Parker River Watershed Open Space Planning

There has been increasing concern throughout our wateshed about the rapid loss of open space and the changes in community character that have resulted as the urban sprawl of the Boston metropolitan area spreads.  All of our watershed communities are in various stages of developing open space and recreation plans as well as master plans to guide future land use.  Below are links to plans that are currently on the web. For information about funding sources for open space and recreation, see our Open Space Funding page.

Local Open Space Information

• Groveland Open Space Committee & Plan

• Newbury Open Space Committee & Plan

• Georgetown Open Space & Plan

• West Newbury Open Space Committee & Plan

• Newburyport Open Space Plan

• Ipswich Open Space Committee & Plan

• North Andover Open Space Plan

• Boxford (Not found online)

• Rowley (Not found online)                                                   

Several national organization have produced reports documenting the value of parks and open space as well as descriptions of funding strategies for aquiring land for parks and open space.  Examples include:

American Planning Association

• Planning Communities for the 21st Century (3584k pdf file)

The Trust for Public Land

• Economic Benefits of Open Space

• Community Choices (conservation, development and taxes in Massachusetts)

Planning Commissioner's Journal

• "Open Space" Zoning: What It Is & Why It Works

The Center for Rural Massachusetts

• An Examination of Market Appreciation For Clustered Housing with Permanent Open Space

EOEA Article 97 Land Disposition Policy