Open Space and Recreation Plan 2020

The City has submitted a draft final 2020 Open Space and Recreation Plan to the state Division of Conservation Services (DCS) prior to the July 1 deadline.  The plan is available for public review on the City’s website, and is being submitted to the Newburyport City Council in July.

A comprehensive Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) is required by the Commonwealth for the City to be eligible for a number of grant funding opportunities for park improvements and open space preservation.  Eligibility for grant programs include the Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) program, Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) program, and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, which are administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Division of Conservation Services.  The OSRP also serves as a guidance document for the City’s Parks Commission, Open Space Committee, Community Preservation Committee, and other City Boards and Departments.  Approved OSRPs are valid and eligible for DCS grant programs for up to seven years, and Newburyport’s 2012 OSRP has expired.

Based on outreach through the newspaper, the City’s website, emails, and postings on social media, the City received input from over 450 citizens on an online survey in April and May regarding existing conditions and priorities for open space and recreation in Newburyport.  The planning process also included multiple discussions with a variety of stakeholders.  In general, the 2020 OSRP demonstrates the continuity of the community’s interests, concerns, goals, and objectives for parks and open space and related initiatives to enhance the community’s quality of life.  The 2020 OSRP updates current conditions and accomplishments, and focuses on the protection and enhancement of our heritage landscapes, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, public drinking water supplies, and overall sustainability and climate change resilience.