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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