Open Space Recreation and MultiUse Trail Plan presentation
12/20/2010
Environmental
Vegetation & Wildlife
Challenges
Resources
Farmland Soils
Water
1800
Environmental Justice
Access
Health Impacts
1850
Population Density
1900
Current
1950
1. Conservation Management
Objective: natural systems AND user-friendly
•
Maintain Conservation Areas
•
Remove Exotic Invasive Plants
•
Restore natural systems
•
Document existing conditions
•
Identify places for fishing, hunting,
snowmobiling, ORV, horses, and mountain bikes
Lead: Conservation Commission and Office
of Planning and Development
1
12/20/2010
Broad and Beaver Brooks/Fitz. Lake
2. Conservation Acquisitions
Objective: 25% of City-most ecologically valuable and
intact ecological areas
•
Broad Brook/Fitzgerald Lake
•
Saw Mill Hills/Roberts Hill
•
Mineral Hills/Marble Brook
•
Southern Tier/Parsons Brook
•
Mill River Greenway and Beaver Brook (inc. Bean)
•
Connecticut Greenway, Conte Wildlife, Arcadia Wildlife
•
Greenways & blueways: water and wildlife corridors
Lead: Conservation Commission and Office of Planning and Development
Connect along waterways
W. Farms, Florence & Parsons Brook
Mineral Hills & Saw Mill Hills
Connect along
waterways &
trailways
Connect along waterways and ridgetops
•
Connect along
Mill River Greenways
trailways
•
Connect along
waterways and
historic waterways
State Hospital
area
2
12/20/2010
Conn. River Greenway and
Meadows Cons. Area
3. Conservation Acquisitions
Connect along waterways and trailways
Objective: Quality of life by connecting to all
neighborhoods/urban areas
•
Mill River
•
Historic Mill River
•
Rail trail buffers
•
Dense neighborhoods (e.g. Florence/downtown)
Lead: Conservation Commission and Office of Planning and Development
Barrett St. Marsh/
4. Agriculture Acquisitions
New Haven Canal
Objective: Preserve farmland
•
Connect along
•
Farmland as part of larger conservation areas
waterways and
•
APRs on any other available farmland
trailways
–
State APR funding when possible
–
Local APR funding or CR equivalent otherwise
•Consider focus on sustainability
•
Create additional community garden plots
Lead: Conservation Commission and Office of Planning and Development
with Agriculture Commission. Recreation Dept. for community gardens
Bean/Allard Farms: from Look Park
5. Agriculture Operations
Objective: Ensure Farmers for Farmland
•
Some agriculture exemptions (wetlands and
zoning)
•
Enhance farmer viability
•
Keep Farming program
Lead: Agriculture Commission and Office of Planning and Development
Courtesy of Richard Shephard, Aerial Photography
3
12/20/2010
Recreation Assessment
6. Recreation Acquisition
Limited sites for 1-2 fields
Extremely limited for more fields
Objective: Land base for recreation
•
24 acre recreation area at Allard property
•
Expand Sheldon Field
•
Transfer Ray Ellerbrook Recreation Area to
Recreation Commission.
•
Small recreation opportunities adjacent to
schools and neighborhoods
Lead: Recreation Commission, Recreation Department,
Office of Planning and Development
New Recreation Needs
7. Recreation Development
•
Bocce (Maine’s Field)
Objective: Make recreation improvements
•
Disk golf (State Hospital)
•
Develop Florence Fields (Allard)
•
Skate board park (Vets Field)
•
Rehabilitate and expand Sheldon Field
•
Tot lots (Florence Heights)
•
Rehabilitate Maine’s Field
•
Informal “Dog Park” (State Hospital)
•
Complete Vets Field improvements
What’s next?
Minimize
•
Consider Ellerbrook Field needs
Environmental Footprint
•
Capital improvements other areas
Lead: Recreation Commission and Recreation Department
9. Recreation Maintenance8. Conn. River Boathouse
Objective: Create mixed use watefront park
Objective: Maintain existing resources
•
Develop permanent community boathouse
•
Develop partnerships with user groups
•
High school, Smith, and community rowing
•
City primary responsible agency
•
Canoes and kayaks
•
Improve handicap accessibility options
Lead: Conservation Commission,
Recreation Commission,
Office of Planning and Development,
Recreation Department, and
Lead: Recreation Commission and Recreation Department
Northampton Youth and Community
Rowing
4
12/20/2010
Accessibility (ADA & 504)
10. Multi-Use Trail Development
Objective: 75% of city easy access to trail
•
Connecticut River rail trail to Hatfield
•
Manhan Rail Trail spur to Ryan Road area
•
Manhan Rail Trail spur to South St
•
Norwottuck Rail Trail railroad tunnel
•
Norwottuck Rail Trail VA Hospital spur
•
Improved access to neighborhoods as multi-use spurs
and standalone “short-cuts”
Lead: Office of Planning and Development, with
Transportation and Parking and Bicycle and Pedestrian
Multi-Use Trail Development
11. Pavement to Parks
Objective: Reclaim key developed areas
•
City Hall Plaza (safety and gathering)
•
Historic Mill River at Pleasant St
•
Historical wetlands
•
Industrial Dr. circle
Lead: Office of Planning and Development,
w/ varied partners
12. Heritage Landscapes
13. Improve Public Awareness
Objective: Focus on history meeting landscape
Objective: Inform public of resources
•
Working landscapes
•
Web based information
•
Historic features
•
Media coverage
•
Annual recreation mailing
•
Rail trail signage program
Northampton PLAYS
Google Maps mashup
•
Improved visibility of access points
•
Increase Natural and Historical Interpretation
Lead: Conservation Commission, Recreation Commission, Historical Commission,
Lead: Recreation Department and Office of Planning and Development
Agriculture Commission and Office of Planning and Development
5
12/20/2010
Community Participation
Public forum: 9/14/10
Public forum: 9/24/10
Public forum: 10/18/10
Broad Brook forum:10/13/10
New Haven and
Historic 10/27/10:endorsed
Cons Com 10/28/10:adopted
Northampton Canal
Planning 10/28/10:adopted
Recreation 11/ 1/10:adopted
Transportation 11/16/10:endorsed
Agriculture 12/14/10: endorsed
Youth Com12/15/10: endorsed
City Council 12/16/10:endorsed
6