Table of Contents Section 1: Plan Summary .............................................................................................................................. 1 Section 2: Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 A. Statement of Purpose ....................................................................................................................... 1 B. Planning Process and Public Participation ........................................................................................ 2 Map: Regional Context.......................................................................................................................... 4 Section 3: Community Setting....................................................................................................................... 5 A. Regional Context ............................................................................................................................... 5 B. History of the Community ................................................................................................................. 6 C. Population Characteristics ................................................................................................................ 8 Map: Environmental Justice Map ....................................................................................................... 13 D. Growth and Development Patterns ................................................................................................ 14 Map: Zoning Map ................................................................................................................................ 19 Section 4: Environmental Inventory Analysis ............................................................................................. 20 A. Geology, Soils, and Topography ...................................................................................................... 20 Map: Soils and Geologic Features Map 1 ............................................................................................ 21 Map: Soils and Geologic Features Map 2 ............................................................................................ 22 B. Landscape Character ....................................................................................................................... 26 Map: Unique & Scenic Features Map ................................................................................................. 27 C. Water Resources ............................................................................................................................. 28 Map: Water Resources Map ............................................................................................................... 31 Map: FEMA Flood Zones Map ............................................................................................................. 32 Map: Forests and Wetland Areas Map ............................................................................................... 33 D. Vegetation ....................................................................................................................................... 34 E. Fisheries and Wildlife ...................................................................................................................... 35 Map: Estimated and Priority Habitats for Rare Species ...................................................................... 39 Map: Core Habitat & Supporting Natural Landscapes ........................................................................ 40 F. Scenic Resources and Unique Environments .................................................................................. 41 G. Environmental Challenges .............................................................................................................. 43 Section 5: Inventory of Land of Conservation and Recreation Interest...................................................... 48 A. Protected Lands .................................................................................................................................. 48 Map: Protected Parcels Map .............................................................................................................. 52 B. Unprotected Lands ............................................................................................................................. 53 Map: Unprotected Parcels Map .......................................................................................................... 63 Section 6: Community Vision ...................................................................................................................... 65 A. Description of Process .................................................................................................................... 65 B. Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals ............................................................................ 65 Section 7: Analysis of Needs ....................................................................................................................... 66 A. Summary of Resource Protection Needs ........................................................................................ 66 B. Summary of Community’s Needs ................................................................................................... 67 C. Management Needs, Potential Change of Use ............................................................................... 69 Section 8: Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................................. 70 Section 9: Seven-Year Action and Policy Plan ............................................................................................. 71 Section 10: Public Comments ..................................................................................................................... 78 A. Resident Comments Regarding Open Space & Recreational Matters ............................................ 78 Section 11: References................................................................................................................................ 79 Section 12: ADA Compliance and Transition Plan ADA ............................................................................... 80 Attachment A: ADA Information and Procedures ...................................................................................... 88 Attachment B: Open Space & Recreation Survey ....................................................................................... 90 Attachment C: Letters of Support ............................................................................................................... 96 Section 1: Plan Summary In review of the 2008 Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) goals and objectives and the City of New Bedford’s recreational and open space inventories, the Open Space and Recreational Committee has determined that many of the critical needs of our citizens would be better met if more efficient planning, management and maintenance of the city’s parks and playgrounds existed. This was evident throughout the public process where citizens at each neighborhood group meeting noted that the city needed better maintenance and budget plans for each park, playground and preservation area. The citizens and the Committee feel that New Bedford has plenty of active and passive recreational opportunities to be enjoyed by everyone, from toddlers to seniors; we simply need to be better harness our assets to ensure that they are utilized to their fullest potential. Previously, the one outstanding recreational item that the community felt was missing was a greenway/bicycle trail along the Acushnet River and Clark’s Cove, linking New Bedford to Fairhaven and Dartmouth. Over the past five years, the City has strived to acquire the necessary land easements and other permits to construct a multi-use trail. This continues to be an on-going initiative as we pursue the Riverwalk along the Acushnet River; bicycle lanes/paths on streets chosen in cooperation with the recently formed New Bedford Bike Committee; and the Harborwalk—a multiuse path on top of the hurricane barrier—which construction will begin on this spring through funding provided through the Parkland Acquisition and Renovations for Communities (PARC) grant program offered through the state. The City of New Bedford is committed to fulfilling the goals of the revised 2014 OSRP. The City is invested in the creation and/or update of management plans for the five citywide parks, the Sassaquin Pond area and the Acushnet Cedar Swamp, the establishment of maintenance plans for playgrounds and sport fields, and the creation of yearly budgets for the maintenance of our parks and playgrounds. Prepared by the City of New Bedford Department of Planning, Housing & Community Development 1 Section 2: Introduction A. Statement of Purpose The purpose of the update and revision of the Open Space & Recreation Plan is to take an extensive inventory of what exists in New Bedford today, determine which goals and objectives were met and which need improvement or amending. The OSRP has the potential to be an efficient tool that the City can wield when doing short-range planning, such as permitting subdivisions and mill overlay districts or long-range planning, in the forms of a city master