OPEN SPACE 2010 Open Space and Recreation Plan for the Town of Brookline OPEN SPACE 2010 Open Space and Recreation Plan for the Town of Brookline Brookline Conservation Commission May 2011 www.brooklinema.gov/Parks/Conservation Front Cover Photo Aerial view of Skyline Park (Also visible in the photo are parts of Lost Pond Sanctuary, Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course at Putterham Meadows, Dane Park, and parts of Brookline and Boston in the distance) Photo courtesy of CDM Back Cover Photos Environmental Education class at Ward's Pond in Olmsted Park & Boston Pops Brass Quintet at Allerton Overlook in Olmsted Park Photos by Heather Lis Town of Brookline Conservation Commission Associates Kate Bowditch, Chair Marian Lazar Marcus Quigley, Vice Chair Pamela Harvey Randolph Meiklejohn, Clerk Werner Lohe Roberta Schnoor Gail Fenton Matthew Garvey May 2011 The Conservation Commission is pleased to present to the citizens of Brookline Open Space 2010: Open Space and Recreation Plan for the Town of Brookline. This plan is the result of a year-long process led by the Open Space Plan Committee, which included members of the Conservation Commission, representatives from other Town boards and commissions, and community organizations. The Committee was supported by staff from the Brookline Parks and Open Space Division, as well as the other Divisions of the Department of Public Works, particularly Engineering, the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Division, and the Planning and Community Development and Recreation Departments. The Open Space Plan Committee met throughout 2010, hosted three public meetings, and convened a series of meetings with three subcommittees to focus on specific issues. Brookline Open Space 2010 builds on the Town’s history of open space planning and management, as well as new and emerging concerns that will impact open space in the future. In the five years since preparation of the last Open Space Plan, the community has made important strides towards preserving open space and the environment in Brookline. The Town completed the closure and redevelopment of the former landfill, including construction of the very popular Skyline Park, as well as a system of trails connecting to adjacent open spaces. Brookline also completed the purchase of the site of the former Fisher Hill Reservoir from the State of Massachusetts, and has begun a final design process for the development of a new park with both active and passive recreational elements. Significant renovation and rehabilitation projects have been completed at a number of parks, including Amory Playground, Dane Park, Driscoll School Playground, Harry Downes Field, Juniper Street Playground, Lawton Playground, Linden Park, Monmouth Street Park, Soule Playground, and most recently Lower Soule Field and Winthrop Square. The Town passed a Wetlands Protection By-Law to provide more specific protection of wetland resources than existing state laws, passed a Stormwater Management By-Law, and has adopted a Conservation Restriction policy. Friends groups have grown and remain active, helping maintain a high standard of stewardship in Town parks and open spaces. The street tree inventory has been improved and updated, with specific tree information incorporated into a GIS database. Bicycle and pedestrian improvements have been made, including new bicycle lanes and improved pedestrian crossings. Brookline Open Space 2010 identifies numerous near-term opportunities to enhance our open space and to improve the health and sustainability of the community. In addition to highlighting the ongoing need to protect important open spaces in Brookline, this plan recognizes the growing threats posed by climate change and the links between open space and public health. Both the challenges and opportunities for open space in Brookline are great. The Conservation Commission looks forward to working with the many friends of open space in Brookline, old and new, to pursue the goals of this plan. Kate Bowditch Chair Town Hall ♦ 333 Washington Street ♦ Brookline ♦ Massachusetts 02445 Tel: (617) 730-2088 ♦ Fax: (617) 730-2258 Board of Selectmen Conservation Commission Betsy DeWitt, Chairman Kate Bowditch, Chair Nancy Daly Marcus Quigley, Vice-Chair Jesse Mermell Randolph Meiklejohn, Clerk Richard Benka Werner Lohe Kenneth Goldstein Roberta Schnoor Gail Fenton Matthew Garvey Mel Kleckner, Town Administrator Marian Lazar, Associate Pamela Harvey, Associate Thomas Brady, Conservation Administrator Heather Charles Lis, Conservation Assistant Open Space Plan Committee Kate Bowditch, Co-Chair Jesse Mermell, Co-Chair Conservation Commission Board of Selectmen Edward Hsieh, Co-Chair Brookline GreenSpace Alliance Gail Fenton, Conservation Commission Marian Lazar, Conservation Commission & Michael Berger, Advisory Board Brookline GreenSpace Alliance Eileen Berger, Commission for the Disabled Peter Ames, Council On Aging Josh Safer, Transportation Board Hugh Mattison, Tree Planting Committee Anne Meyers, Economic Development David Lowe, Climate Change Action Brookline Advisory Board Chris Dippel, Bicycle Advisory Committee John Bain, Park and Recreation Commission Henry Warren, School Committee Gary Gross, Preservation Commission Mark Zarrillo, Planning Board & Joseph Geller, Brookline Conservation Land Trust Climate Action Committee Authors Staff Contributors Kate Bowditch, Conservation Commission Erin Chute Gallentine, Parks and Open Space Gail Fenton, Conservation Commission Director Thomas Brady, Conservation Administrator Jeff Levine, Planning & Community Development Heather Charles Lis, Conservation Assistant Director Greer Hardwicke, Preservation Planner Lisa Paradis, Recreation Director Department of Public Works Geographic Information Systems Andrew Pappasterion, Commissioner of Public Feng Yang, Director of IT Applications Works Jed Fehrenbach, GIS Administrator Peter Ditto, Engineering and Transportation Kate Aversa, GIS Intern Director dedicated to joanna wexler In Memory and in Gratitude for her Dedication to open space in brookline and her years of service to the Citizens and Town of Brookline Joanna Served on the Conservation Commission for Twelve Years, Including Holding the Positions of Chair & Vice Chair Joanna served as a Member of Two Open Space Plan Committees, and was an Author and Editor of these Plans, Both of which Benefited Tremendously from her Insight and Experience In 2004, the Conservaton Commission was pleased to Name Joanna the Environmentalist of the Year In appreciation of her Vision and Outstanding Service to Open Space and to the Community Board of Selectmen Congratulating Joanna on Environmentalist of the Year Award TABLE OF CONTENTS Page SECTION 1 Executive Summary 1 SECTION 2 Introduction 5 SECTION 3 Community Setting 7 Regional Context 7 History of the Community 9 Population Characteristics 13 Growth and Development Patterns 16 SECTION 4 Environmental Inventory and Analysis 23 Geology, Soils and Topography 23 Landscape Character 25 Water Resources 28 Vegetation 35 Fisheries and Wildlife 39 Scenic Resources and Unique Environments 42 Environmental Challenges 47 SECTION 5 Inventory of Lands of Conservation and Recreation Interest 51 The Open Space System 51 How Open Space is Protected 51 Inventory 53 SECTION 6 Community Vision 135 SECTION 7 Needs Analysis 137 Resource Protection Needs 137 Community Needs 148 Management Needs 151 SECTION 8 Goals and Objectives 153 Resource Protection Goals 153 Community Goals 157 Management Goals 158 SECTION 9 Five-Year Action Plan 161 Resource Protection Actions 161 Community Actions 173 Management Actions 177 Bibliography 181 Letters of Comment 185 List of Tables, Figures and Maps List of Tables Page Table 1. Median Housing Prices 8 Table 2. Brookline Citizens' Priorities for New Facilities 15 Table 3. Brookline’s Drumlins 23 Table 4. Brookline’s Walking Paths 44 Table 5. Priority Unprotected Open Space 138 Table 6. Existing Bicycle Accomodations 142 Table 7. Potential Greenways in Brookline 144 List of Figures Figure 1. Property Values and Open Space 9 Figure 2. Population Breakdown by Age Group for Town of Brookline 13 Figure 3. Population Age Group Comparison for Town of Brookline, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the United States 13 Figure 4. Ten Tips for Keeping our Rivers and Ponds Clean 31 Figure 5. The Value of Urban Trees 36 Figure 6. Climate Change and Open Space 137 List of Maps Open Space Map 3 The Hamlet of Muddy River 10 Zoning Map 10-Y 12 Population Density 14 MBTA Bus Routes and T Lines 17 Existing Land Use 21 Soil Map 24 Topography 26 Surficial Geology 27 Watersheds in Brookline 29 Water and Wetland Resources 34 Public Paths 45 Historic Sites and Districts 46 Muddy River Restoration Project 50 Conservation Areas 57 Historic Parks 61 Community Parks 68 Passive Parks 78 Neighborhood Parks 90 School Playgrounds 103 Cemeteries 114 Conservation Restrictions 118 Traffic Medians, Islands, and Other Properties 122 Existing Bike Lanes and Paths 143 Recommended Capital Improvement Project Locations 171 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SECTION 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Brookline Open Space 2010 is the Town of Brookline’s seventh Open Space Plan, and the plan refl ects the Town’s diverse open space system and the complex needs and goals of the community. Although Brookline is a well-established community and most land area has been developed, there remain signifi cant and important open space resources throughout town, and open space management and protection is a priority. Brookline’s open space resources range in scale from grand, historic