Open Space and Recreation Plans

The term "open space" is often used to refer to conservation land, forested land, recreation land, agricultural land, corridor parks and amenities such as small parks, green buffers along roadways or any open area that is owned by an agency or organization dedicated to conservation. However, the term can also refer to undeveloped land with particular conservation or recreation interest. This includes vacant lots and brownfields that can be redeveloped into recreation areas. Developed through a thorough and thoughtful planning process, OSRPs help to ensure that a community’s open spaces, critical plant and animal habitats, neighborhood parks, and quality outdoor recreation facilities remain a part of its landscape for future generations.

Open Space and Recreation Plans (OSRP) are powerful instruments to effect community goals. An OSRP establishes a community's aspirations and recommends patterns of development that will support them. Having this document available can help you advocate for the open space and recreation needs of your community as well as address municipal vulnerability to climate change, improve management of conservation land, and strategically prioritize future areas for land protection.

Pioneer Valley communities with an up-to-date approved Open Space and Recreation Plan are eligible to apply for the Massachusetts Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program, Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) Grant Program, Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) Grant Program, and other grant programs administered by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Division of Conservation Services (DCS). OSRPs also help to coordinate with ongoing acquisition efforts of state environmental agencies and local and regional land trusts.

Over the last 20 years, PVPC has assisted many of its member communities with developing new and updating existing OSRPs. The Open Space and Recreation Planning process involves an assessment of the community setting including demographics and population trends, regional and local resource mapping, an environmental inventory and analysis, inventory of lands of conservation and recreation interest, establishing a community vision, goals and objectives, analyzing community and resource protection needs, and developing a 7-year action plan. The plans are developed by staff and volunteers from each municipality, in collaboration with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, assistance from the Massachusetts Executive Office or Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Division of Conservation Services (DCS), often with funding provided through a DCS grant, Community Preservation Act funds, or District Local Technical Assistance.

OSRP’s that have been completed with PVPC assistance for communities in Hampden and Hampshire Counties are compiled below. DCS requires the plans to be updated every 7 years to maintain eligibility for grant programs mentioned above.

More information about Open Space and Recreation planning and funding opportunities is available through DCS at: https://www.mass.gov/grant-programs-offered-by-the-division-of-conservation-services.

For more information about Open Space and Recreation planning in the Pioneer Valley, please contact Mimi Kaplan, Senior Planner at mkaplan@pvpc.org.

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Open Space and Recreation Plans

Open Space and Recreation Plans

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Open Space and Recreation Plans