Open Space & Recovery Action Plan 2015-2022 The City of Springfield, Massachusetts OPEN SPACE AND RECOVERY ACTION PLAN FOR THE PERIOD: SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 – AUGUST 31, 2022 SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS DOMENIC J. SARNO, MAYOR SPRINGFIELD PLANNING BOARD PLAN PREPARATION: PHILIP DROMEY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PLANNING JASON MANN, GIS MANAGER KEVIN CHAFFEE, NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGER LAURA ANNE WALSH, 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 SECTION 1: PLAN SUMMARY playgrounds and natural areas play a vital role in the quality of urban life. Recent projects, such as the completion of the Johnny Appleseed and The seven-year program of open space improvements presented Camp Wilder Parks, the in progress Phaneuf Environmental Center, as in this report contains the following key elements: well as the continuous upgrades of all open space areas have greatly benefited from and will continue to require federal and state •Continued restoration of parks and playgrounds with governments extending financial support through grant programs. emphasis on high-use facilities in densely populated neighborhoods. •Continued implementation of the Forest Park Master Plan. •A continuation of the lakes and ponds restoration program. •Management of non-point source water pollution and compliance with NPDES regulations •Conservation Commission acquisition of land with wetland or wildlife value, forest management, as well as trail and hazard tree maintenance on existing properties. •Implementation of the Springfield Bike and Pedestrian Complete Streets Master Plan. •Promote the maturation and continued growth of community gardens and urban agriculture. •Aggressive implementation of a non-native/invasive species vegetation management program. •Initiation/implentation of programs that will promote recreational uses of the Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway as well as planning for connections from the River Walk to existing recreational facilities and other destinations. As with the previous plans, this plan is an ambitious one that expands on the concept that a well maintained system of parks, INDIAN LEAP, CHICOPEE RIVER 4 INTRODUCTION LINDA’S PARK, NORTH END 5 SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION maintaining a comprehensive plan for the development of the city. With respect to open space and recreation planning, coordination is achieved in a number of ways: A member of the Park Commission A. Purpose of Plan serves on the Planning Board and both the Historical and Riverfront Development Commissions are staffed by Office of Planning & The Open Space Plan for FY 15 through FY 21 sets forth a Economic Development personnel. Moreover, the Office of Planning comprehensive park and conservation land improvement program for & Economic Development has traditionally provided planning services the benefit of the residents of Springfield and beyond. It establishes a for both the Department of Parks, Buildings & Recreation framework for guiding city expenditures in the ensuing seven years Management and Conservation Commission and accordingly, assumed and identifies potential federal and state funding sources for proposed the lead role in plan preparation and coordination of the 1985, 1992, activities. Approval of the Plan, by the Massachusetts Executive 1997, 2002 and 2008 Open Space Plans. Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Division of Conservation Services, establishes eligibility for financial support from federal and The Department of Parks, Buildings & Recreation Management: state agencies for a wide range of park, conservation and recreational The Department of Parks, Buildings & Recreation Management programs. (PBRM) has an annual budget of approximately $11 million dollars and has a full-time staff of 105 employees, supplemented by 280 The Plan updates an open space plan prepared in 2008 and seasonal lifeguards, recreation leaders and laborers. A commission components of programs first proposed in the earlier plans are consisting of five members appointed by the Mayor serves as the scheduled in the current plan. Projects such as improvements to Forest policy-making body for the department. The parks department has Park, the City’s largest and most heavily used park, and the pond and acquired 6 new properties either expanding existing facilities or lakes restoration program, are on-going and date back to the early creating brand new parks since 2008. 1980’s. These are long term projects with scopes that go beyond any one Seven Year Open Space Plan. The mission of the Springfield Park and Recreation Department is to improve residents’ quality of life by maintaining and improving the All recommendations within this plan can only proceed with support City’s parks and open space, offering a diverse range of recreation from local, state and federal agencies and the residents of Springfield. programs, as well as maintaining and improving all municipal and City-owned facilities and schools. B. Planning Process and Public Participation The provision of neighborhood level programming receives the most The Office of Planning & Economic Development: The Office of emphasis by the department, and attendance figures indicate that these Planning & Economic Development is the central planning agency of efforts are successful. Highest use levels occur at those facilities which the city. As such, it provides services and overall coordination for a serve low income and minority neighborhoods. Arts and crafts, roller number of other city departments. Our planners maintain a continuous skating, bicycling, picnics, swimming, track and field, and athletic dialog with the neighborhood councils and civic groups to ensure input contests are examples of playground activities that are offered. (See during the planning process. Appendix I) Coordination is an ongoing function of the Office of Planning & The Recreation Division offers a variety of programs for youth and Economic Development related to its responsibility of preparing and young adults with disabilities from ages three to twenty-one, and year 6 round programs for adults with disabilities. Therapeutic recreation natural resources and for the protection of the water resources” of the programs are staffed by individuals who are trained in therapeutic city. Under the provisions of the law, the Commission may acquire recreation. The programs include crafts, swimming, adaptive activities, land by gift, purchase, grant, bequest, devise or lease, or take land by cooking, trips, and special events, and are open to both residents and eminent domain, provided such taking is approved by a two-thirds nonresidents. Many activities are designed to provide carry-over skills vote of the City Council. Land acquired by the Commission remains that can facilitate independence in self-care. essentially in its natural state, except for trail and plant identification signs. All conservation land is open to the general public for passive General park, terrace, and open space maintenance along with recreation and educational use. maintenance of all park buildings and equipment, is the responsibility of the Maintenance Division. The Department also has a Forestry The Commission adopted an updated land acquisition program in division which is responsible for a tree nursery, maintenance of all city February of 1984 which has served as a basis for the recommendations trees, and special projects such as reforestation in areas of the City contained in the 1985, 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2008 Open Space Plans. affected by the June 1, 2011 Tornado and October 29, 2011 nor’easter. Due to financial restraints and the decreasing availability of large portions of land with conservation value, the Commission primarily The Horticulture Division is responsible for horticultural exhibits; acquires property through private donations and tax title takings to landscaping, the park greenhouse, two golf courses and a skating rink supplement its existing inventory of protected land. Since 2008, the are operated by the Department of Parks, Buildings & Recreation Commission has protected over 75 additional acres of undeveloped Management as well. forest and wetland. This revised plan will focus on improving management of land already acquired. The facilities division is responsible for all aspects of the maintenance, repair, and daily building operations of all municipal, school buildings, In addition to its land acquisition program, the Conservation and grounds. PBRM is committed to maintaining our public building Commission has the ongoing responsibility of enforcing MGL Chapter and city vehicles in a manner that will sustain a safe healthy and 131s. 40, the Wetlands Protection Act. The Commission is composed productive learning, and working environment for the occupants and of seven members appointed by the Mayor. visitors of all of our schools, municipal buildings and grounds. Public Participation: In order to elicit public input on important The Facilities Division is responsible for maintaining all municipal policy issues, an online survey was conducted, eliciting over 260 buildings and infrastructure. The department oversees the responses (appendix VI). The results of the survey are included in this maintenance needs of 52 School Buildings, 10 Libraries, the plan are reflected in our targeted goals. In addition to online Municipal Group (City Hall, Symphony Hall and the Campanile), and participation, public comments were solicited at Planning Board all city aquatic facilities, as well as various monuments and other hearings, Conservation Commission hearings, and Parks Commission municipal facilities.