Open Space and Recreation

‘The people shall have the right to clean air and water, freedom from excessive and unnecessary noise, and the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic qualities of their environment; and the protection of the people in their right to the conservation, development and utilization of the agricultural, mineral, forest, water, air and other natural resources is hereby declared to be a public purpose’. - Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution

What is Open Space?

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. 

What is an Open Space & Recreation Plan?

Developed through a thorough and thoughtful planning process, Open Space and Recreation Plans (OSRP) 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. These plans 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. 

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.

Why protect open space?

The City of Haverhill has a wide variety of natural resources, open spaces, and recreational facilities. Open spaces are generally located outside the city center in areas where lakes, streams, ponds, forests, and farm pastures are located. Active recreational facilities are located in the more densely populated areas of the city.  The protection of these lands is significant to providing sustainable sources of clean air and water, protecting wildlife habitat, and providing residents with beautiful landscapes, safe lifestyle environments, and improved quality of life.  As the Massachusetts Division of Conservation Services aptly notes, “it is through thoughtful planning and active stewardship that Massachusetts’ open spaces, critical plant and animal habitats, neighborhood parks, and quality outdoor recreation facilities remain a part of our communities’ landscapes. Without planning, the appearance of a community, the lifestyle of its residents, and the condition of its natural resources can be dramatically altered in a short period of time due to ill-conceived changes in land use patterns.”