\\mawald\ld\10400.00\reports\2008 OSRP\Cover.indd TOWN OF LEXINGTON Plan Update 2009 TOWN OF LEXINGTON Plan Update 2009 Table of Contents 1. Plan Summary ................................................................................................................. 1-1 2. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Statement of Purpose ............................................................................................. 2-1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 2-1 Previous Open Space and Recreation Plans .......................................................... 2-1 2.2 Planning Process and Public Participation ............................................................. 2-5 Planning Process .................................................................................................... 2-5 Public Participation ................................................................................................. 2-6 2.3 Enhanced Outreach and Public Participation ......................................................... 2-7 3. Community Setting ........................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Regional Context .................................................................................................... 3-1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 3-1 Physical Location and Characteristics .................................................................... 3-1 Climate .................................................................................................................... 3-2 Open Space Regional Context ............................................................................... 3-2 3.2 History of the Community ........................................................................................ 3-3 Overview ................................................................................................................. 3-3 3.3 Population Characteristics ...................................................................................... 3-4 Total Population ...................................................................................................... 3-4 Population Distribution and Density ........................................................................ 3-5 Sex and Age Composition ...................................................................................... 3-5 Race and Ethnic Composition ................................................................................. 3-5 Household Composition .......................................................................................... 3-5 Income Characteristics ........................................................................................... 3-7 Environmental Justice Population(s) Characteristics .............................................. 3-9 Implications of Population Composition and Trends ............................................. 3-10 3.4 Growth and Development Patterns ....................................................................... 3-11 Patterns and Trends ............................................................................................. 3-11 Infrastructure ......................................................................................................... 3-14 Long-term Development Patterns ......................................................................... 3-17 4. Environmental Inventory and Analysis .................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Geology, Soils and Topography .............................................................................. 4-1 Geology ................................................................................................................... 4-1 Soils ........................................................................................................................ 4-2 Topography ............................................................................................................. 4-3 \\mawald\ld\10400.00\reports\2008 OSRP\Report Dec 09 FINAL\00-TOC.doc i Table of Contents 4.2 Landscape Character .............................................................................................. 4-4 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 4-4 Major Characteristics or Unusual Geologic Features ............................................. 4-4 Areas of Archaeological Interest ............................................................................. 4-5 4.3 Water Resources .................................................................................................... 4-5 Watersheds ............................................................................................................. 4-5 Surface Water ......................................................................................................... 4-6 Functions of Lexington's Brooks ............................................................................. 4-7 Certified Vernal Pools ............................................................................................. 4-8 Flood Hazard Areas ................................................................................................ 4-8 Wetlands ................................................................................................................. 4-9 Aquifer Recharge Areas .......................................................................................... 4-9 4.4 Vegetation ............................................................................................................... 4-9 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 4-9 Unusual Vegetation Types .................................................................................... 4-11 4.5 Fisheries and Wildlife ............................................................................................ 4-15 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 4-15 Wildlife Corridors ................................................................................................... 4-16 Inventory ............................................................................................................... 4-17 4.6 Scenic Resources and Unique Environments ....................................................... 4-20 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 4-20 4.7 Environmental Challenges .................................................................................... 4-22 5. Open Space and Recreation Inventory ....................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 5-1 5.2 Types of Open Space and Recreation Land Protection .......................................... 5-3 5.3 Inventory of Open Space and Recreation Resources ............................................. 5-4 5.4 Park and Open Space Equity .................................................................................. 5-5 5.5 Important Open Space and Recreational Resources ............................................. 5-5 6. Community Goals ........................................................................................................... 6-1 6.1 Description of Process ............................................................................................ 6-1 6.2 Goals ....................................................................................................................... 6-4 7. Analysis of Needs ........................................................................................................... 7-1 7.1 Summary of Resource Protection Needs ................................................................ 7-1 General Open Space and Recreation Needs ......................................................... 7-1 Regional Resource Protection Needs ..................................................................... 7-2 Historical Resource Protection Needs .................................................................... 7-2 Water Resource Protection Needs ......................................................................... 7-3 Fisheries and Wildlife Protection Needs ................................................................. 7-3 Vegetation Protection Needs .................................................................................. 7-4 7.2 Summary of Community Needs .............................................................................. 7-4 Park and Recreation Needs .................................................................................... 7-4 Enterprise Fund ...................................................................................................... 7-5 Lexington Parks and Playing Fields ........................................................................ 7-5 5 Year Capital Plan ................................................................................................