Barre Open Space and Recreation Plan Barre, Massachusetts September 2010 With Assistance from 2 2 Washington Square Union Station Worcester, MA 01604 www.cmrpc.org Approval granted through October 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1 ‐ PLAN SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ 1 SECTION 2 – INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 3 A ‐ Statement of Purpose ............................................................................................................ 3 B ‐ Planning Process and Public Participation ............................................................................. 4 SECTION 3 ‐ COMMUNITY SETTING ............................................................................................... 7 A ‐ Regional Context .................................................................................................................... 7 B ‐ History of Community ............................................................................................................ 8 C ‐ Population Characteristics .................................................................................................... 11 D ‐ Growth and Development Patterns ..................................................................................... 15 SECTION 4 ‐ ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS ...................................................... 23 A ‐ Geology, Soils, and Topography ........................................................................................... 23 B ‐ Landscape Character ........................................................................................................... 26 C ‐ Water Resources .................................................................................................................. 26 D ‐ Vegetation ............................................................................................................................ 30 E ‐ Fish And Wildlife ................................................................................................................... 32 F ‐ Scenic Resources And Unique Environments ....................................................................... 34 G ‐ Environmental Challenges ................................................................................................... 46 SECTION 5 – INVENTORY OF LANDS OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION INTEREST ............ 53 SECTION 6 ‐ COMMUNITY VISION ............................................................................................. 103 A ‐ Description of Process .................................................................................................................. 103 B ‐ Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals ..................................................................... 104 SECTION 7 ‐ ANALYSIS OF NEEDS ............................................................................................... 107 A ‐ Summary of Resource Protection Needs ................................................................................... 107 B ‐ Summary of Community’s Needs ............................................................................................... 109 C ‐ Management Needs, Potential Change of Use ......................................................................... 115 SECTION 8 ‐ GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................ 117 SECTION 9 ‐ SEVEN YEAR ACTION PLAN .................................................................................... 119 SECTION 10 ‐ PUBLIC COMMENTS ............................................................................................. 133 SECTION 11 – REFERENCES ......................................................................................................... 135 2010 Barre Open Space and Recreation Plan v4 Page 2 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................ 139 Appendix A – The Massachusetts Heritage Landscape Inventory Program – Upper Quaboag Watershed and North Quabbin Region Landscape Inventory – Barre Reconnaissance Report ............................................................................................................................................................... 141 Appendix B ‐ MACRIS Search Results .............................................................................................. 143 Appendix C – Resident Survey Summary ........................................................................................ 151 Appendix D – Community Forum Summary ................................................................................... 165 Appendix E – Additional Action Steps for Implementation Committee Consideration ........... 169 Appendix F ‐ Funding Resources ...................................................................................................... 175 Appendix G ‐ ADA Access Self Evaluation and Grievance Procedure ......................................... 185 MAPS ........................................................................................................................................... 187 1. Regional Context Map .................................................................................................... 187 2. Zoning Map ..................................................................................................................... 187 3. Infrastructure Map ......................................................................................................... 187 4. Soils and Geologic Features Map ................................................................................... 187 5. Water Resources Map 1 ................................................................................................. 187 6. Water Resources Map 2 ................................................................................................. 187 7. Habitat Features Map ..................................................................................................... 187 8. Scenic Features Map ....................................................................................................... 187 9. Open Space Inventory Map ............................................................................................ 187 10. Action Plan Map ........................................................................................................... 187 Acknowledgements The following individuals and organizations have contributed to this and/or earlier drafts Open Space and Recreation Plan for the Town of Barre: (The authors apologize for any unintended omissions.) Paul Dumanoski, Conservation Commission Lucy Allen, East Quabbin Land Trust Jason Benoit, Resident Dave Carlson, Business Association Al Clark, Historic Society Sue Coles, Cultural Council Margo Petracone, Felton Field Commission Virginia Rich, Recreation Commission Donald Rich, Upper Ware River Watershed Association Earl Sample, Barre Department of Public Works Martha Varnot, Barre Council on Aging Tom Spiro and Ed Himlan, Massachusetts Watershed Coalition Various Staff at Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission Wendy Roberts, Central Quabbin Tourism Center Jennifer Soper, Division of Conservation Services 2010 Barre Open Space and Recreation Plan v4 Page ii SECTION 1 ‐ PLAN SUMMARY Located in central Massachusetts, the Town of Barre has been shaped by its rich cultural and natural histories. The beauty and the bounty of the Town’s natural landscape is what originally brought settlement here. It is what today’s residents adore. Community members want it to continue to be an integral part of the Town’s future. This plan identifies those special places and spaces that Townspeople enjoy and lays out a strategy for improving open space and recreation opportunities for future generations. In August 2009, the Town of Barre Board of Selectman appointed an Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) Committee. The Town contracted with the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) to assist in the development and submittal of an OSRP that would meet the requirements of the Commonwealth. An earlier plan, “The Town of Barre Open Space and Recreation Plan 2003 ‐ 2008”, was produced by the Massachusetts Watershed Coalition in partnership with the Worcester County Conservation District and was submitted to the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) Division of Conservation Services (DCS) in 2006, but there is no indication of the plan’s acceptance. Strong community involvement has been an integral part of creating this plan. Through regular meetings and surveys, the Open Space and Recreation Plan Committee identified many opportunities to improve and enhance the Town’s open space and recreation resources. This 2010 Town of Barre Open Space and Recreation Plan was completed with guidance from the DCS Open Space and Recreation Planner’s Workbook in such a way as to satisfy the DCS 2008 Open Space and Recreation Plan Requirements. Once accepted the Town will qualify for variety of open space and recreation project funding programs. This OSRP builds on an understanding of Barre’s current place in the region, its history and sense of self, its demographics, and its growth and development patterns. A thorough review of the geology, landscape,