The Town of Greenwich has released an in-depth and informative “2022 Open Space Plan” written by Patricia Sesto, Director of Environmental Affairs (with appendix B written by Denise Savageau, former Director of Conservation) and based on the work by the Conservation Commission Open Space Subcommittee.
This 63 page report lays out Guiding Principles, The History of Open Space, Current Open Space, State Open Space, Proposed Open Space, Tools for Preservation, Financing Open Space Protection, and more.
The Town of Greenwich 2022 Open Space Plan states, in part, “Preservation of undeveloped land is an essential undertaking in balancing a community’s need for development while not diminishing its quality of life. Land preservation ensures the continued wellbeing of, and access to, unspoiled landscapes and the wildlife of our seaside community and inland New England forests and fields. Presently, Greenwich has 3,981 acres of land meeting this report’s definition of open space and 1,871 acres of privately owned land suitable for open space.”
“For this 2022 look at open space, the following types of parcels were included in various data assessments. Existing and potential open space was drawn from undeveloped land (deed restricted or not), underdeveloped land, managed-undeveloped land (e.g. Bruce Park), and reservoir property. Land not considered as existing or potential open is school grounds, other municipal properties, ball fields, parcels under ten acres – conditionally, and cemeteries.”
“The needs of the community to have visual and tangible access to our seashore, woodlands, and fields grow just as our needs for more housing and other community amenities grow. The values of open space are essential to recognize and understand open space is more than just a ‘nice’ thing to have.”
“Protecting open space is a long term endeavor that is embarked upon because this is how we maintain the valued natural attributes of Greenwich.
“Attaining open space, does not happen without a plan and intention. This Open Space Plan directly identifies pertinent traits associated with desirable open space and the 133 parcels that meet these criteria. The plan also outlines potential strategies to acquire protection of the land. Success of this plan will be determined by the collaboration of the Town’s conservation, parks, planning, and financial stewardship commissions, and of course, the Representative Town Meeting.”
“Open space protection is not a process that can be easily controlled and timed. The timing of acquisitions and their terms are dictated largely by the donor or seller, and the Town needs to be in a position to respond. Additionally, the cost of protecting land needs reckoning given preservation of open space will be a multi-million dollar investment, even if the Town is successful in obtaining grants to partially defray the cost.”
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