Hampden seeks volunteers for Open Space committee

April 6, 2017 | Payton North


HAMPDEN – Open Space and Recreation plans allow towns to create an outline for it’s future ideas regarding their open spaces including the plan for its forests, parks, bikeways, historical preservation, endangered species and more.

 Following the creation of the plan, the town could be eligible for several grants that come from the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.  

Hampden has had an Open Space and Recreation plan in place since 1981.  Of the plan, Hampden Conservation Commission Member Judy McKinley Brewer said, “It’s a way for a community to get together and think about all the things that essentially planning boards don’t think about.  It isn’t about roads or schools.  It's more about what you want your community to be like, what environmental resources you want, what kind of characteristics you want in a town.”

The town is seeking six to a dozen volunteers to join the advisory committee.  The members would be actively involved in analyzing surveys from the town and then developing a vision and goals for open spaces for the next seven years. “The whole idea here is to get the broad goals decided on.  There’s no real limit as to who can come and what kind of ideas.  There will be a visioning session where people kind of sit around and brainstorm about what they think they want their town to be in the future and what they would need to do to get there,” Brewer said.

Past Open Space and Recreation plans have focused on conserving historic value in the center of the town, protecting the Scantic River, and preserving hillside ridge lines.

The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission will be assisting Hampden's advisory committee from July through November, and most meetings would be held during that time.  The number of meetings is up to the committee itself.  To join the committee or to find out more information, call Hampden’s Conservation Commission at 566-2151 ext. 110 or email at conservation@hampden.org.

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