Open Space and Recreation Plan 2015 - 2022 Town of Wellesley, MA 1 Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary .............................................................................. 6 2. Introduction ........................................................................................... 8 A. Statement of Purpose ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 B. Planning Process and Public Participation ...................................................................................................................... 9 1. Public Participation .................................................................................................................................................... 9 C. Researchers and Writers .............................................................................................................................................. 10 3. Community Setting.............................................................................. 11 A. Regional Context .......................................................................................................................................................... 11 B. History of the Community .............................................................................................................................................. 14 1. Settlement and Early Land Use ............................................................................................................................... 14 2. Evolution of Wellesley’s Parks and Public Landscapes (1880’s-Present) ................................................................ 16 3. Park Commission’s Early Years ............................................................................................................................... 16 4. Post-War Evolution of Parks and Recreation ........................................................................................................... 18 5. Wellesley’s Cultural Landscapes Today................................................................................................................... 19 6. Wellesley Timeline .................................................................................................................................................. 26 C. Population Characteristics ............................................................................................................................................ 30 1. Population Trends .................................................................................................................................................... 30 2. Population Density ................................................................................................................................................... 31 3. Employment Trends ................................................................................................................................................. 31 4. Family Income ......................................................................................................................................................... 31 5. Environmental Justice Populations .......................................................................................................................... 31 6. Implications for Open Space and Recreational Planning......................................................................................... 35 E. Growth and Development Patterns ............................................................................................................................... 36 1. Patterns and Trends ................................................................................................................................................ 36 2. Development Trends ............................................................................................................................................... 36 3. Infrastructure............................................................................................................................................................ 37 4. Environmental Inventory .................................................................... 47 A. Geology, Soils and Topography .................................................................................................................................... 47 1 1. Topography ............................................................................................................................................................. 48 2. Soils ......................................................................................................................................................................... 51 B. Landscape Character .................................................................................................................................................... 52 C. Water Resources .......................................................................................................................................................... 55 1. Watersheds .............................................................................................................................................................. 55 2. Surface Water: Streams, Lakes, and Ponds ............................................................................................................ 59 3. Aquifer Recharge Areas ........................................................................................................................................... 60 4. Flood Hazard Areas ................................................................................................................................................. 62 5. Wetlands and Vernal Pools ...................................................................................................................................... 62 6. Regulation to Protect Water Resources ................................................................................................................... 63 D. Vegetation..................................................................................................................................................................... 64 1. Urban and Community Forests ................................................................................................................................ 64 2. Wetland vegetation .................................................................................................................................................. 68 3. Agricultural Lands .................................................................................................................................................... 68 4. Vegetation Challenges and Issues ........................................................................................................................... 68 E. Fisheries, Wildlife & Habitat .......................................................................................................................................... 69 1. Informal Wildlife Inventory ........................................................................................................................................ 69 2. Fisheries of the Charles River .................................................................................................................................. 70 3. Corridors for Wildlife Migration ................................................................................................................................. 71 4. Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species ............................................................................................................ 71 5. Priority Habitat ......................................................................................................................................................... 72 6. “BioMap” Core Habitat and Supporting Natural Landscape ..................................................................................... 72 F. Scenic Resources and Unique Environments ............................................................................................................... 74 1. Scenic Landscapes .................................................................................................................................................... 74 2. Scenic Roads ............................................................................................................................................................. 74 3. Scenic Vistas ............................................................................................................................................................. 74 4. Urban Streetscapes ................................................................................................................................................... 75 5. Major Characteristics and Unique Environments ...................................................................................................... 75 6. Cultural, Archeological and Historic Areas ............................................................................................................... 76 7. Historic and Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................................. 77 8. Demolition