms, concession stand and two ball fields. If the Center gives one year’s notice, the League could be asked to vacate the property. Games can be played on Sundays on only three selected dates because of objections from a neighbor. There is a need for additional parking.
UNIONVILLE PLAYGROUND Access: Washington Street Acreage: 3.0 Map/Lot: U9-16 Facilities: Tennis Courts (2), Basketball Court, Youth Baseball/Softball field, horseshoes, playground and volleyball court. Comments: Lack of sufficient parking at this site severely limits its use.
PETERSON PLAYGROUND Access: Joseph Road, west of Turnpike Street Acreage: 1.36 Map/Lot: U16-1 Facilities: T-ball, basketball, swings Comments: Lack of sufficient parking at this site severely limits its use.
TOWN POOL Access: Lincoln Street Acreage: 9.80 Map/Lot: U16-1 Facilities: Swimming pool, picnic area, horseshoe pit. Programs: Recreational and instructional swimming.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 71 Comments: This is an apparent concrete impoundment of a stream flowing from a pond south of Queset Brook. It has been retrofitted for handicapped accessibility. The pond on the site is a popular fishing area. A lack of sufficient parking limits expanding the use of this site.
EASTONDALE PLAYGROUND Acreage: 3.31 Map/Lot: U40-127A Facilities: basketball, playground, t-ball Programs: T-ball
D. Quasi-Public Facilities IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH 193 Main Street Acreage: 3.38 Map/Lots: U18-94, 95,113 and 114 Facilities: basketball, volleyball courts Programs: Church League basketball, (practice & special needs) basketball and volleyball.
FROTHINGHAM PARK Access: Day Street Acreage: 11.82 Map/Lots: U21-263, U16-68B Facilities: open area/park, picnic area, tennis courts (2) Basketball court, one field that can be used for baseball and softball, jogging area/track, par course facility. Comments: This park is owned by a non-profit corporation, the Frothingham Memorial Corp., but is open to the public.
E. Private Recreation Facilities
AMES RIFLE & PISTOL CLUB 128R Canton Street Acreage: 60 Comment: The sound of weekend shooting is strong west of Flyaway Pond. The town holds a conservation restriction on the property.
EASTON ROD & GUN CLUB Howard Street Acreage: 226.05 Map/Lots: R22-3, 4, R20-8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 21, 22, 39, 45, 54 Comments: This extensive property is intertwined with the DFW Hockomock Swamp holdings to the east. The Club’s property fills a major section of the proposed east-west
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 72 Wheaton farm greenbelt but it is not known where it is safe to walk through it or if the activities are compatible with a trail system.
EASTON COUNTRY CLUB 261 Purchase Street Acreage: 175 Facilities: Golf Course Comments: This large open area abuts the Morse Bros. Cranberry bogs to the east and is separated from the Pine Oaks Golf Course to the west by the unused railroad right-of- way.
EASTON TENNIS CLUB 153 Chestnut Street Acreage: 5.0 Facilities: Four outdoor courts and eight indoor courts at this long-established club.
PINE OAKS GOLF COURSE 68 Prospect Street Acreage: 75.0 Map/Lot: R16-42 Comments: The club brackets Black Brook and abuts the Easton Country Club to the east, across the unused railroad right-of-way.
MAPLEWOOD SHORES DAY CAMP 150 Foundry Street Acreage: 26.23 Facilities: Day camp with a pond and varied buildings. The site is taxed under Chapter 61B.
STONEHILL COLLEGE 320 Washington Street, with land and facilities on both sides of the street. Acreage: 561.25 Map/Lots: U23-8, U28-1 Facilities: Athletic fields (practice and game, football, soccer, baseball, softball, track, jogging trails, skating pond, tennis courts, recreation center and inter-collegiate gymnasium. Comments: The College is a major open space and architectural asset to the community. It extends and complements the Sheep Pasture and Ames family holdings and gifts. Virtually the entire youth basketball program is dependant upon continued use of this site.
F. Privately Owned Water Areas
LOCATION SIZE IN ACRES 1. Keith Pond 10.0 2. Langwater Pond 20.0
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 73 3. Morse Pond 10.0 4. Shoddy Mill Pond 10.0 5. Shovel Shop Pond 10.0 6. Fuller Hammond Reservoir 16.0 7. French’s Pond 12.0 8. Ames Pond 14.0 9. Gravel Pit South 20.0 10. Dean Pond 5.0
In May, 2008, a new town-owned playground is being planned. It will be located behind the former North Easton Grammar School on Main Street. The playground will be built on land donated to the town by builder Douglas A. King, who bought the closed North Easton Grammar School and converted it to offices. King set aside 16 parking spaces in the building’s lot and built a ramp to the future playground. The Snelgrove family is donating $20,304 to the town for construction of this playground in memory of their late daughter Victoria Snelgrove.
The playground, by Ulti Play Parks and Playgrounds of Uxbridge, will include a swing set and climbing structure with two slides, three climbers, bridges and a platform for handicapped access. It can be used by up to 46 children, ages 5 to 12, at a time.
This playground will be built by community volunteers. It is scheduled to be built on June 13-14, 2008.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 74
G. OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILTIES IN EASTON
FIELD PLAY BASE HOCKEY/ TOTAL GROUND BALL/ SOCCER/ BASKET AREA EQUIP- SOFT FOOT MULTI- TENNIS BALL FACILITY ACRES MENT BALL BALL PURPOSE COURTS COURTS
Community Parks Town Forest Grant-Ames Reservation 295 Playfields High School/ Junior HS 88 6 6 2 5 1 Southeastern Voc. School 156 2 1 2 Militia Park 7.6 1 Parkview School 8 Yes 3 1 Moreau Hall School 3.5 Yes 1 1 1 1 Center School 13 Yes 1 1 Little League Complex 7.60 5 Playgrounds Unionville 3 Yes 1 1 Eastondale 3.31 Yes 1 1 Peterson 1.36 Yes 1 1 1 Parkview School 8 Yes 3 1 Moreau Hall School 3.5 Yes 1 Center School 13 Yes 1 Richardson School Yes Olmstead School Yes Other Town Pool 9.8 Yardley Rink 0.5 Private Ames Rifle & Pistol Club 60 Easton Rod & Gun Club 226.05 Easton Country Club 175 Pine Oaks Golf Course 75 Easton Tennis Club 5 12 Frothingham Park 11.82 3 2 1 Stonehill College 561.25
Totals 1292.29 30 8 7 20 6
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 75
UNPROTECTED LANDS OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION INTEREST
A. Wheaton Farm-Hockomock Swamp Greenbelt, West of Foundry Street. While a great deal has been accomplished in protecting the varied, multi-purpose Wheaton Farm area there are some unprotected, potentially developable “holes” in the complex and some islands of the Farm which are separated by unprotected potentially developable privately-owned land. This part of the Farm is in the Canoe River ACEC.
In all there are approximately 30 parcels of such privately owned land, totaling about 160 acres, which are within, abutting or closely related to the Farm. These are needed if the Farm is to reach its potential as a major resource, serving as the base of the proposed Wheaton Farm-Hockmock Swamp East-West Greenbelt. In general acquisition of adjacent properties would connect non-contiguous Farm management and protect significant aggregations of protected wildlife habitat.
1. A key area is a group of sloping wooded parcels to the southwest of the main Farm holding totaling about 91 acres. These wrap around one of the “islands” noted above, and back on to a residential portion of Foundry Street just above the Norton town line. In addition 4 scattered lots within or adjacent to the present farm holdings to the immediate north add another 13.5 acres. The isolated interior parcels are unlikely to be developed. However the main 90.6-acre portion is mapped with few environmental constraints and could probably be developed if access were acquired through the Woodland Drive subdivision off of Foundry Street Conversely a small easement between lots at the end of Woodland Drive could give public access to the whole Farm if this land is added to it.
2. One smaller 23-acre group of parcels to the northwest also penetrates the Farm holdings, has moderate septic limitations, and has potential access for development through intervening parcels fronting on Highland Street to the north. Their protective acquisition would be appropriate at a reasonable cost.
3. Two parcels of sloping wooded upland totaling 17.4 acres abut the northernmost part of Wheaton Farm and back onto developed land along Foundry and Highland Street. They have possible access to Highland Street along two narrow rights-of-way and severe septic limitations except for the western edge of the property. Complete acquisition would expand the Farm and allow access from Highland Street. However the existing development and the presumed high value of land in the area and the pattern of septic limitations suggest using a “mixed development” approach. Under this the
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 76 town would acquire the land and plan a portion compatible cluster housing in the northwest corner of the site while adding the rest to the Farm.
With good design the cluster’s open space would form an attractive backdrop to the existing housing to the north and west while also providing neighborhood access to the expanded Farm to the south and east. By acquiring the property and releasing a portion for designated development the town could require a higher level of design and open space integration than would occur when responding to a developer’s initiative.
Strengthening the Wheaton Farm Conservation Area through these acquisitions will in turn strengthen this key pivoting point or hinge in the suggested Bay Circuit Greenbelt route through the town.
B. Wheaton Farm-Hockomock Swamp Greenbelt, East of Bay Road, South of Prospect Street and West of Howard Street.
There are 13 whole or partial parcels of land totaling approximately 125 acres north and south of the eastern portion of the Farm. The area is in the Hockomock Swamp ACEC. The smaller, roughly 33-acre portion to the north abuts Prospect St. and the Olde Farm Road subdivision and has severe limitations for septic systems. The larger, roughly 92-acre, portion south of the present holdings abuts an isolated Farm Parcel which has access from Dean Street and has a right of way to Howard Street About 2/3rds of southern portion has severe septic limitations or is flood plain and 2 parcels are Chapter 61 forest land.
Acquisition of these parcels would significantly expand and enhance the eastern portion of the Wheaton Farm Conservation Area and give the Farm access from neighborhoods off of Prospect and Dean Street. As important, the easternmost parcel would give access across Howard St. to the Easton Rod and Gun Club and on to the Hockomock Swamp, assuming that safe passage through the Club lands can be arranged.
These additions will further strengthen the suggested Bay Circuit Greenbelt route through the town by connecting the Wheaton Farm with the Hockomock Swamp.
C. Mulberry Brook Headwaters
The Mulberry Brook Headwaters, south of Old Pond/New Pond and north of Highland St. in the Canoe River ACEC would forge a key bridge between the north- south and east-west greenbelts by connecting the Wheaton Farm-Hockomock Swamp Greenbelt with the Poquanticut Brook/Borderland State Park Greenbelt at its southern terminus, the Old Pond/New Pond complex. By doing so it would make a crucial connection in the suggested Bay Circuit Greenbelt route.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 77 The proposed acquisition fronts on Foundry Street and has other access from Highland and South Street. It consists of 4 parcels totaling about 45 acres and is a former industrial site in historic Furnace Village. The land encompasses the Brook waterworks and is largely septically limited floodplain. The Brook drains the Old and New Ponds flowing south through Wheaton Farm to Lake Winnecunnet in Norton. This acquisition is essential to the proposed north-south greenbelt.
D. Poquanticut Brook/Borderland State Park Greenbelt
This area of conservation and recreation interest contains approximately 20 parcels totaling about 530 acres. Poquantitcut Brook runs north-south through the areas from Leach Pond in Borderland State Park to the Old Pond/New Pond Conservation Area. The area contains diverse streams, woodlands, swamps and farmlands.
1. The Clover Valley Farm is the key property in this greenbelt. It consists of 3 parcels totaling about 173 acres of pasture, fields, and swamp along with the wooded rear half of another parcel of farmland fronting prominently on Poquanticut Ave. for a total of about 180 acres. It has extensive frontage on Poquanticut Avenue and Chestnut St. but much of the land west of the avenue is in flood plain or has severe limitations for septic systems. Clover Valley Farm is a stock farm and horse boarding stable and the 3 main parcels are under Ch. 61a. The site contains a nesting area for migrating Canada Geese along with maple swamp proposed for wetlands enhancement. The farm borders the Old Pond/New Pond complex to the south and the isolated Eastman Street conservation area to the west.
2. An adjacent 52.5 acres in 3 parcels abuts Clover Valley to the south and the Old Pond/New Pond to the west and has extensive frontage on Eastman Street. This land is largely wooded upland sloping down to wooded swamp. As mapped, most of this land has minimal limitations for development though it is in the Aquifer Protection District. It might have some potential for the limited development approach discussed earlier.
3. An additional 5 parcels west and north of the Clover Valley property include about 135 acres of fields, wooded backland and a section of the Brook. It has extensive frontage on Chestnut St. and several hundred feet along Poquanticut Ave. About two thirds of the land appears to be flood plain or to have severe limitations for septic systems lessening development potential. However the extensive frontage would tempt developers and development there would block the open rural landscape. The open or swampy eastern portion of the property and the northern end fronting on Poquanticut Ave. may be the most important for the greenbelt, so long as there is enough upland for passable, well-buffered trails.
4. The last potential piece of this central portion of the Greenway is a 39-acre “L” shaped pair of parcels between Poquanticut Ave. and Massapoag Ave. The land
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 78 consists of a small area of swamp, the apparent west branch of Poquanticut Brook, and extensive low-lying woodlands. An undeveloped strip along the west side of Poquanticut Ave. extends from the corner of Poquanticut and Massapoag Ave. opposite the Clover Valley Farm to within a 200’ of an open power line easement which runs on north through Borderlands State Park. This powerline also runs through the Fox Mountain Conservation land about 1600 feet to the east.
5. An alternative routing for a north-south trail would be via an easement through the remaining Clover Valley Farm property to and through the Beaver Brook Woods/Fox Mountain Lot Conservation area and then on to the state park via the powerline. However this would not increase the protected wildlife habitat, and would expose more humans to the unknown effects of power line rediation.
6. The final identified potential greenbelt segments are a two-parcel 42.5 acre site south of Rockland St. and a three parcel, 30 acre area north of Rockland St.
a. The first is between Massapoag Ave., Mill Street, Rockland Street and the southernmost part of Borderland State Park. It includes woodland, the Poquanticut Brook, and a portion of the aforementioned powerline. Only the edges of site along the Brook have flood plain or septic limitations, and the site has scattered frontage on both Hill Street and Rockland Ave. This acquisition would extend the Park, protect the brook and add to the overall greenbelt.
b. The second portion is low lying woodland running along the Brook over 2000’ into Borderland State Park. It is all flood plain or severely limited for septic systems. This land would do more to enhance and protect the Park than to create the Greenbelt and is an appropriate acquisition for State’s Department of Environmental Management.
7. Acquisition of these areas of interest would leave an approximately 2000’ gap between sites 10 and 12A. This suggests seeking acquisitions along the powerline and the rear of some deep wooded parcels fronting on Massapoag Ave. Such a route might feature a boardwalk across an intervening area of open marsh.
8. One final area of interest would fill the gap remaining between the northernmost portion of the Wheaton Farm and the Mulberry Brook Headwaters. Though the distance is slight, the intervening development along Foundry Street suggests routing the greenbelt east through 17 acres of woods (parcels U49-17, and U49- 16) and a right-of-way to Foundry Street, and then on to the Mulberry Brook Headwaters through an additional 4-acre Mulberry Brook acquisition, Parcel U49-2.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 79 Acquisition of the core of these areas of conservation interest would do much to bring about the Poquanticut/Borderlands Greenbelt connecting Borderland State Park with Wheaton Farm. It would also help to preserve the water quality of the Poquanticut Brook and its associated wetlands/ Finaly; these acquisitions would complete a final major step towards the suggested Bay Circuit Greenbelt alignment through Easton.
E. The Black Brook Greenbelt
The Black Brook Greenbelt would run north-south from the Fayaway Pond/Picker Field Conservation Area to the Grant Reservation/Town Forest and the Metacomet Conservation Area to the Hockomock Swamp and the Wheaton Farm-East.
1. Flyaway Pond/Picker Field Conservation Area
The developing Flyaway Pond area has approximately 25 parcels of conservation interest totaling about 180 acres near the Pond. It abuts Picker Field to the east and the Ames Rifle and Pistol Club to the North. The Pond is man-made and has been little more than a wetland and temporary storm water retention area since its dam was breached during the flood of 1968.
The pond drains southerly into Black Brook via wetlands south of Lincoln Street, eventually flowing to the Hockomock Swamp and on to the Taunton River. The area near the former pond contains woodland, swamp, and an unnamed stream. Much of the soil is coarse and stony leaving the new subdivision to the east and much of the land to the west quite developable so long as the Aquifer Protection District provisions are met. The 1992 Undeveloped Land Inventory noted this development potential and recommended cluster development to complement the area’s emerging open space system.
The Town of Easton at one time had proposed a project to restore Flyaway Pond as part of a Town Watershed Management Plan. Flyaway Pond, at one point in time, had been a fifty-five acre pond which supported swimming and other open water recreation opportunities. Due to a dam breech in March of 1968, during a “50 year flood”, and the resulting exposure of the pond bottom area, Flyaway Pond has evolved from an open water body to an emergent wetland. According to Easton DPW Director Wayne Southworth, as of August 2007, Flyaway Pond Dam was never reconstructed and the town has no plans to do so.
2. Town Forest/Grant Reservation
South of the Town Forest complex and north of the Metacomet Conservation Areas is a two-parcel, 66-acre tract of varied upland. The lower portion is east of Black Brook but the wider portion north of Randall St. includes the Brook
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 80 and its flood plain. The land has no mapped septic limitations so development would be constrained only by the flood plain zoning regulations.
Acquisition of some or all of this land would be a major step in completing the central greenbelt. It would connect the Forest to the Matacomet holdings. In addition the long narrow shape of the emerging greenbelt will support the goal of interspersing neighborhoods with sizable, varied, connected open spaces. The Matacomet Conservation Area itself exemplifies this approach since it provides an open space setting or context for both the Black Brook subdivision to the west and the Elizabeth Way/Gilmore Road development to the east.
Acquisition or other protection of about 75 acres along the Brook would create a major portion of the Black Brook Greenbelt. This should include a mapped 5.9 area parcel fronting on Depot Street
3. The Easton Center/Hockomock Swamp/Pine Oaks Golf Course Area
This extensive area runs from Depot Street to Foundry Street, northeast of the Five Corners commercial concentration and backs on to about 230 acres of the northern-most portion of the Hockomock Swamp owned by the town and the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife. It contains two distinct parcels of conservation interest.
a. The first area of interest, the 150-acre Gill property, is under Ch, 61a present use taxation. It runs from Depot Street south to Foundry Street and abuts the Swamp holding on its east and is largely gently sloping woodlands west of the actual swamp. This land is traversed by the Brook at its northern end, and by the north-south power line discussed earlier. The Depot St. frontage includes a brookside portion directly across from the Truman Farm/Black Brook greenway segment access point recommended above. Most of the land is severely limited for septic system and some portions to the east and along the Brook are in the mapped flood plain.
This land is zoned for housing but it abuts the Business zoned Five Corners commercial area. Acquisition would help prevent commercial sprawl by precluding private pressure for rezoning and commercial development. The site’s accessibility suggests considering the mixed development approach discussed earlier. A sensitive design could site compact housing near but not on the roadway frontage, while preserving the backland for conservation purposes.
b. The second parcel consists of 25 acres located at the southern boundary of the Hockomock Swamp between Prospect Street and the present town and state holdings. It is mostly wooded uplands with swamp land and mapped flood plain along the brook.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 81 The 1992 Undeveloped Land Inventory recommended creating a stream-side trail system along Black Brook to provide connections between residential areas and open space holdings. It also recommended considering cluster subdivision if development were to occur in the area in order to provide open space buffers between housing and conservation.
Acquisition of these two groups of parcels would extend the Black Brook Greenbelt from Depot Street to Foundry Street on the south and to Prospect Street on the southeast across from the Pine Oaks Gold Course. A further acquisition of a vacant 8.6-acre brookside parcel (U16-45) on Prospect Street would give access to the Course. At this point the Brook is protected and very visible as it runs through the Golf Course to Foundry Street.
Public trail use o this portion of the Brook could be problematic during games and would have to negotiate with management. Experience shown that even when on public footpath hiking during games can be disconcerting for the hiker and disruptive for the players.
4. South from Pine Oaks to the Main Hockomock Swamp Holding
The final greenbelt segment from Foundry St. south of the Golf Course to the main part of the DFW Hockomock Swamp is largely through public land. Downstream of this is apparent town landfill property on the east bank and land of the Southeastern Vocational Technical School on the west back. Except for two isolated parcels of private land (mostly power line right-of-way) the rest of the land along the Brook belongs to the state. However two segments of the stream border Ch. 61a (recreational use taxation) property of the Easton Rod and Gun Club. The club’s land is protected by its use but could be converted to other uses if the owner repays a portion of the forgiven taxes and gets required permits. In any case public passage through the Club’s land needs close study as noted earlier. The areas of conservation and recreation interest follow:
a. Three parcels of woodland in the floodplain totaling about 18 acres encompass the brook below Foundry St. They run to the apparent landfill property and to the land of the S. E. Vocational-Technical School. Their acquisition would further protect the Brook and fill a remaining gap in the greenbelt.
5. Furnace Village/Hockomock Swamp Holdings
This area is located southeast of Furnace Village between Foundry and Prospect Streets. The area of interest includes all or portions of 13 parcels totaling about 235 acres of rolling varied wooded uplands. This area abuts approximately 90 acres of freestanding DWF Hockomock Swamp holdings to east. Much of the land is buildable, giving the site great potential for multiple uses.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 82
While it could connect the Black Brook Greenbelt and Easton Village to the Wheaton Farm/Hockomock Swamp Greenbelt, the land is not an essential piece of the core system. Hence it has been suggested for multiple uses. These might include schools, play fields, affordable housing, or other community needs along with extensive open space. The proposed playing field needs study group should closely examine these issues and recommend the future site reuses.
F. Unionville/Stonehill College/North Easton
This area of conservation interest extends from Stoughton and Brockton border south to Main Street and the Stonehill College Campus, and west to the former railroad right-of- way. There are approximately 50 parcels totaling about 455 acres. These feature woodlands, meadows (some open; some hidden) fields, swamp, Frenche and Monte Ponds, and the very scenic Dorchester rook. A related area of great interest is the Langwater Estate, 47.7 acres of which is under Ch 61a, forestry use taxation. Many of the unique resources in this area are under very responsible ownership/stewardship. Hence near future acquisition is not as important as close, cooperative planning with the neighborhoods and the major land owners. Rather than assume infinite preservation of these lands, the community and the NRT should be working with the owners and other interest groups to identify each others’ needs and concerns. With optimum planning the major areas are more like to be preserved for appropriate public and semi-public use and any needed development is more likely to be compatible with the protected areas.
G. Eastondale
The Eastondale area of conservation interest is bounded by Washington, Church and Purchase Streets. This area of farm fields, woods and wetlands is a backdrop for considerable housing and business along Washington Street. It comprises seven parcels totaling about 235 acres and abuts ten acres of conservation land at Live Oak Drive and Dongary Road.
The approximately 135-acre Bertarelli Farm is a key parcel in this area. It is under Ch. 61a agricultural use taxation and is zoned for housing. The 1992 Undeveloped Land Study estimates that about 50 lots could be accommodated given severe septic system limitations. The farm abuts 34 acres owned by the Easton Springs Company, taxed under Ch, 61 as forest, and zoned for industry.
The 1992 Undeveloped Land Inventory estimated a potential here for 260,000 square feet of one story industrial/heavy commercial space. Acquisition of property here would provide conservation land in a developed area lacking such land, and would protect agricultural and wetlands. This will be challenging given market pressure for more intensive use. The Inventory recommended exploring increased conservation holdings and possible participation in cooperative conservation and mixed development of the area.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 83 I. Miscellaneous
There are many other smaller areas needing study and protection. Examples are the ponds near the Easton Industrial Park on the Brockton line and many isolated locally valuable pockets of open space in or near existing neighborhoods. May of these small local pockets of open space are quite valuable neighborhood amenities offering settings, experiences and b\habit well beyond any suburban yard. Examples of such sites which are already publically owned but could be better protected or made more usable are the Stonehedge Property, the Dodd Gift, and the unnamed land locked parcel off of Harlow Street and Wedgewood Drive listed in the inventory of protected lands. Other such sites need timely attention.
Open Space, Easton Massachusetts map follows
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 84 ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 85 SECTION VI – Community Goals
A. Description of Process
The community goals outlined grow out of the goals established in the 1971 Easton Master Plan, the 1976 Conservation Plan/Five-Year Action Plan, the 1982 Conservation Plan and the 1996 and the 2001 Open Space and Recreation Plans. The planning process for developing the 2007 Open Space and Recreation Plan was discussed above in Section 2.
B. Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals
The Open Space Goals for the Town of Easton are:
1. To protect the streams, ponds, and wetlands of Easton for water resource, flood control, conservation and recreational uses.
2. To preserve the natural and historical visual character of Easton.
3. To preserve and provide a multi-purpose natural recreational environment within easy reach of every Easton resident.
4. To insure the excellent quality of Easton’s water supply.
5. To help promote the Massachusetts Bay Circuit Greenbelt.
6. To accommodate for persons with disabilities at local conservation areas where appropriate and recreational areas.
7. To coordinate and plan with other Town Boards and civic groups for the wise use of Easton’s natural resources.
8. To preserve the agricultural heritage of the community.
The Recreational Goals for the Town of Easton are:
1. To provide recreation programs to meet the diverse needs of Easton’s varied population.
2. To work with the Town Boards and Commissions, and other recreation organizations on an on-going basis to ensure that sufficient land is available for recreation facilities and programs.
3. To provide adequate, safe and accessible facilities for recreation programs and maintain facilities in good repair.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 86 4. Ensure that funding for recreation in Easton is established at a level needed to provide and maintain recreational services in a professional manner and to ensure that funding is in place to acquire, preserve, and develop sites to meet the current and future needs of the town.
5. Continue to develop cooperative alliances within the town with groups such as the Lions Club, the YMCA, the local youth sports groups, the Frothingham Memorial Corporation, etc. to focus and coordinate the efforts to provide recreational programs for the town in the most effective manner.
6. Continue and expand cooperative efforts with Stonehill College and the Southeastern Regional School to allow the continued and expanded use of their facilities and land for recreational purposes.
7. Continue to expand the cooperative effort to coordinate and maximize the use of Easton School Department facilities and land for recreational purposes.
8. Continue to expand the donations of time and materials of contractors, developers and individuals to help maintain existing and continue to develop new recreational sites.
9. Encourage the continued and future cooperation of private landowners who allow their property to be used for recreational purposes.
10. Work with the Easton Community Preservation Act Committee to purchase land that will provide space to expand recreational opportunities in the town.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 87
SECTION VII – Analysis Of Needs
The purpose of this section is to identify the overall open space and recreation needs of Easton. This section was developed based on information provided by the Conservation Commission, the Recreation Commission and the Town Administrator; and on information contained in the 1971 Easton Master Plan and the 2001 Open Space and Recreation Plan/Five-Year Action Plan and finally on an analysis of present resources.
A. Conservation Needs Analysis
Easton has a long tradition of community support for preservation of its community character, natural resources and open space areas. Yet it still has a long way to go in terms of achieving its bold, comprehensive open space goals. Easton’s growth and development trends are putting pressure on its remaining undeveloped areas and are changing the character of the town from a semi-rural, New England village type of community to a sprawling suburban one.
The town must meet the following needs in order to achieve its open space goals:
• Management Plan: - While the town has been very successful in acquiring conservation land for permanent protection, management plans have only been developed for a small number of the parcels held under the Commission’s management. In 2008, the Conservation Commission contracted with Call of the Wild, an Environmental Consulting Firm, to develop recommendations for land management and use for the various management areas. The plan will be preceded by a year long evaluation of the resources and wildlife habitat that exists within these management areas and then specific plans laid out for how to manage the land to best protect and utilize these natural resources and protect important and significant habitat.
• Greenbelt System/Stream/Wetlands Protection: - Easton has many major open space holdings, but no complete greenbelt corridors. The Town needs to continue to develop a system of greenbelts along its streams, ponds, wetland and selected upland areas in order to protect these water resources from encroaching development and to increase opportunities for residents to enjoy the outdoors close to home. The town should identify critical pieces of the greenbelt system and methods to protect them: e.g. purchase in fee, land dedication, conservation easements, alternative development, etc. The greenbelt areas would also provide habitat for plants and animals and migration corridors for wildlife.
• Trail System: - The Town also lacks a town-wide multi-purpose trail system. The greenbelt system would enable the development of a hiking/biking/equestrian trail that would provide connections between open space areas and adjacent neighborhoods. The trail and greenbelt system could also be a means of complementing the Bay Circuit Trail. The north –south trail ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 88 would fill a present gap in the Bay Circuit as demonstrated by its use in the 1995 Bay Circuit Trek. After completion of the greenbelts, it would offer an alternate route while providing a valuable bicycle access to other towns and North Easton village.
• Access to Open Space Holdings: - Although the Town owns a significant amount of conservation land, there is limited access to many of these areas in terms of parking, and trail connectors or easements between major holdings. For example, the access to the Picker Field Conservation Area is off of a short dead- end street and lacks adequate parking. This situation could cause conflicts between abutting property owners and users of the conservation area in regard to traffic and parking issues. The town should consider developing a joint access/parking area for Picker Field, Ames Long Pond, and Tufts Farm.
In other cases, the Town owns conservation land which is landlocked by neighboring subdivisions, and can only be accessed by crossing private property. The town needs to consider obtaining easements so appropriate, non-intrusive access can be assured for people whose property does not abut the respective conservation area, while respecting concerns of the abutters. Additionally, there is no readily up-to-date map or listing of these lands and how to access them.
• Maximize Opportunities for Accommodating Persons with Disabilities: - The Town needs to identify ways in which to accommodate persons with disabilities at conservation and recreation areas. The Town should look at innovative programs already in existence at other state, local, and non-profit conservation and recreation areas and decide which programs would be suitable for implementation in Easton.
• Open Space and Recreation Lands for Underserved Neighborhoods: - The Town needs open space and recreation area in parts of town that currently are underserved, such as South Easton, Eastondale, and Uniondale where population has grown. New residential developments in all areas in Town should be required to provide adequate usable land for open space and recreation purposes. In existing developed areas, the Town should identify and acquire undeveloped, underutilized, or tax possession parcels for recreation and open space purposes, and provide appropriate access.
• Scenic Areas: - The Town has many scenic areas, which deserve preservation and protection, such as the several Ames properties, the Morse Cranberry Bogs, the Clover Valley Farm, and Wright Farm. Many of these scenic areas are lost when development occurs along roads or properties are developed for subdivisions. Key scenic areas need to be identified and appropriate measures employed in order to preserve, protect, and enhance them. This could include designation of Scenic Roads for protection of scenic amenities (e.g. stone walls and trees) by the Planning Board, or acquisition of scenic easements.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 89 • Water Resource Protection: - The Town could further protect water supplies by acquiring additional land in the Zone II well recharge areas, especially in the area south of Sheep Pasture.
• Pond Enhancement: - The Town’s ponds provide for many needs including habitat, fishing, boating, and potential areas for swimming. However, some public and private ponds are silted. The Town needs to develop a program to enhance the ponds by removing silt, improving water quality and habitat potential, an increasing viability for recreational uses, such as swimming.
• Augmented Natural Flood Control: - The town’s streams and wetlands provide much flood storage but demands are growing as development increases storm runoff. To lessen risks of flooding and protect neighborhood buffer areas the town could acquire stream corridors or the rights to flood impoundments and then increase these benefits by altering culverts to increase detention times.
• Preservation of Agricultural Opportunities and Landscapes: - The town could help to lower farmer’s costs by continuing to encourage participation in the Chapter 61A and Agricultural Preservation Restriction programs, and by leasing acquired land back to growers as is done at Wheaton Farm.
• Preservation of Critical Wildlife Habitat: - The town of Easton, due to its still largely rural nature and its history of land acquisition and preservation, provides critical wildlife habitat to a wide variety of animal and plant species. While Easton provides habitat for threatened and endangered species, it also provides wildlife habitat to more common species. With the ongoing threat of the ever- increasing rate of development within the southeastern region of the state, protection of wildlife habitat as important as ever. Therefore, the town should continue to identify and work on acquiring parcels that help protect this habitat. The completion of the Greenbelt mentioned above is one such plan that will help ensure habitat preservation.
B. Recreation Needs Analysis
Recreational activities play an important role in the development of individuals. They provide opportunities to improve health through physical exercise and relief of stress, and provide social interaction with others. For young people, recreational activities help physical and social development, increase self-esteem, build character and teach important life-skills.
The Recreation Commission is responsible for establishing long-range goals and objectives, and development and coordination of recreation programs and facilities. In carrying out its responsibilities, it is important for the Commission to work with other town boards, commissions, and recreation organizations which include the School Department, Easton Youth Baseball, Easton Wildcats Pop Warner Football, Easton
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 90 Youth Soccer League, Easton Babe Ruth League, Easton Youth Baseball, Easton Girls Softball and Easton Youth Basketball.
1. Determining Recreation Needs
There is no easy way to measure need for recreation facilities. The state has quantitative guidelines to indicate recreation needs based on a formula which states that a community needs “x” number of acres of land for a particular type of facility per “y” overall population of people (Massachusetts Statewide Conservation Outdoor Recreation Program or SCORP), However such published standards do not recognize that the demand for a recreation facility reflects a number of factors including population characteristics (age groups, sex, etc), recreation interests, availability of recreation opportunities and so on. Also, the standards focus on facilities for competitive team sports and playgrounds, and are less helpful in realistically quantifying the need for places for activities such as hiking, fishing, swimming, bike riding, etc.
Other ways of determining needs are through recreation needs surveys, requests from the public for a particular program or facility, or observations of people taking advantage of an opportunity (e.g., using an abandoned railroad right-of-way for hiking and off-road bicycling).
The 2008 Easton Open Space and Recreation Plan identifies recreation needs for Easton based on the “needs surveys”, “public request’, and “observed opportunities” methods of determining recreation needs.
Classification of Public Recreational Facilities
• Community Park: This type of facility serves the entire community and provides a large contiguous open space area for town residents. Standards found in the 1971 Easton Town Master Plan (referred to as Master Plan) call for 20 or more acres for a community park.
• Neighborhood Park: A neighborhood park is similar to a community park but serves a smaller geographic area. The purpose of this type of park is to provide water, forest, or landscaped settings as an aesthetic release from development. Master Plan standards for a neighborhood park are one-half acres serving a geographic area of one-quarter to one-half mile radius.
• Playfields: The playfield serves as a center for outdoor sports competition for all ages, but especially for teenagers and adults. Playfields can be all-purpose (available for both spontaneous and organized activities) or specialized, i.e. designed specifically for use as a baseball, football, or soccer field to meet league dimensional regulations. Master Plan standards require 12 acres minimum or 1 acre per 800 residents. SCORP guidelines, as stated in the 1989 Easton Open Space Plan, indicate 3 acres per 1,000 residents, with a minimum ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 91 size of 10 acres. Playfields also require a parking area with adequate number of parking spaces.
• Playgrounds: Playgrounds serve as an outdoor games center for a particular neighborhood. Facilities should include play devices, running area, swings and benches. Larger playgrounds should include an area for tot lot activities. Master Plan standards require 5-acre minimum size or 1 acre per every 800 residents, and a service area radius of one-quarter to one-half mile. SCORP standards require one acre per 250 children of elementary school in densely populated neighborhoods, and a service area radius of one-half mile.
• Play Lot or Tot Lot: A play lot should include swings, slides, sandbox and other equipment to serve one-to-five year olds. Tot lots can also function as a means of lessening social isolation of suburban parents. Master Plan standards require a minimum of one to two acres, serving an area of one-quarter to one-half mile. SCORP standards require one-half acre for each 1,000 persons in densely populated neighborhoods, and a service area radius of one-quarter mile.
Identified Needs
On July 26, 2007, a Town Recreation Summit was held. At the meeting Town Administrator David Colton asked the Recreation Commission and recreation organizations to determine their current and future recreation needs. This information will guide the Community Preservation Act Committee in possible land purchases to expand recreation land in the town. The organizations reported needs for additional facilities because of the increasing number of children participating in their programs.
A summary of each recreation organization’s responses regarding programs, current facilities, and future needs is below. It should be noted that some of the identified needs might overstate actual needs to the extent that the sports organizations were totaling their individual needs rather than assuming extensive use of shared facilities. The needs for more compact facilities, e.g. for basketball courts, may be understated. Lighting was discussed as a way to increase the use of individual fields, although the impact of lighting on abutting neighbors may be an issue.
Recreation Department
The Recreation Commission operates the summer playground program, the pool program, and the winter activities program including After School programs, the Homework Club, the Running Club, field hockey, lacross, chess skiing and snowboard program; adult volleyball and basketball, school ½ day and vacation programs, Easter egg hunt, the town pool and swimming lesions, tee ball and pre-baseball, summer slam basketball, tennis archery and summer concerts. The Commission is made up of seven volunteers with a full-time Recreation Director and Program Director. Other part-time personnel are hired to run the various programs as needed.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 92 It has been determined and recognized by the Recreation Commission, the Town Administrator and the Board of Selectmen the Recreation department urgently needs a permanent location suitable to supporting the planning, coordination and delivery of recreational ongoing activities to the residents of Easton.
Easton Youth Soccer League
The Easton Youth Soccer League serves over 2,000 children through their programs: fall recreation program (1,200), spring travel program (500) and mid-year program (300). The League currently uses fields at the Oliver Ames High School and Junior High School complex, although there are often scheduling conflicts for use of fields (for both games and practices) between school sports teams and the various other sports leagues. Also, construction of the new Middle School has eliminated an area used for playing and practice fields.
Easton Youth Baseball
The Easton Youth Baseball League serves approximately 660 children between the ages of 7 and 12, across five divisions. The program currently has it own facilities at Militia Park and on adjacent property owned by the Southeast Rehab and Skilled Care Center. The complex consists of six little league sized baseball fields and three buildings used for a concession, rest rooms, umpire dressing rooms, and equipment storage. The complex was developed and is maintained by the Youth Baseball organization.
Based on increased enrollments at the elementary and middle schools Youth Baseball anticipates growth in the program. They are experiencing scheduling problems due to the increased numbers of participants. The league prefers to schedule all games at the Lincoln Street complex to minimize trips and travel for families who have more than one child playing in games.
The organization is not able to expand at its current site because it is located partly on private property and borders town conservation land. The town and the league should investigate the feasibility of using the Society of Friends property for future expansion of the facility. The Friends property, located south of Militia Park, is about 50 acres in size, although a large portion of that consists of wetlands. This property is under Chapter 61A (Forestry) restriction and when gifted to the town was deed-restricted to be preserved in its natural state.
The league believes it will need ten ball fields, eight little league regulation sized fields, and two tee-ball fields. The league also believes it needs additional facilities for food concession, rest rooms, umpire changing rooms, and equipment storage..
Easton Babe Ruth League
The Easton Babe Ruth League consists of 150 players and 10 teams. League participants are between the ages of 13 and 15 years of age, across three divisions. The
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 93 league has two seasons, a regular season that begins in April and runs to the beginning of July, and the summer season that runs from July until the beginning of August. The summer league teams play teams from surrounding towns.
The Babe Ruth League utilizes the fields at the Southeastern Regional Vocational School, although it is uncertain if it will be able to continue the use of Southeastern Regional’s fields for future seasons.
The League reports an immediate need for three playing fields; one for each division. The league also expects to require an additional field for each division for long-term needs for a total of six fields. It also seeks a snack bar, rest rooms, changing rooms, equipment storage facilities, and parking areas.
Easton Wildcats Pop Warner Football League
The Easton Wildcats Football League and Cheerleading serves 350 children. The league uses the football fields and auxiliary facilities (snack bar, rest rooms, locker rooms, parking, etc.) at the Southeastern Regional Vocational School on Sundays.
The league projects a yearly growth of between 10 and 15 percent based on patterns for the past 5 years. The league anticipates it will need additional play and practice fields due to expected growth. The program will need two acres of level land for playing fields and four acres of level land for practice fields when the fields at the Southeastern Regional site are not available. In addition, the program would need auxiliary facilities and parking if the additional fields were not provided at the High School. Any new football fields would be able to be shared with other sports programs.
Summary of Recreation Playing Field Needs
The table below summarizes the existing facilities and participants for each program and lists the organizations’ stated current and future playing field needs. Current needs are those that need to be addressed immediately; future needs are those anticipated as a result of growth in the number of participants in the program. The estimate of needs shown in the table assumes that programs will use their existing facilities, where this is likely to continue.
In the past Southeastern Regional has denied use for various reasons and this is more likely to occur in the future due to their own expanded use of the facility, the possibility of field loss due to the return of commuter rail service on the railroad right of way abutting current fields and increased requests for use of the site by other member towns which will make less recreation land available to the town, thus the need for more town- controlled recreation facilities
The number of participants per field varies greatly. The soccer players make the most intense use of their fields. Even with the proposed five fields, the 1400 soccer players would have 280 players per field. In contrast, with two fields, the 250 football
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 94 players/cheerleaders would have 125 participants per field, and the 720 baseball players with nine fields would have 80 players per field.
The total requested facilities may involve some duplication. Therefore, the town needs to make a close, cooperative examination of overall needs to fully understand the number and types of fields needed. Once that examination has been completed, the town will have a better assessment of the land acquisition necessary to meet those needs.
2. Other Athletic Facility Needs
• Basketball could have a future need for space. The Easton Youth Basketball program is almost totally dependant on the continued use of Stonehill College. The program requires 100% use of the facility when games are being played. There is currently no facility in the Town of Easton that has adequate, inderultilized space available to absorb this program that currently has 1200 participants.
• Further exploration should be given to the need for parks or facilities that encourage non-organized team activities, often referred to as pick-up games. Outdoor basketball courts, and baseball and football fields during “down times”, provide refuge and opportunity for non-organized, safe activities for older children and teens. Such activity, which is not directed by adults, is essential in helping developing youth learn important social interaction and life skills.
• Parking is a major issue at all athletic venues.
3. Other Types of Recreation
Easton offers a wide range of recreational activities in addition to field team sports. The conservation lands owned by the town offer nature-oriented outdoor recreational opportunities that include walking, hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, nature study, picnicking, photography, and painting and drawing. The town pool provides swimming in the summer and the Yardley Rink offers safe outdoor ice skating in the winter. Private recreational areas include two golf courses within the town and rod and gun clubs.
Summary of Key Needs and Opportunities:
• Safety and Accessibility Concerns Issues raised by the Easton Commission on Disabilities and the issues noted in the Section 504 Self-Evaluations should be addressed through a coordinated and comprehensive effort between the School Department, the Recreation Department, and the Conservation Commission.
• Outdoor Recreation in General Easton’s open space areas provide for a wide range of outdoor recreation activities. For instance, at Borderland State Park ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 95 (about 671 acres within Easton) people can go walking, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, canoeing and boating, and picnicking. Winter activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice-skating. The few prohibited activities include use of motorized vehicles and swimming.
The Town itself owns over 3,000 acres of conservation lands, which are overseen by the Conservation Commission. The permitted uses include fishing, hiking, canoeing, nature study, and other outdoor recreation activities. Prohibited activities include use of motorized vehicles, fires, camping, use of pistols and target shooting.
• Outdoor Swimming The town owns and operates the Town Pool, located off Lincoln Street. Easton residents also have access to the Stoughton town beach, located on Ames Long Pond, one mile north of the Town Pool, on the Easton/Stoughton town line. Easton residents may obtain a beach permit through Stoughton town hall. Locations for additional swimming facilities should be explored in order to accommodate population growth, especially in southern Easton; to avoid overcrowding of existing areas and to avoid parking conflicts with abutting neighbors.
• Boating There are a number of public and privately owned ponds and impoundments located within Easton. The Town should maximize opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing where suitable.
• Recreational Vehicles Providing a designated area for recreational vehicles would meet a need and help prevent riders from entering and damaging more sensitive conservation areas and infringing on other users of the open space.
• Camping Opportunities Despite the town’s extensive and varied open space holdings there are no known opportunities for nearby low-cost overnight camping. One unique opportunity would be to use the Subon property in the Wheaton Farm as a local campground. The property was formerly a small commercial campground. A small campground would be a compatible use to the adjoining conservation uses and would allow visitors extensive explorations of Wheaton Farm.
• Gardening Opportunities The Town also needs to explore providing increased opportunities for gardening (family or commercial) on suitable open land. This is now occurring very successfully at Sheep Pasture, however, the executive director has indicated the demand is greater than available space. Also, there are no close-to-home plots elsewhere in the town. The variety of town-owned land suggests that suitable land can be found in many parts of Easton such as the Tufts Farm on Canton Street.
• Bicycling Easton lacks safe alternate bicycling routes that avoid high traffic/high-speed routes used by motorists. The majority of Easton roads are ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 96 narrow and have no shoulders. The roads have not been widened to accommodate the increase in traffic volumes due to population growth. Also, observed vehicle speeds are typically in excess of posted speeds of 25-30 miles per hour on most roads. These conditions can lead to potential conflicts and accidents between motorists and bicyclists. Bicyclist safety is a major concern especially for young or inexperienced riders.
The town needs to consider developing a system of bike routes connecting major destination points (e.g. residential areas, schools, commercial areas, and future transportation hubs) within the town, and providing adequate shoulders or bike lanes on major roads. One opportunity is to revise the Subdivision Rules and Regulations to require extension of pedestrian/bicycle ways from subdivision cul de sac to the edge of given development. This would then allow public/private extension of the routes to nearby neighborhoods, public facilities or other destinations.
• Community Center The Recreation Commission and the Council on Aging both need a facility from which to offer their programs. Presently, both use space in the Town Hall. Space limitations prohibit creating new programs or expanding existing ones. The privately-owned Frothingham Memorial Hall on Barrows Street has been a community center for more than a century and was built by the Ames family for the benefit of the community. It has 5,400 square feet, along with a 1,500 square foot finished basement, and about 20 parking spaces. Town Administrator David Colton has expressed interest in having the town purchase the building to use as the future home for the Recreation Department and the Council on Aging. Town Meeting voted in November, 2007 to purchase the building.
C. Access/ADA Compliance
The issue of access for people with disabilities to existing recreational facilities is a concern in the community. In 1996 the Town did a full assessment of existing recreational facilities in Easton relative to ADA compliance. Detailed recommendations were made for each recreation facility in town. Some work was done to improve access to the town pool. Recommendations for accessibility improvements from the newly formed (2007) Easton Commission on Disabilities include:
• At Conservation/Recreation sites where there is parking, make sure there is handicapped parking. Parking spaces need to be wide enough for vehicles equipped with wheelchair lifts.
• On gated trails, there needs to be at least a four foot wide opening for wheelchair passage. Example: trails at Borderland State Park.
• Any trails on recreation/conservation lands need to be smooth, free of large rocks and at least four feet wide so wheelchairs can maneuver. ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 97
• Militia Park needs handicapped accessible bathrooms. Pedestrian paths there need to be compacted and made smooth for wheelchair access.
• The Town Pool needs a ramp from the parking lot to the pool, at least one wheelchair accessible changing room and at least one parking space for vehicles equipped with a wheelchair lift.
• Unionville Playground needs better handicapped parking spaces.
• The Oliver Ames High School field needs an elevated platform along the sidelines accessible by a ramp so folks in wheelchairs can see the game instead of being at ground level and having their view of the game obstructed.
Many changes from the 1996 ADA compliance study need to be made and the concerns of the Easton Commission on Disabilities need to be addressed. This demonstrates the need to revisit the issue of improving access for people with disabilities to Easton’s conservation/recreation facilities.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 98 SECTION VIII – Goals And Objectives
These goals and objectives are based on the long-established, more general goals discussed in Section VI. However, many have been rephrased and expanded to reflect subsequent study and community involvement.
GOAL 1. To preserve and protect the natural and historical character of Easton including unique visual resources and sensitive view sheds.
OBJECTIVES:
A. Prepare an updated town master plan to identify overall community goals and objectives and to guide future land use decision-making.
B. Identify natural, historical, and visual resource areas and implement measures to preserve and protect them. This should be coordinated with the Historical Preservation Plan’s objectives to create Local Historical Districts that have protected open space to preserve the districts’ historical context.
C. Develop criteria for and designate roads and unique visual resource areas in Easton. This should be coordinated with the Historical Preservation Plan’s objective to designate any scenic roadways.
D. Acquire for permanent protection significant areas of natural, historical, a visual interest.
E. Encourage use of innovative development techniques, such as cluster subdivision, to preserve usable, accessible open space areas and recreation areas.
F. Use acquisition, conservation restrictions, receipt of gifts, easements, and other measures to continue to develop a greenbelt system along brooks, streams, and wetlands, which connects current and future open space and recreation areas.
G. Clearly identify all conservation lands and include a short history of their past use at the sites to make present and future citizens aware of the historical significance of town lands.
H. Preserve the agricultural heritage of the town and promote sustainable development by leasing suitable town-owned conservation land for agricultural purposes.
I. Develop a land management plan that ensures the goals and objectives for acquiring parcels for open space preservation are being met.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 99
GOAL 2: To protect Watershed areas from the direct and indirect impacts of development, to protect and enhance water resources including ponds, streams, wetlands, well sites and groundwater recharge areas, and to protect people and property from flood hazards.
OBJECTIVES:
A. Continue to protect water resources through enforcement of the Wetlands Protection Act and town Wetlands Protection by-law, floodplain regulations, and zoning by-laws.
B. Ensure all developers/contractors use best management practices to control sediment migration and soil erosion when working in areas adjacent to streams, ponds, and wetlands.
C. Establish a non-point source pollution control program to educate people about non-point source pollution and implement measures to minimize non- point source pollution.
D. Continue to identify and acquire land in aquifer recharge areas and zones of contribution to public water supply wells.
GOAL 3: To preserve wildlife habitat, establish wildlife corridors, and preserve a variety of plant communities through protective measures, such as acquisition in fee title, conservation easements, and open space set-asides as part of subdivisions, etc.
OBJECTIVES:
A. Identify and acquire or establish protections for lands with critical wildlife habitat, unique plant communities, and wildlife corridors that may require special protective measures.
B. Identify and implement appropriate measures to protect identified habitats, communities and corridors.
C. Develop management plans that ensure the goals and objectives for protection are being achieved.
GOAL 4: To provide adequate access to safe, well-maintained recreational facilities for all residents of Easton.
OBJECTIVES:
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 100 A. Provide adequate resources to maintain Recreation Commission, Conservation Commission and School Department owned/managed facilities.
B. Upgrade existing facilities to comply with ADA standards.
D. Allow appropriate and legal use of conservation areas for passive recreation.
D. Continue to build and improve facilities to meet local demands.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 101
SECTION IX – Five Year Action Plan
Fiscal Year 2008
Acquisitions
8-1 Acquire 23 acres adjacent to Militia Park for recreation purposes. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Recreation Potential Funding: CPA, Town, Grants
8-2 Acquire Frothingham Memorial Hall for recreation purposes and the Council on Aging (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Board of Selectmen Funding: Town
8-3 Acquire land south of Elm Street, north of Main Street, east of Washington Street for conservation purposes. (Goal 1, Objective F) Responsible Party: Conservation, CPC Potential Funding: CPC, Conservation, Land grants
8-4 Acquire land south of Elm Street, north of Main Street and West of Washington Street for conservation purposes. (Goal 1) Responsible Party: Conservation, CPC Potential Funding: CPA, Conservation, Land grants
8-5 Acquire land south of Marshall Lane, east of Washington Street for conservation and potentially affordable housing purposes. (Goal 1) Responsible Party: Conservation, CPC Potential Funding: CPA, Conservation, Land grants
Management/Site Improvements
8M-1 Develop parking area at Picker Conservation Area to serve Picker Field, Tufts Farm and Ames Long Pond Conservation Areas. (Goal 1) Responsible Party: Conservation Commission Potential Funding – grants
8M-2 Construct a new track at the high school. (Goal 4) School Department, Town Funding: Town, HUD grant, private funds
8M-3 Provide additional parking at Militia Park. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Recreation Committee
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 102 8M-4 Establish a coordinated Schools/Recreation/Conservation effort to affect the Safety and Accessibility Concerns under the guidance of the Easton Commission on Disabilities and those noted in the Section 504 Self-Evaluations. (Goal 4)
8M-5 Start to implement identified improvements to existing recreational sites. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Park & Recreation
Planning Process
8P-1 Review all town owned land for suitability as specified in the 1971 Easton Town Master Plan for active recreation including a 40+ acre community park, 2 additional sites for play fields of approximately 15 acres in addition to potential sites for neighborhood parks and playgrounds. Make recommendations that potential sites be transferred to the control of the Recreation Commission. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: CPC, Recreation
8P-2 Review all existing recreation sites in town and make recommendations to maximize use, which could include lights, parking and availability (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Recreation
8P-3 Establish a sub-committee of the Conservation Commission to work with other bodies to identify natural, historical and visual resources, and propose designation of scenic roads and unique visual resources in Easton. Amend Open Space and Recreation Plan to incorporate these findings (Goal 1, Objectives B&C) Responsible Party: Conservation
8P-4 Conduct a needs analysis to determine appropriate ways of providing reasonable accommodation at town conservation and recreational areas for persons with disabilities. Amend Open Space and Recreation Plan to incorporate findings. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Conservation
8P-5 Conduct annual review of Open Space and Recreation Plan goals, objectives and action plan. Establish priorities for the year. Amend plan if needed. Responsible Party: CPC, Conservation Commission
Fiscal Year 2009 Acquisitions
9A-1 Acquire 40 acre site for community park and recreation center. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Recreation, CPC Potential funding: CPA, Town
9A-2 Acquire major land holding south of Church Street and east of Washington Street for conservation purposes. (Goal 1, Objectives D&F) Responsible Party: CPC, Conservation Commission Potential Funding: CPA, conservation funds
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 103
9A-3 Acquire parcel (s) adjacent to Wheaton Farm for conservation purposes. (Goal 1, Objectives D & F) Responsible Party: CPC, Conservation Commission Potential Funding: CPA, conservation funds
9A-4 Acquire Marshall Farm for conservation purposes (Goal 1, Objectives D) Responsible Party: CPC, Recreation Conservation Potential Funding: CPA, conservation funds
9A-5 Acquire a large piece of land to serve as a central site for athletic fields in town. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: CPC, Recreation Potential Funding: CPA
9A-6 Acquire property located west of Washington Street and north of Main Street for conservation purposes. (Goal 1, Objective D) Responsible Party: CPC, Conservation Potential Funding: CPA, conservation funds, land grants
9A-7 Acquire the Gill Property for recreation and conservation purposes. (Goal 1, Objective D) Responsible Party: CPC, Recreation, Conservation, Town Potential Funding: CPA, conservation funds, land grants
Management/Improvements
9M-1 Continue to implement improvements to existing sites. (Goal 4) Responsible Parties: current site managers – i.e. Conservation, Recreation, Town
9M-2 Continue implementation of recommendations Section 504 Self-Evaluation needs analysis and continue to effect Safety and Accessibility concerns of the Easton Commission on Disabilities (Goal 4, Objectives A and B) Responsible Party: Safety and Accessibility task force
Planning Process
9P-1 Review all private land holdings in the town to identify possible sites for future recreational use and recommend acquisition of specific land to meet Master Plan needs not satisfied by land currently by the Town. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Recreation
9P-2 Conduct a Community Survey/needs analysis to identify resident’s interests and needs for recreation programs and activities. (Goal 4, Objective A, B, C and D)
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 104 Responsible Party: CPC
9P-3 Review all town owned land and targeted acquisition parcels for suitability for open space preservation, recreation and affordable housing opportunities. Incorporate findings into the Open Space Plan.
9P-4 Initiate process to identify lands with critical wildlife habitat, unique plant communities, and wildlife corridors, and recommend measures to protect resources. (Goal 3, Objectives A, B, C) Responsible Party: Conservation Commission
9P-5 Conduct annual review of Open Space and Recreation Plan goals, objectives and action plan. Amend plan if needed. Responsible Party: CPC
Fiscal Year 2010
Acquisitions
10A-1 Acquire a second 15 acre site for future play fields. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Recreation, CPC
10A-2 Acquire major land holdings south of Depot Street and north of Foundry Street for conservation purposes. (Goal 1, Objectives D & F) Responsible Party: Conservation, CPC
10A-3 Acquire additional parcel(s) adjacent to Wheaton Farm for conservation purposes. (Goal 1, Objectives D& F) Responsible Party: Conservation, CPC
10A-4 Acquire Clover Valley Farm for conservation purposes. (Goal 1, Objective D) Responsible Party: Conservation, CPC
Management/Improvements
10M-1 Complete improvements to existing sites. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: as above
10M-2 Prepare management plan for Picker Field conservation area. (Goal 1) Responsible Party: Conservation
10M-3 Continue implementation of recommendations found as a result of the Section 504 Self-Evaluation needs analysis and continue to affect the Safety and Accessibility Concerns of the Easton Commission on Disabilities. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Safety and Acessibility task force
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 105 Planning Process.
10P-1 Review plans for Community Park and outline a time-line for development. Responsible Party: Recreation, CPC
10P-2 Begin exploring opportunities to increase access to Easton’s ponds for water- based recreation including swimming, boating, fishing, etc. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Recreation, Conservation
10P-3 Conduct annual review of Open Space and Recreation Plan goals, objectives and action plan. Establish priorities for the year. Amend plan if needed. Responsible Party: Conservation, CPC, Recreation
Fiscal Year 2011
Acquisitions
11A-1 Acquire a third fifteen-acre site for future playfields. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Recreation
11A-2 Acquire two additional sites for future neighborhood parks and playgrounds. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Recreation, CPC
11A-3 Acquire property located north of Main Street and west of Washington Street for conservation purposes. (Goal 1, Objectives D & F, Goal 5) Responsible Party: Conservation, CPC
11A-4 Acquire additional parcel (s) adjacent to Wheaton Farm for conservation purposes. (Goal 1, Objectives D & F, Goal 5) Responsible Party: Conservation, CPC
11A-5 Acquire properties in the Mulberry Brook headwaters area. (Goal 1, Objectives D & F, Goal 5) Responsible Party: Conservation, CPC, Town
11A-6 Acquire the Simpson Spring Property (Bertarelli Farm) for conservation purposes. (Goal 1, Objective D) Responsible Party: Conservation, CPC, Recreation
Management/Improvements
11M-1 Begin development of community park and recreation center. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Recreation, CPC
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 106 11M-2 Prepare management plan for Old Pond/New Pond Conservation Area. (Goal 1) Responsible Party: Conservation
11M-3 Continue implementation of recommendations found as a result of the Section 504 Self-Evaluation needs analysis and continue to affect the Safety and Accessibility concerns of the Playground Safety Sub-Committee. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Easton Disabilities Commission
Planning Process
11P-1 Conduct annual review of Open Space and Recreation Plan goals, objectives and action plan. Establish priorities for the year. Begin 5 year plan update.
Fiscal Year 2012
Acquisitions
12A-1 Acquire 2 additional sites for future neighborhood parks and playgrounds.(Goal 4) Responsible Party: Recreation
12A-2 Acquire land along Black Brook between Summer and Depot Streets for conservation purposes. (Goal 1, Objectives D & F,) Responsible Party: Conservation, CPC
12A-3 Acquire properties north of Randall Street adjacent to Clifford Grant reservation for conservation purposes. (Goal 1, Objectives D & F) Responsible Party: Conservation
12A-4 Acquire additional parcel (s) adjacent to Wheaton Farm for conservation purposes. (Goal 1, Objectives D & F) Responsible Party: Conservation
12A-5 Acquire property located north of Main Street and west of Washington Street. (Goal 1, Objective D) Responsible Party: Conservation
Management/Improvements
12M-1 Continue to develop community park and recreation center. (Goal 4) Responsible Party: Recreation
12M-2 Complete implementation of recommendations found as a result of the Section 504 Self-Evaluation needs analysis and the Safety and Accessibility Concerns of the Easton Commission on Disabilities. (Goal 4)
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 107 Responsible Party: Easton Disabilities Committee
Planning Process
12P-1 Prepare update of Open Space and Recreation Plan including background information, analysis of trends, goals objectives and five-year action plan. Establish priorities for the year. Responsible Party: Conservation, CPC
Open Space and Recreation Plan 5 Year Action Plan Map follows 5 Year Action Plan Summary
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 108 ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 109 5-YEAR ACTION PLAN SUMMARY
ACTIVITY 2008 2009 2010 2011 2011
Acquisitions 7A-1 ------7A-2 ------7A-3 ------7A-4 ------7A-5 ------7A-6 ------9A-1 ------9A-2 ------9A-3 ------9A-4 ------9A-5 ------9A-6 ------9A-7 ------9A-1 ------9A-2 ------9A-3 ------9A-4 ------12A-1 ------12A-2 ------12A-3 ------12A-4 ------12A-5 ------12A-6 ------12A-1 ------12A-2 ------12A-3 ------12A-4 ------12A-5 ------
Management/Site Improvements 8M-1 ------8M-2 ------8M-3 ------8M-4 ------8M-5 ------8M-1 ------8M-2 ------9M-1 ------9M-2 ------9M-3 ------12M-1 ------12M-2 ------12M-3 ------12M-1 ------12M-2 ------
Planning Process 8P-1 ------8P-2 ------8P-3 ------8P-4 ------8P-5 ------8P-1 ------8P-2 ------8P-3 ------8P-4 ------10P-1 ------10P-2 ------10P-3 ------10P-1 11P-1 ------
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 110 SECTION X – Public Comments
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 111
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 112
SECTION XI – REFERENCES
1.Chaffin, William L. History of Easton, Massachusetts, Cambridge, John Wilson and Son, 1886.
2. Metcalf and Eddy, Inc. Master Plan 1971, Easton, MA MandE Inc., Boston, 1971.
3.Town of Easton, Public Works Department, Engineering Division, Master Drainage Study, 1974.
4.Easton Conservation Commission, Conservation Plan and Five-Year Action Plan, December, 1976.
5.U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, N.E. Division, Flood Plain Information Easton, Massachusetts, Waltham, April, 1977.
7.Easton Conservation Commission, Conservation Plan, 1982.
8.Massachusetts Secretary of State, Mass Historic Commission, MHC Reconnaissance Survey Report, Boston, 1981.
9.Masschusetts Department of Environmental Management, For Our Common Good, Open Space and Outdoor Recreation in Massachusetts (SCORP Report), Boston, 1988
10.Easton Planning and Zoning Board, Town of Easton Zoning Bylaw, 2006
11.Town of Easton, Annual Report, 2006
12.Town of Easton Open Space and Recreation Plan, 2001
13. Commonwealth of MA, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, 2007
14. Town of Easton, Summary of Section 504 Self-Evaluation 1996
15. Town of Easton Recreation Summit Meeting Notes 2007
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Page 113
APENDIX A
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA
APPENDIX A
SUMMARY OF RECREATION PLAYING FIELD USAGE/NEEDS
Existing Current Future Net Program Facility Need Need Increase
Recreation Department
T-Ball Fields 1 0 2 2 Softball Fields 1 4 0 4
Youth Soccer 2 0
Playing and Practice Fields 3 2 2 4 Snack Bar and Accessory Facilities Yes Parking Yes
Youth Baseball
Baseball Fields 6 0 2 2 T-Ball Fields 2 0 0 2 Snack Bar and Accessory Facilities Yes Parking Yes Need to Expand Parking Multi-Purpose Fields 3-4 3-4 Babe Ruth League 2 2 fields 0 2 with lighting
Pony League 0 1 1 2 Babe Ruth 0 2 1 2 Senior Babe Ruth 0 1 1 2 Snack Bar and Accessory Facilities Yes Parking Yes
Pop Warner Football
Playing fields 0 2 1 3 Practice Fields 0 2 1 3 Snack Bar and Accessory Facilities Yes Parking Yes
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA
APENDIX C
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA
Blue-spotted Salamander Ambystoma laterale
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife State Status: Species of Special Concern Route 135, Westborough, MA 01581 Federal Status: None tel: (508) 389-6360; fax: (508) 389-7891 www.nhesp.org
Description: The blue-spotted salamander is a slender salamander with short limbs, long digits, and a narrow, rounded snout. A dark blue to black dorsum with brilliant sky-blue spots or specks on the lower sides of the body makes the coloration of this species quite distinct and reminiscent of antique blue enamel pots and dishware. The ventral surface is a paler grey with black pigmentation surrounding the vent. The tail is long and laterally compressed; averaging 44% of the total body length. Adults Photo by Bill Byrne range from 4.0 to 5.5 inches (10 to 14 cm) in total length. though, these two hybrid populations have been formally named as the Silvery salamander Determining the sex of this species is easiest done (Ambystoma platineum) and the Tremblay’s during the breeding season, when males are salamander (Ambystoma tremblayi), the hybrid identifiable by a swollen vent area caused by salamanders are simply referred to as the Jefferson / enlarged cloacal glands. Additionally, the larvae are Blue-spotted complex salamander. also difficult to differentiate from other Ambystoma species; larvae are olive green to black and have a When the Jefferson / Blue-spotted complex hybrids are long dorsal fin that extends from behind the head present in an area, they may outnumber the blue-spotted along the back and tail. or Jefferson salamanders by a 2:1 margin. A population with many more females than males is a good indicator Similar species: The blue-spotted salamander is a of the presence of hybridization of these species. The member of the Jefferson / Blue-spotted complex mode of reproduction of the female hybrids is salamander (A. jeffersonianum / A. laterale gynogenesis: sperm is obtained from male diploids to complex). Jefferson salamanders (A. stimulate egg division, but no genetic recombination jeffersonianum) and blue-spotted salamanders were occurs. However, additional hybrid forms such as separated by ice age glaciation, but after the ice triploid males and tetraploid and diploid females have melted, the two species came into contact with been found, indicating that some offspring retain genetic each other and began interbreeding producing material from two parents. hybrid populations. The hybridization of these two species has led to the development of two The members of the complex form a continuum in completely female populations that are all appearance from the grayish-brown coloration, pale blue polyploids – that is, they have multiple sets of flecks, and wide snout of the Jefferson salamander to the chromosomes rather than the normal set of two bluish-black coloration, prominent blue spots, and narrow snout of the blue-spotted salamander. (diploid). Although Jefferson salamanders and blue-spotted salamanders are fairly easy to Range: The ranges of the Jefferson and blue-spotted differentiate from each other, the identification of salamanders overlap in New England. Populations of the hybrid species is very difficult to distinguish on pure blue-spotted salamanders therefore occur north of the basis of appearance alone; typically, the hybridization zone with Jefferson salamanders. The identification can only be completed through area of populations of pure blue-spotted salamanders chromosome counts or size of red blood cells in and hybrids extends from the Canadian Maritime conjunction with their external appearance. Even
Provinces, south along the Atlantic coast to northern the female will follow the male, pick up a deposited New Jersey. The range extends westward through to spermatophore, and store it in the cloaca for egg northern Indiana and northeastern Illinois, through fertilization. (Normal sexual reproduction occurs in the most of Wisconsin, eastern Minnesota and the diploid females, while no true fertilization or southern half of Ontario. recombination of chromosomes takes place in the triploid hybrids.) Eggs are often laid singly or in a small In Massachusetts, they occur predominantly within egg mass, with 6 to 10 eggs per mass, for a total clutch Middlesex and Essex counties and in the adjacent ranging from 82 to 489 eggs. The egg masses cling eastern towns of Worcester County. Some lightly to overhanging vegetation or fall to the bottom of occurrences also lie within Bristol and Plymouth the pond. Hatching about a month later, larvae are counties as well. In general, Jefferson - Blue-spotted voracious eaters, preying on insect larvae and other complex salamanders found east of the Connecticut small aquatic animals. No over wintering of larvae has River are more likely to be blue-spotted salamanders. been reported in Massachusetts, so by late August larvae have metamorphosed completely into air-breathing
adults.
Blue-spotted salamanders have been found to migrate to and from breeding pools an average of 100 to 900 feet from their terrestrial habitat. A study of vernal pool species in Massachusetts found that at least half of the blue-spotted salamanders that were breeding in the studied vernal pool moved more than 300 feet to overwintering sites; the maximum known movement Distribution in Massachusetts distance of an adult is 2050 feet (625 m) in Indiana. 1980 - 2006 Based on records in Natural Heritage Database Adult blue-spotted salamanders feed on small invertebrates such as larval and adult insects, spiders, Habitat: Blue-spotted salamanders require moist, worms, and centipedes. They produce noxious skin moderately shaded environments; they favor northern secretions from specialized poison glands in their tail hardwood/hemlock forests occurring in glaciated and are thus rarely preyed upon by native predators. If areas having depressions available for seasonal blue-spotted salamanders reach adulthood and their flooding. Vernal pools, or temporary ponds, are habitat is secure, they may live for decades. necessary for reproduction and need to be full of dead and decaying leaves for cover and overhanging Population status in Massachusetts: The blue-spotted bushes or grass for egg deposition. Roadside salamander (including triploid and other polyploid drainage ditches, small kettle holes, and temporary forms within the A. laterale/A. jeffersonianum complex) pasture ponds also provide habitat when flooded in is currently listed as a “Species of Special Concern” in the spring. Massachusetts. There are 102 towns in Massachusetts where blue-spotted salamanders have been observed. Life Cycle / Behavior: Blue-spotted salamanders are One hundred and seventy-two occurrences have been rarely encountered above ground, except as adults documented since 1981, as well as 27 historic during their early spring breeding season, or as occurrences that were documented prior to 1981. The metamorphosed juveniles in the late summer. Adults major threat to this species—and most salamanders in reside most of the year beneath leaf litter or general—is the loss, degradation and fragmentation of underground to a depth of one meter, usually within both aquatic breeding pool habitat required for 500 meters of their breeding pond. The breeding reproduction and terrestrial habitat needed for foraging, season is brief, lasting from mid March to late April. overwintering, growth and development to development As soon as the ground surface thaws, males migrate and urbanization. For example, making temporary ponds above ground to temporary ponds and females join deeper can create permanent ponds with fish them a few days later. An elaborate courtship, similar populations which will predate amphibian eggs and to the Jefferson salamander, occurs including larvae. Some population declines may be attributed to approach, contact, nudging, and tail-fanning routines over collection, heavy road traffic, and pesticides or that takes place in the water between a single male other toxic chemicals polluting breeding pool water. and single female. Following a period of amplexus,
Studies on the effects of acid rain on salamander eggs depression. While vernal pools receive some protection and larvae have been contradictory, and further under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, and studies must be made to resolve this issue, however, it several vernal pool species (including the blue-spotted appears that blue-spotted salamanders from eastern salamander) are protected under the Massachusetts Massachusetts are highly tolerant of acid conditions Endangered Species Act, efforts should be made to and can hatch successfully down to a pH of 4.0. certify all vernal pools and to enhance and promote the enforcement of the laws mentioned above. Because of Management Recommendations: In order to ensure their ephemeral nature, vernal pools are often difficult to the survival of this species in Massachusetts, the locate during dry periods and may be inadvertently following recommendations regarding habitat damaged if their locations are not surveyed and marked preservation are suggested. There are two critical prior to forestry or construction operations. components in the life history of this species: vernal pool habitat required for reproduction and upland Citizens must be encouraged to recognize and report forest habitat required for foraging, hibernation, and blue-spotted salamanders and the locations of their other terrestrial and fossorial activities. Conservation breeding pools. Due to the rarity of this species, its of the blue-spotted salamander—and all native ephemeral terrestrial occurrence, and its very specific members of the genus Ambystoma—must therefore habitat requirements, some populations undoubtedly focus on the preservation of vernal pools and small remain undiscovered and therefore under protected. ponds known to be inhabited by this species, as well as a significant parcel (250–1600 meter radius) of References: upland habitat surrounding such breeding sites. AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and Provided these habitats are not significantly conservation. (2006). Berkeley, California. Available: degraded—and that the salamanders are not subject to http://amphibiaweb.org/. (Accessed: May 24, 2007). illegal collection or high road mortality—the salamander populations should be capable of Bol, L. (2006). Massachusetts Forestry Conservation maintaining themselves indefinitely. Management Practices for MESA-Listed Mole Salamanders, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species It should be kept in mind, however, that every Program, Westborough, MA. population is unique. The majority of the population, for instance, may be concentrated in a relatively small DeGraaf, R.M. and M. Yamasaki. (2001). New England and discrete upland habitat, which would safely allow Wildlife: Habitat, Natural History, and Distribution. carefully conducted development within some University Press of New England, Hanover, NH. portions of the “uninhabited” habitat around the Kenney, L. P., and M. R. Burne. (2001). A Field Guide breeding pool without serious effects on the to the Animals of Vernal Pools. Massachusetts Division population. The only way to determine if such a case of Fisheries and Wildlife, Natural Heritage and exists, however, is through a detailed environmental Endangered Species Program and Vernal Pool study conducted by a qualified researcher(s) over a Association, Westborough, Massachusetts. series of years, charting the movements of the animals to and from the breeding site. Unless such a Petranka, J. W. (1998). Salamanders of the United study is conducted, it should be assumed that the States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, salamanders are relatively evenly distributed around Washington and London. the pool and development should be strongly discouraged within a minimum radius of 500–1,000 Regosin, J. V., B. S. Windmiller, R. N. Homan, and J. meters surrounding the breeding pool. M. Reed. (2005). Variation in terrestrial habitat use by four pool-breeding amphibian species. Journal of Vernal pools and breeding ponds must be protected Wildlife Management, 69 (4). not only from draining, filling, and development, but also from degradation in the form of road and lawn run-off. If forestry activities are conducted within surrounding areas, a no-cut buffer zone of 50–100 feet should be established around the pool depression, and no slash or other debris should be dumped in the Originated: 1994 Updated: 2007
Marbled Salamander Ambystoma opacum
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Route 135, Westborough, MA 01581 tel: (508) 389-6360; fax: (508) 389-7891 State Status: Threatened www.nhesp.org Federal Status: None
Description: The marbled salamander is a short and stout salamander, with a stocky body, short limbs, and a broad, rounded snout. The dorsum has a dark brown to black background, splashed with bold silver-white or grey band-like markings that converge to create black spots—this “marbled” effect is what earned the salamander its common name. Unique among the New England salamanders, marbled salamanders exhibit sexual dichromatism; the males have brilliant white Photo by Lloyd Gamble markings and the females have dull grey markings. Sometimes the cross-banding is incomplete, greatly extending down through southern New York and forming stripes on the back, sides, and tail. The central Pennsylvania, west to southern Illinois and ventral coloration is uniformly dark gray. down through the Mississippi basin to eastern Oklahoma and eastern Texas. The eastern border extends south Recently-transformed juveniles, or metamorphs, throughout the Southeast down to northern Florida and average approximately 1.5 inches (4 cm) in total through the Gulf states. length and have a dark grey to brown coloration with tiny silver flecks scattered over the dorsal area. Habitat: Marbled salamanders are largely terrestrial and As the animal matures, these flecks elongate to generally occur in deciduous to mixed woods of the form the characteristic adult pattern one to two southern hardwood type, dominated by oak and hickory months after metamorphosis. Adults vary in species with white pine. They can live in a variety of length from 3.5 to 4.25 inches (9 - 10.75 cm) with habitats including moist, sandy areas and dry hillsides. the males slightly shorter than females. The tail They hide beneath surface materials such as logs, bark, comprises about 40 percent of the total length of boards, stones, and drift that piles up along the margins the body. of streams. Wooded vernal pools or shallow depressions are required as breeding sites. Similar species: Mature, adult marbled salamanders are very distinct, so confusion with other species is unlikely. However, juveniles are similar to juveniles of spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) and blue-spotted salamanders (Ambystoma laterale), but are distinguished by silver rather than gold or blue dorsal flecking.
Range: The marbled salamander’s range in New England includes southern New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Distribution in Massachusetts 1980 - 2006 From this northern extreme, the range broadens Based on records in Natural Heritage Database Life Cycle / Behavior: Unlike most other from their terrestrial habitat. The maximum known Ambystoma species which breed in the spring (mid- movement distance by a marbled salamander is 4034 March to April), marbled salamanders breed and feet (1230 m), and was traveled by a juvenile in deposit their eggs in autumn (September to October) Massachusetts. in dry vernal pools. During the late summer, on nights just after heavy rainfall, adults migrate to the Adult marbled salamanders feed on small invertebrates edges of dry vernal pools and congregate under the such as larval and adult insects, crustaceans, snails, leaf litter. Males generally arrive at the breeding sites earthworms, slugs, beetles and ants. They are nocturnal a few days prior to the females. Courtship occurs on and generally less active than other salamander species. land, involving circular “dancing” and snout-to-vent Adults have a distasteful milky secretion from the tail nuzzling. This activity induces the males to deposit a that protects them from potential predators. gelatinous spermatophore (a tiny packet of sperm) on the ground which is then picked up and stored in the Population status in Massachusetts: The marbled female’s cloaca for internal fertilization. Eggs are salamander is currently listed as a “Threatened Species” spherical and opaque, between 2.7 and 5 mm in in Massachusetts. There are 75 towns in Massachusetts diameter. Numbering between 50 and 150, the eggs where marbled salamanders have been observed. are deposited individually in a nest, usually in a small Seventy-eight occurrences have been documented since cavity under a log or leaf litter on the bottom of a 1981, as well as 27 historic occurrences that were vernal pool depression. They are almost invariably documented prior to 1981. The fact that the marbled flooded when autumnal rainwater fills the pool. The salamander is near the northern limit of its range in moist eggs become covered with leaf detritus and Massachusetts is a contributing factor to its rarity in the become difficult to detect. The female remains to state. Furthermore, the species is difficult to locate and guard the eggs, curling her body protectively around census accurately. Although marbled salamanders are them until they hatch. widespread throughout Massachusetts lowlands, populations tend to be very small and localized, Eggs hatch within a few days after water fills the surrounding vernal pool breeding areas. For yet depression. Newly-hatched larvae are 3/4 inch (1.9 unknown reasons, many vernal pools do not support cm) in length in the fall and remain active through the them. The major threat to this species—and most winter under the ice, growing slowly. If the pool salamanders in general—is the loss, degradation and doesn’t fill, the female will leave the eggs for an fragmentation of both aquatic breeding pool habitat underground wintering lair. Eggs are capable of required for reproduction and terrestrial habitat needed withstanding extended desiccation without mortality, for foraging, overwintering, growth and development to and in some cases, may overwinter to hatch the development and urbanization. Some population following spring. Larvae from eggs that overwinter declines may be attributed to over collection, heavy road grow larger before hatching, emerging at a full inch traffic, and pesticides or other toxic chemicals polluting long. In the spring, growth accelerates for all larvae breeding pool water. as temperatures increase and food items become more abundant. Larvae are voracious eaters, preying on Management Recommendations: In order to ensure copepods, aquatic insects and their larvae, other the survival of this species in Massachusetts, the amphibian larvae, and even each other. following recommendations regarding habitat preservation are suggested. There are two critical The schedule of larval metamorphosis is largely components in the life history of this species: the vernal dependent on vernal pool water levels or hydroperiod pool habitat required for reproduction, and the upland during summer. In years of high water, larvae will forest habitat required for foraging, hibernation and remain in the pool longer, sometimes until fall, before other terrestrial and fossorial activities. Conservation of transforming; the recently-metamorphosed juveniles the marbled salamander (and all native members of the will be leaving the pond, as the adults begin arriving genus Ambystoma) must therefore focus on the to breed. Juveniles take 15-18 months to reach preservation of vernal pools and small ponds known to breeding size. be inhabited by this species, as well as a significant parcel (250 - 1600 meter radius) of upland habitat Marbled salamanders have been found to migrate to surrounding such breeding sites. Provided these habitats and from breeding pools an average of 100 to 900 feet are not significantly degraded (and that the salamanders are not subject to illegal collection or high road References: mortality), the salamander populations should be Bol, L. (2006). Massachusetts Forestry Conservation capable of maintaining themselves indefinitely. Management Practices for MESA-Listed Mole Salamanders, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species However, it should be kept in mind that every Program, Westborough, MA. population is unique. The majority of the populations, for instance, may be concentrated in a DeGraaf, R.M. and M. Yamasaki. (2001). New England relatively small and discrete upland habitat, which Wildlife: Habitat, Natural History, and Distribution. would safely allow carefully conducted development University Press of New England, Hanover, NH. within some portions of the “uninhabited” habitat around the breeding pool without serious effects on Gamble, L.R. (2004). Landscape-level population the population. The only way to determine if such a structure and local variability in marbled salamanders case exists, however, is through a detailed (Ambystoma opacum) of western Massachusetts: environmental study conducted by a qualified Applied lessons from metapopulation theory. M.S. researcher(s) over a series of years, charting the Thesis. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, movements of the animals to and from the breeding USA. site. Unless such a study is conducted, it should be assumed that the salamanders are relatively evenly Kenney, L. P., and M. R. Burne. (2001). A Field Guide distributed around the pool and development should to the Animals of Vernal Pools. Massachusetts Division be strongly discouraged within a minimum radius of of Fisheries and Wildlife, Natural Heritage and 500 - 1,000 meters surrounding the breeding pool. Endangered Species Program and Vernal Pool Association, Westborough, Massachusetts. Vernal pools and other breeding ponds must be protected not only from draining, filling and Noble, G. K., and M. K. Brady. (1933). Observations on development, but also from degradation in the form the life history of the marbled salamander, Ambystoma of road and lawn run-off. If forestry practices are opacum. Zoologica 11:89-132. conducted within surrounding areas, a no-cut buffer zone of 50 to 100 feet should be established around Petranka, J. W. (1998). Salamanders of the United the pool depression, and no slash or other debris States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, should be dumped in the depression. Vernal pools Washington and London. receive some protection under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and several vernal pool species (including the marbled salamander) are protected under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. Efforts should be made to certify all vernal pools, and to enhance and promote the enforcement of the laws mentioned above. Because of their ephemeral nature, vernal pools are often difficult to locate during dry periods, and may be inadvertently damaged if their locations are not surveyed and marked prior to forestry or construction operations. Citizens must be encouraged to recognize and report marbled salamanders and the locations of their breeding pools. Due to the rarity of this species, its ephemeral terrestrial occurrence, and it’s very specific habitat requirements, some populations undoubtedly remain undiscovered and therefore under protected.
Updated: June 2007 Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Route 135 Westborough, MA 01581 www.nhesp.org (508) 792-7270 ext. 200/fax (508)792-7821
American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
State Status: Endangered
DESCRIPTION: The American Bittern is a medium-sized (23-34 in. 58-68 cm long) brown, streaked ground-dwelling heron which spends most of its time hidden among marshland vegetation. Its upper parts are mottled with brown and buff, while the under parts are streaked with brown and white. The short thick neck has a black stripe or patch on each side, and the throat is white with thick black streaks. The top of the head is usually darker than the body, or sometimes rusty. There is a buffy stripe over each of the yellow eyes. The bill, legs and feet are pale yellow or yellowish-green. Wingspread is from 32 to 50 in (80-106 cm) and the black wing tips are conspicuous in flight. The relatively short tail is rounded and mottled brown.
SIMLAR SPECIES: Immature Night Herons are grayer and more spotted than the American Bittern and frequently perch in trees. The By Bill Fournier Least Bittern is small with buffy wing patches.
HABITAT IN MASSACHUSETTS: The American Bittern inhabits freshwater marshes, meadows, fens and bogs dominated by emergent vegetation such as cattails, bulrushes, sedges and grasses. It may also occur in brackish wetlands.
BEHAVIOR: The American Bittern spends most of its time hidden among marshland vegetation. It walks slowly and stealthily. When startled, the bittern assumes what is perhaps it most characteristic stance: standing frozen with the bill pointed skywards, in order to camouflage itself among the reeds, occasionally swaying from side to side with the vegetation as if blown by the wind. When flushed from a marsh, it gives “kok kok kok” call or a nasal “haink”, its wings flap loosely, feet dangle and it flies off slowly, but with rapid wing beats. The distinctive call is loud and guttural; the notes sound like an old-fashioned pump, usually in three syllables, the middle one sharply accented; “oonk-a-lunk” or “oong-ka-chook”. Pumping calls are usually heard at dusk, or dawn in spring or early summer.
MATING/BREEDING HABITS: Courtship behavior is not well understood, but is known to include aerial and ground chases. Males slowly stalk females as they display a pair of white fanlike plumes raised over the back and shoulders. Usually, bitterns nest in marshes, but may also nest in grassy upland fields adjacent to wetlands. Males appear to be territorial throughout the breeding season, and remain in the nest-site vicinity. Males may be polygynous. The female builds the nest and cares for the young. The nest, about a foot (30 cm) in diameter, is located either on the ground in dense vegetation or on a platform about a foot above the water. Nest material includes dead reeds, cattails, grasses, and sedges. The 3 to 5 buff-brown to olive- brown eggs are laid at 1 day intervals with incubation beginning with the laying of the first egg. An egg hatches about 24 days after it was laid. Young are fed by regurgitation at the nest for about 2 weeks. The female continues to tend the young for an undetermined length of time after they leave the nest. There is one clutch per year.
FEEDING HABITS: Preferred foods include frogs, small snakes and eels, salamanders, crayfish, fish, and occasionally mice and grasshoppers caught on visits to open fields. The American Bittern feeds in marshes, meadows, and along edges of shallow ponds, standing motionless with neck outstretched and level bill, eyes focused down into the water, slowly aiming its bill before suddenly darting downward to seize the prey.
RANGE: The breeding range of the American Bittern extends from Newfoundland west to Manitoba and British Columbia; south to Maryland and west through Oklahoma and Kansas to southern California. This bittern also breeds very rarely in the Gulf States. It winters from the Carolinas south to the Bahamas, Cuba and Panama, and occasionally as far north along the east coast of Massachusetts. American Bitterns return to Massachusetts marshes in April.
Distribution in Massachusetts 1980-2006 Based on records in Natural Heritage Database
POPULATION STATUS: In Massachusetts the American Bittern is classified as an “Endangered” species. Since 1980, NHESP has received reports of American Bitterns at 75 locations during the breeding season. Population trend is not known.
Originated: 1986 Updated: 2006
Blanding’s Turtle Emydoidea blandingii
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Route 135, Westborough, MA 01581 tel: (508) 389-6360; fax: (508) 389-7891 State Status: Threatened www.nhesp.org Federal Status: None
DESCRIPTION: The Blanding’s Turtle is a mid- sized turtle ranging between 16 and 22 cm (6-9 in.) in shell length. Its high-domed carapace (top shell) is dark and covered with pale yellow flecking. The lower shell (plastron) is yellow with large black blotches on the outer posterior corner of each scute (scale). The plastron is hinged, allowing movement; however, the shell does not close tightly. In older individuals, the entire plastron may be black. The most distinguishing feature is its long, yellow throat and chin, which makes it recognizable at a distance. Males have slightly concave plastrons, females have flat plastrons. The tails of males are thicker and their cloacal opening (the common orifice of the digestive, reproductive and Photo by Susan Speak urinary systems) is located beyond the edge of the carapace. Hatchlings have a brown carapace and RANGE: The Blanding’s Turtle is found primarily in brown to black plastron, and range between 3.4 and the Great Lakes region, extending to Kansas. Several 3.7 cm (1.3-1.5 in.) in length. smaller, disjunct populations occur in the East: in southern Nova Scotia, in an arc extending from eastern SIMILAR SPECIES: This species could be Massachusetts through southeastern New Hampshire to confused with the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene southern Maine, and in the lower Hudson Valley of New carolina). The Eastern Box Turtle can have a yellow York. These populations (with the exception of those in chin but lacks the yellow throat and neck. Box Turtles New Hampshire) are all listed as Threatened or are smaller, 10-18 cm (4-7 in.) in shell length. In Endangered at the state or provincial level. addition, the Box Turtle has a prominent mid-line ridge (keel) on the carapace, which is absent on Blanding’s Turtles. The Blanding’s Turtle may also be confused with the Spotted Turtle. However, The Spotted Turtle is much smaller, 3.5-4.5 inches in length and has very distinct round yellow spots.
HABITAT IN MASSACHUSETTS: Blanding’s Turtles use a variety of wetland and terrestrial habitat types. Blanding’s Turtles have been observed in seasonal pools, marshes, scrub-shrub wetlands and open uplands (Sievert et al. 2003). Habitat use appears to vary according to the individual and the Distribution in Massachusetts 1980 - 2006 amount of precipitation, with more upland utilization Based on records in Natural Heritage Database during dry years (Joyal at al. 2001). Wetlands are used for overwintering during their inactive season (Nov-Mar). LIFE CYCLE & BEHAVIOR: Blanding’s Turtles Blanding’s Turtles display temperature-dependent sex overwinter in organic substrate in the deepest parts of determination; eggs incubated below a pivotal marshes, ponds, and occasionally, vernal pools. Some temperature that lies between 26.5°C and 30°C (79.7- individuals overwinter under hummocks in red maple 86°F) produce males, and higher temperatures produce or highbush blueberry swamps. Upon emergence from females (Ewert and Nelson 1991). Typical clutch size overwintering, Blanding’s Turtles often leave ranges from 10 to 12 eggs. Hatchlings emerge in the late permanent wetlands and move overland to vernal August and September. The typical size of a hatchling is pools and scrub-shrub swamps, where they feed and about 3.5 cm (1.4 in.) and 10 g (0.35 oz). mate. It is during the summer months that females estivate in upland forest or along forest/field edges. At ACTIVE PERIOD night and during periods of hot weather, Blanding’s Turtles retreat to “forms”. These small terrestrial Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec shelters are found beneath leaf litter, in the grass, under logs or brush located up to 110 m (361 ft) from the nearest wetland. They are called “forms” because when the turtle leaves them, they retain the shape of THREATS: Blanding’s Turtles are particularly the turtle’s shell. vulnerable because they travel very long distances Blanding’s Turtles are omnivores, eating both plants during their active season, do not reproduce until late in and animals. They eat while on land and in the water. life (14-20 yrs), and have low nest and juvenile The animals Blanding’s Turtles are know to eat, either survivorship. These traits make them extremely sensitive alive or as carrion, consist of Pulmonate snails, to even a 1-2% increase in adult mortality. Roads are the crayfish, earthworms, insects, golden shiners, brown primary cause of adult mortality. Blanding’s Turtles bullheads, and other small vertebrates. Vernal pools travel to multiple wetlands throughout a single year are an important source of many of these prey items. (typically 3-6) and adult females travel to nesting The plants that Blanding’s Turtles have been known to habitats, crossing roads in the process. eat include coontail, duckweed, bulrush, and sedge. As this turtle is relatively difficult to study, it is not Courtship and mating takes place during the spring known how great a decline this species has experienced. and early summer and typically occurs in water. In Massachusetts, few nesting sites are currently known Baker and Gillingham (1983) reported that in and a variety of factors are attributed to this species’ low seminatural conditions male Blanding’s Turtles exhibit numbers. Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation a variety of behaviors during mating including: (i.e. roads) are driven by human activities such as chasing, mounting, chinning, gulping, swaying, commercial and residential expansion. Other threats violent swaying, and snorkeling. Chinning occurs include illegal collection, unnaturally inflated rates of after the male is mounted, if the female moves forward predation in suburban and urban areas, agricultural and the male will start gulping (taking in water and forestry practices, and natural succession (i.e. loss of expelling it over the female’s head). Gulping is nesting habitat). typically followed by swaying and escalates to violent swaying if the female remains motionless. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: Females will remain in wetland or vernal pool Using a turtle habitat model developed by UMass and habitat until they begin nesting. The majority of NHESP records, Blanding’s Turtle habitat needs to be nesting occurs in June in open areas with well-drained assessed and prioritized for protection based on the loamy or sandy soils, such as: dirt roads, powerline extent, quality, and juxtaposition of habitats and their right-of-ways, residential lawns, gravel pits and early predicted ability to support self-sustaining populations successional fields. Female Blanding’s Turtles reach of Blanding’s Turtles. Other considerations should sexual maturity at 14-20 years of age (Congdon et al., include the size and lack of fragmentation of both 1993; Congdon and van Loben Sels, 1993) and may wetland and upland habitats and proximity and travel great distances, often more than 1 km (3280 ft), connectivity to other relatively unfragmented habitats, to find appropriate nesting habitat (Grgurovic and especially within existing protected open space. Sievert, 2005). Females typically begin nesting during the daylight and continue the process until after dark. Given limited conservation funds, alternatives to Forestry Conservation Management Practice outright purchase of conservation land is an important guidelines should be applied on state and private lands to component to the conservation strategy. These can avoid direct turtle mortality. Seasonal timber harvesting include Conservation Restrictions (CRs) and restrictions apply to Blanding’s Turtle habitat and to Agricultural Preservation Restrictions (APRs). stands with wetlands. Motorized vehicle access to Another method of protecting large blocks of land is timber harvesting sites in Blanding’s Turtle habitat is through the regulatory process by allowing the restricted to times when the Blanding’s Turtle is building of small or clustered roadside developments overwintering. Hand felling in wetland areas is required in conjunction with the protection of large areas of in order to maintain structural integrity of overwintering unimpacted land. sites. Habitat management and restoration guidelines Finally, a statewide monitoring program is needed to should be developed and implemented in order to track long-term population trends in Blanding’s Turtles. create and/or maintain consistent access to nesting habitat at key sites. This is most practical on state- REFERENCES: owned conservation lands (i.e. DFW, DCR). However, educational materials should be made Baker, R.E., and J.C. Gillingham. 1983. An analysis of available to guide private land owners on appropriate courtship behavior in Blanding’s turtle, management practices for Blanding’s Turtle habitat. Emydoidea blandingi. Herpetologica 39:166- Alternative wildlife corridor structures should be 173. considered at strategic sites on existing roads. In Congdon, J.D., Dunham, AE. and R.C. van Loben Sels. particular, appropriate wildlife corridor structures 1993. Delayed sexual maturity and should be considered for bridge and culvert upgrade demographics of Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea and road-widening projects within Blanding’s Turtle blandingii)—Implications for conservation and Habitat. Efforts should be made to inform Mass management of long-lived organisms. Highways of key locations where these measures Conservation Biology 7, 826–833. would be most effective for turtle conservation. Congdon, J.D. and R.C. van Loben Sel,. 1993. Educational materials are being developed and Relationships of reproductive traits and body- distributed to the public in reference to the detrimental size with attainment of sexual maturity and age effects of keeping our native turtles as pets (an illegal in Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii). activity that reduces reproduction in the population), Journal of Evolutionary Biology 6, 547–557. releasing pet store turtles (which could spread Ewert, M.A., and C.E. Nelson. 1991. Sex determination disease), leaving cats and dogs outdoors unattended in turtles: Diverse patterns and some possible (particularly during the nesting season), feeding adaptive values. Copeia 1991:50-69. suburban wildlife (which increases numbers of natural Ernst, C.H., Lovich, J.E. and R.W. Barbour. 1994. predators to turtles), and driving ATVs in nesting Turtles of the United States and Canada. areas from June-October. People should be Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and encouraged, when safe to do so, to help Blanding’s London. Turtles cross roads (always in the direction the animal Grgurovic, M., and P.R. Sievert. 2005. Movement was heading); however turtles should never be patterns of Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea transported to “better” locations. They will naturally blandingii) in the suburban landscape of eastern want to return to their original location and likely need Massachusetts. Urban Ecosystems 8:201-211. to traverse roads to do so. Joyal, L.A., McCollough, M. and J.M.L. Hunter. 2000. Increased law enforcement is needed to protect our Population structure and reproductive ecology of wild populations, particularly during the nesting Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) in season when poaching is most frequent and ATV use Maine, near the Northeastern edge of its range. is common and most damaging. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 3:580-588. Sievert, P.R., Compton B.W., and M. Grgurovic. 2003. Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) conservation plan for Massachusetts. Pages 1- 61. Report for Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. Westborough, MA.
Updated 2007
Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife State Status: Species of Special Concern Route 135, Westborough, MA 01581 Federal Status: None tel: (508) 389-6360; fax: (508) 389-7891 www.nhesp.org
DESCRIPTION: The Eastern Box Turtle is a small, terrestrial turtle ranging from 11.4–16.5 cm (4.5–6.6 in.) in length. It is so named because a hinge on the lower shell (plastron) allows it to enclose head, legs, and tail completely within the upper (carapace) and lower shells. The adult box turtle has an oval, high- domed shell with variable coloration and markings. The carapace is usually dark brown or black with numerous irregular yellow, orange, or reddish blotches. The plastron typically has a light and dark variable pattern, but some may be completely tan, brown, or black. The head, neck, and legs also vary in Photo by Liz Willey color and markings, but are generally dark with orange or yellow mottling. The Eastern Box Turtle has a RANGE: The range of the Eastern Box Turtle is from short tail and an upper jaw ending in a down-turned southeastern Maine; south to northern Florida; and west beak. The male box turtle almost always has red eyes, to Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee. Although Eastern and females have yellowish-brown or some times dark Box Turtles occur in many towns in Massachusetts, they red eyes. Males have a moderately concave plastron are more heavily concentrated in the southeastern section (female’s are flat), the claws on the hind legs are of the state. longer and the tail is both longer and thicker than the females. Hatchlings have brownish-gray carapace HABITAT IN MASSACHUSETTS: The Eastern Box with a yellow spot on each scute (scale or plate), and a Turtle is a terrestrial turtle, inhabiting many types of distinct light colored mid-dorsal keel (ridge). The habitats. It is found in both dry and moist woodlands, plastron is yellow with a black central blotch, and the brushy fields, thickets, marsh edges, bogs, swales, fens, hinge is poorly developed. stream banks, and well-drained bottomland.
SIMILAR SPECIES: The Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) may be confused with the Eastern Box Turtle. Often referred to as the “semi-box turtle,” the Blanding’s Turtle has a hinged plastron enabling the turtle to pull into its shell but with less closure than in the Eastern Box Turtle. Both may have yellow markings on the carapace; however, the marking on a Blanding’s Turtle are spots or flecks rather than blotches. An adult Blanding’s Turtle is larger than the box turtle (15-23 cm; 6-9 in. in shell length). While both will be found nesting in similar habitat, the Blanding’s Turtle is essentially aquatic whereas the Eastern Box Turtle is terrestrial. Eastern Distribution in Massachusetts Box Turtle hatchlings could be confused with Spotted 1980 - 2006 Turtle hatchlings, because both have spots on each Based on records in Natural Heritage Database scute. However, the Spotted Turtle lacks a mid-dorsal keel. LIFE CYCLE & BEHAVIOR: The Eastern Box Typically four or five white, elliptical eggs are deposited Turtle hibernates in the northern parts of its range from at intervals of one to six minutes, with the incubation late October or November until mid-March or April period depending on soil temperature. Hatchlings depending on the weather. Box Turtles overwinter in emerge approximately 87–89 days after laying, usually upland forest, a few inches under the soil surface, in September. Juvenile Box Turtles are rarely seen, typically covered by leaf litter or woody debris. As which is true of other turtle species as well. soil temperatures drop, the turtles burrow into soft During the first four or five years of life, box turtles ground. Overwintering is usually not communal, may grow at a rate of half an inch to about three-quarters although several may overwinter within close of an inch a year. The average life expectancy of a Box proximity of one another. Some individuals may Turtle is 40 to 50 years, but it may live to be about 100. emerge prematurely during warm spells in winter and early spring. When this occurs they may perish from ACTIVE PERIOD exposure if there’s a sudden cold snap. During the Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec spring, Box Turtles start to forage and mate in the forest and fields. In summer, adult Box Turtles are most active in the morning and evening, particularly after a rainfall. To THREATS: There are several reasons the Eastern Box avoid the heat of the day, they often seek shelter under Turtle is threatened in Massachusetts: habitat destruction rotting logs or masses of decaying leaves, in mammal resulting from residential and industrial development; burrows, or in mud. They often scoop out a “form” (a road mortality; collection by individuals for pets; small domelike space) in leaf litter, grasses, ferns, or mowing of fields and early successional habitat during mosses where they spend the night. These forms may the active season; unnaturally inflated rates of predation be used on more than one occasion over a period of in suburban and urban areas; disturbance of nest sites by weeks. Though known as “land turtles”, in hottest ATVs; and genetic degradation due to the release of weather they frequently enter shaded shallow pools non-native (pet store) turtles. The release of non-native and puddles and remain there for periods varying from species could also transmit disease, which may become a few hours to a few days. In the cooler temperatures an issue in Massachusetts, but is not currently a problem. of spring and fall, Box Turtles forage at any daylight hour. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: The Eastern Box Turtle is omnivorous, feeding on Using NHESP records, Eastern Box Turtle habitat needs animal matter such as: slugs, insects, earthworms, to be assessed and prioritized for protection based on the snails, and even carrion. Box Turtles also have a extent, quality, and juxtaposition of habitats and their fondness for mushrooms, berries, fruits, leafy predicted ability to support self-sustaining populations vegetables, roots, leaves, and seeds. of Box Turtles. Other considerations should include the Females reach sexual maturity at approximately 13 size and lack of fragmentation of habitat and proximity years of age. Mating is opportunistic and may take and connectivity to other relatively unfragmented place anytime between April and October. Courtship habitats, especially within existing protected open space. begins with the male circling, biting, and shoving the Given limited conservation funds, alternatives to female. After which the premounting and copulatory outright purchase of conservation land is an important phases take place. Females can store sperm and lay component to the conservation strategy. These can fertile eggs up to four years after mating. include Conservation Restrictions (CRs) and Females nest in June or early July and can travel Agricultural Preservation Restrictions (APRs). great distances to find appropriate nesting habitat. They may travel up to approximately 1600 m (1 mile), many crossing roads during their journey. Nesting areas may be in early successional fields, meadows, utility right of ways, woodland openings, roadsides, cultivated gardens, residential lawns, mulch piles, beach dunes, and abandoned gravel pits. Females sometimes exhibit nest site fidelity, laying eggs in close proximity to the previous years’ nest. Females typically start nesting in the late afternoon-early evening and continue for up to five hours. Habitat management and restoration guidelines REFERENCES: should be developed and implemented in order to create and/or maintain consistent access to nesting Babcock, H.L. 1971. Turtles of the Northeastern United habitat at key sites. This is most practical on state- States. New York: Dover Publications. owned conservation lands (i.e. DFW, DCR). Conant, R. and J.T. Collins. 1991. A Field Guide to However, educational materials should be made Reptiles and Amphibians—Eastern and Central available to guide private land-owners on the best North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin management practices for Box Turtle habitat. Company. Alternative wildlife corridor structures should be DeGraaf, R.M. and D.D. Rudis. 1983. Amphibians and considered at strategic sites on existing roads. In Reptiles of New England. Amherst, particular, appropriate wildlife corridor structures Massachusetts: The University of should be considered for bridge and culvert upgrade Massachusetts. and road-widening projects within Box Turtle habitat. DeGraaf, R.M. and D.D. Rudis. 1986. New England Efforts should be made to inform local regulatory Wildlife: Habitat, Natural History, and agencies of key locations where these measures would Distribution. General Technical Report NE-108. be most effective for turtle conservation. Broomall, Pennsylvania: U.S. Department of Educational materials need to be developed and Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest distributed to the public in reference to the detrimental Experiment Station. effects of keeping our native Box Turtles as pets (an Ernst, C.H., Lovich J.E., and R.W. Barbour. 1994. illegal activity that slows reproduction in the Turtles of the United States and Canada. population), releasing pet store turtles (which could Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and spread disease), leaving cats and dogs outdoors London. unattended (particularly during the nesting season), Hunter, M.L., Jr., Albright, J., and J.E. Arbuckle. 1992. mowing of fields and shrubby areas, feeding suburban The Amphibians and Reptiles of Maine. wildlife (which increases numbers of natural predators Bulletin 838, The Maine Amphibian and Reptile to turtles), and driving ATVs in nesting areas from Atlas Project. Orono, Maine: University of June-October. People should be encouraged, when Maine, Maine Agricultural Experiment Station. safe to do so, to help Box Turtles cross roads (always Lazell, James. 1974. Reptiles and Amphibians of in the direction the animal was heading); however, Massachusetts. Lincoln, Massachusetts: turtles should never be transported to “better” Massachusetts Audubon Society. locations. They will naturally want to return to their Lazell, James. 1969. “Nantucket Herpetology,” original location and likely need to traverse roads to Massachusetts Audubon 54 (2): 32-34. do so. Shiffer, Clark N. 1990. “Turtle In A Box,” Pennsylvania Increased law enforcement is needed to protect our Angler, pp. 23-24. wild populations, particularly during the nesting Simmons, T. 1988. “All Outdoors,” Vineyard Gazette. season when poaching is most frequent and ATV use Tyning, T.F. 1990. A Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles. is common and most damaging. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. Forestry Conservation Management Practices Willey, L. 2006. Personal communication. M.S. should be applied on state and private lands to avoid student at the University of Massachusetts, direct turtle mortality. Motorized vehicle access to Amherst. timber harvesting sites in Box Turtle habitat is restricted to the times when the Box Turtle is inactive during the winter, preferably when the ground is frozen. Motorized vehicles should not be used for soil scarification. Finally, a statewide monitoring program is needed to track long-term population trends in Eastern Box Turtles. Updated: 2007
Descriptions of vernal pools
Information About Vernal Pools
Home About VPA Vernal Pools Certification Education Vern's Story Slides/Art Resources Beneath Physical description of a vernal pool Still Waters A vernal pool is a contained basin depression lacking a permanent above VPA Store ground outlet. In the Northeast, it fills with water with the rising water table of Links fall and winter or with the meltwater and runoff of winter and spring snow and Contact Us rain. Many vernal pools in the Northeast are covered with ice in the winter months. They contain water for a few months in the spring and early summer. By late summer, a vernal pool is generally (but not always) dry. Below are views of the same pool at three different times of the year.
Vernal pools may be found in a variety of different locations.
Biological description of a vernal pool A vernal pool, because of its periodic drying, does not support breeding populations of fish. Many organisms have evolved to use a temporary wetland which will dry but where they are not eaten by fish. These organisms are the "obligate" vernal pool species, so called because they must use a vernal pool for various parts of their life cycle. If the obligate species are using a body of water, then that water is a vernal pool. In New England, the easily recognizable obligate species are the fairy shrimp, the mole salamanders and the wood frog.
http://www.vernalpool.org/vpinfo_1.htm (1 of 2) [9/14/2009 8:39:58 AM] Descriptions of vernal pools
Obligate vernal pool species Fairy shrimp are small (about 1 inch) crustaceans which spend their entire lives ( a few weeks) in a vernal pool. Eggs hatch in late winter/early spring and adults may be observed in pools in the spring. Females eventually drop an egg case which remains on the pool bottom after the pool dries. The eggs pass through a cycle of drying and freezing, and then hatch another year when water returns. The presence of fairy shrimp indicates that a water body is a vernal pool.
Wood frogs are an amphibian species of upland forests. They venture to vernal pools in early spring, lay their eggs, and return to the moist woodland for the remainder of the year. The tadpoles develop in the pool and eventually follow the adults to adjacent uplands. The presence of evidence of breeding by wood frogs (chorusing or mating adults, egg masses or tadpoles) indicates that a pool is a vernal pool.
The mole salamanders are also upland organisms. They spend most of their lives in burrows on the forest floor. Annually, on certain rainy nights, they migrate to ancestral vernal pools to mate and lay their eggs. They soon return to the upland. The eggs develop in the pool and, by the time the pool dries, the young emerge to begin their life as a terrestrial animal. Evidence that mole salamanders breed in an area make that water body a vernal pool. Breeding evidence would be a breeding congress, spermatophores, egg masses or larvae.
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______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA
APPENDIX E
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA Town of Easton Open Space and Recreation Plan Update 2007 Analysis of Needs Section Questionnaire
Under contract with the Town of Easton the Old Colony Planning Council is updating the 2001 Town of Easton Open Space and Recreation Plan.
We would appreciate your thoughts on recreation field/usage/needs for the 2007 report.
Please take a moment to comment on/update the table below. Is it current?
What would you like to see in terms of new facilities?
Would you like to see any facilities included that aren’t listed here? (please list)
SUMMARY OF RECREATION PLAYING FIELD USAGE/NEEDS
The following table summarizes the existing facilities (as of 2001) and lists the organization’s current and future playing field needs. Current needs are those that need to be addressed immediately; future needs are those anticipated as a result of growth in the number of participants in the program. The estimate of needs shown in the table assumes that programs will use their existing facilities, where this is likely to continue.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA
Existing Current Future Net Program Facility Need Need Increase
Recreation Department
T-Ball Fields 1 0 2 2 Softball Fields 1 4 0 4
Youth Soccer
Playing and Practice Fields 3* 2 2 4 Snack Bar and Accessory Yes Facilities Parking Yes
Youth Baseball
Baseball Fields 6 0 2 2 T-Ball Fields 2 0 0 Snack Bar and Accessory Yes Facilities Parking Yes Need to Expand Parking
Babe Ruth League
Pony League 0 1 1 2 Babe Ruth 0 1 1 2 Senior Babe Ruth 0 1 1 2 Snack Bar and Accessory Yes Facilities Parking Yes
Pop Warner Football
Playing fields 0* 1 1 2 Practice Fields 0* 1 1 2 Snack Bar and Accessory Yes Facilities Parking Yes • These leagues use field space at Jr. High School/High School complex now unavailable for use due to Middle School Construction ______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA
Other Athletic Facility Needs
Basketball could have a future need for space. The Easton Youth Basketball program is almost entirely dependant on the continued use of Stonehill College. The program requires 100% use of the facility when games are being played. There is currently no facility in the town of Easton that has adequate, underused space available to absorb this program that in 2001 had 1,200 participants.
Is this still true in 2007?
Any updates on this program would be appreciated.
Comments
Please return your responses ASAP to: Bruce Hughes Community Development Planner Old Colony Planning Council 70 School Street Brockton, MA 02301 Phone: (508) 583-1833 Fax: (508) 559-8768 Email: [email protected]
Thank you for your time.
______Open Space and Recreation Plan April, 2008 Town of Easton, MA