The Master Plan process in Marion has shifted into ‘open space mode’ and how to manage open space properties in the future.
Currently, a number of different entities acquire and oversee open space parcels, evidenced by a recent map of Marion that resembles a patchwork blanket of sorts showing which entities are responsible for which parcels. With a new Master Plan in the works, the Town could seek to consolidate the parcels and form a stewardship over all town-owned lands instead of the piecemeal state it is in now.
The Sippican Lands Trust, Marion Open Spaces Acquisition Commission, Conservation Commission, and Recreation Department, among other entities, all manage different parcels of protected land based on the characteristics of the land and their particular intended uses. What a joint meeting of these groups on March 7 is debating now is whether to continue in this way or strive for cohesion.
But first, the group aims to answer a few of its own questions – what do we have now, what is it used for, who manages it, and what do we want to do with it?
“This is just the beginning,” said Margie Baldwin, member of the Tree and Parks Committee and head of this Master Plan open spaces subcommittee.
The group discussed the criteria for acquiring chosen properties – whether the lands would be contiguous, recreation, forestland protection, aquifer protection – and how to assess their management and the acquisition of parcels in the future.
“[Aquifer protection] is one of our tops,” said MOSAC and Pathways Committee Chairman John Rockwell. During a past survey, Rockwell said aquifer protection was the top concern of residents when it came to MOSAC land acquisition.
Rockwell supports releasing a new survey to gather input from residents for the open spaces section of the Master Plan, since the last survey was conducted in 2011. He said a survey conducted five years ago would only provide the town with obsolete information.
“We looked at our 2011 … results and said, you know, a lot of this stuff no one is listening to,” said Rockwell. “You can’t really listen to old surveys because they’re so old.”
Baldwin, Conservation Commission Chairman Norm Hills, and Music Hall Advisory Committee and Tree & Parks Committee member Tinker Saltonstall all either opposed a new survey or preferred to hold-off on the survey for now, calling it premature.
For the time being, the group plans to hold a series of open workshops for public input and discuss their own concerns and ideas during meetings such as this one.
The group’s goals are to make the most of the town’s open space lands, increase public access and awareness of them, and possibly form a parks system within the town under the stewardship of one town entity.
One fundamental question remains: Does the town want to develop these properties as recreational or does it simply want to preserve them?
“Do you want a public works [entity] or do you want a park system in town?” asked Jonathan Howland of the SLT. “Because it’s two different things. I think it would be great if this town had a park system.
It’s all good, said Baldwin, but how do we bring that cohesive effort together, she asked.
With so many unanswered questions, the group tasked Rockwell and SLT President Chris Bryant to sort through the properties and come up with descriptions for each of them to form a solid inventory.
The open spaces Master Plan subcommittee will meet again on March 21 at 5:00 pm at the Marion Town House to review the information and continue discussions.
By Jean Perry
