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WESTBOROUGH, Mass. – The Westborough Open Space Preservation Committee has announced the completion of a draft of the 2012 Open Space and Recreation Plan.
Open Space and Recreation Plans are required by the Massachusetts Division of Conservation Services in order to participate in grant programs offered by the Commonwealth. Available grant programs include funds for open space and park development and protection and for the establishment and maintenance of trails. The committee is now seeking input from town residents on the plan.
Plan requirements include community setting (regional context, history of the community, and population characteristics), an environmental inventory, an inventory of lands of conservation and recreation interest, community vision, analysis of needs, goals and objectives, and a five-year action plan. Among other items, the plan highlights the acquisition of the parcel now known as the Veterans’ Freedom Park and the need to provide facilities for growing youth sports programs. The plan also focuses on upcoming opportunities to protect part of the former Westborough State Hospital as open space.
"Feedback from the community is critically important for the plan to be approved by the state and for plan to become a true 'living document' that can be used by town residents to protect and utilize open space in the community," said Tim Dodd, Selectman and Chairman of the Open Space Preservation Committee.
The Westborough Open Space Preservation Committee plans to spend February meeting with town officials and boards and committees to seek their input. The committee also hopes to receive feedback from town residents.
The draft of the report will be available on the Town’s website through March 1. On Monday, Feb. 27, the committee will hold a public meeting to present the plan to residents. Melissa Cryan from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs will give a presentation to residents about the purposes and benefits of creating an open space and recreation plan. The meeting will occur at 7 p.m. in room 23 of the Forbes Municipal Building.
Residents may also provide comments through the Town’s website, and they may also email comments to openspaceplan@town.westborough.ma.us.
The website also includes several other documents related to the open space plan. Comments from the public will be included as Chapter 10 of the plan before it is submitted to the Commonwealth for approval.
Written comments may also be mailed to the Westborough Open Space Preservation Committee, Westborough Town Hall,
34 West Main Street, Westborough, MA 01581.
Public comments will be incorporated into the draft that will be up for approval at Town Meeting and that will be sent to the Commonwealth for approval.
