Front Cover Placeholder Bridgewater Open Space and Recreation Plan Update Table of Contents Table of Contents Plan Summary ................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Statement of Purpose ............................................................................................................. 4 The Planning Process and Public Participation ...................................................................... 4 Community Setting ......................................................................................................................... 6 Regional Context .................................................................................................................... 6 History of the community ...................................................................................................... 10 Population Characteristics .................................................................................................... 14 Growth and Development Patterns ....................................................................................... 17 Environmental Inventory and Analysis ....................................................................................... 33 Geology, Topography, and Soils .......................................................................................... 33 Landscape Character ........................................................................................................... 36 Water Resources .................................................................................................................. 38 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................ 50 Fisheries and Wildlife............................................................................................................ 51 Scenic Resources and Unique Environments ...................................................................... 52 Environmental Challenges .................................................................................................... 55 Inventory of Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest ................................................... 58 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 58 Open Space and Recreation Inventory ................................................................................. 60 Important Open Space and Recreational Resources ........................................................... 72 i Bridgewater Open Space and Recreation Plan Update Table of Contents Community Vision ....................................................................................................................... 101 Description of Process ........................................................................................................ 101 Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals ............................................................... 102 Analysis of Needs ....................................................................................................................... 103 Summary of Resource Protection Needs ........................................................................... 103 Summary of Community Needs .......................................................................................... 105 Management Needs, Potential Change of Use................................................................... 107 Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................................. 108 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 108 Goals and Objectives ......................................................................................................... 108 Seven-Year Action Plan .............................................................................................................. 111 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 111 Accomplishments Since the 2009 Plan .............................................................................. 111 Seven Year Action Plan ...................................................................................................... 113 ii Bridgewater Open Space and Recreation Plan Update Table of Contents Maps Map 1 Regional Context.................................................................................................................. 7 Map 2 Town of Bridgewater Zoning Map .................................................................................... 23 Map 3 Soils and Geologic Features ............................................................................................. 35 Map 4 Water Resources ................................................................................................................ 42 Map 5 Scenic Resources and Unique Features .......................................................................... 53 Map 6 Inventory of Open Space and Recreation Land .............................................................. 71 Map 7 Action Plan Map ............................................................................................................... 114 Figures Figure 1 Map of the envisioned Nunckatessett Greenway ........................................................ 10 Figure 2 Population Change by Age Group, 2000-2010 ............................................................. 15 Figure 3 Acreage Change of Farmland in Bridgewater, 1971-2013 .......................................... 18 Figure 4 Proposed Bicycle Improvements in the Downtown Community Development Master Plan ..................................................................... 28 Figure 5 Pedestrian Access in Central Square ........................................................................... 29 Figure 6 Water Consumption Change in Bridgewater, 1995-2014 ............................................ 30 Figure 7 Sub-watersheds of the Taunton River Watershed within Bridgewater ..................... 39 Figure 8 Confluence of the Town, Matfield, and Taunton Rivers in Bridgewater .................... 40 iii Bridgewater Open Space and Recreation Plan Update Table of Contents Tables Table 1 Historic Population Change in Bridgewater .................................................................. 12 Table 2 Town of Bridgewater Population Change and Projection ............................................ 14 Table 3 Bridgewater Population by Race/Ethnicity, 2010 .......................................................... 17 Table 4 Bridgewater Household Income, 2000-2011 .................................................................. 16 Table 5 Rare Flora Species Documented in Bridgewater .......................................................... 50 Appendices Appendix I: Open Space and Recreation Plan Community Survey Summary Results Appendix II: ADA Self-Evaluation iv Bridgewater Open Space and Recreation Plan Update 2017 1 Plan Summary Plan Summary 1 The Town of Bridgewater is a suburban community with an interesting array of athletic fields, open space, and parks within its borders. The Town strives to continue providing adequate and varied recreation opportunities to its people. The Town recognizes the needs to improve and upgrade existing recreation facilities and to continue preserving valuable open space resources. This 2017 Open Space and Recreation Plan was prepared under the guidance of the Bridgewater Community & Economic Development Department and the Open Space and Recreation Plan Committee. It represents an update to the 2009 Open Space and Recreation Plan. Since the adoption of the prior Plan, the Town has embarked on a variety of initiatives to implement the recommendations set forth in that Plan. A list of accomplishments is included in Section 8, Goals and Objectives. As required by the Guidelines of the Division of Conservation Services, this 2017 Plan updates the social and environmental profiles of the town, discusses influences of present growth and development trends, inventories existing conservation and recreation areas and facilities, and examines community recreation needs. The Plan refreshes community goals and objectives to preserve and enhance resources. Finally, it summarizes implementation actions in the Seven Year Action Plan towards achieving the goals. The Plan finds that Bridgewater’s major resources include: ▸ Various outdoor recreation facilities, such as athletic fields, playgrounds, and the golf course ▸ Significant water resources, such as Lake Nippenicket, Carver’s Pond, and the other water bodies ▸ Town River/Matfield River/Taunton River system ▸ Larger Ch. 61 holdings and smaller scattered holdings ▸ Current and potential agricultural lands ▸ Bridgewater Correctional Complex protected under Article 97 of the State Constitution 1 Bridgewater Open Space and Recreation Plan Update 2017 1 Plan Summary Major factors in threatened and loss of open space and recreation opportunities are: ▸ Limited capacity in maintenance and upkeep of existing town recreation