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Ashburnham, MA Open Space and Recreation Committee

Town or Ashburnham
Open Space and Recreation Committee
Proposed Mission Statement
The Open Space Committee and Recreation (OSRC) is an advisory group that promotes land conservation and access to passive recreation in the Town of Ashburnham.

The goals of the OSRC are as follows:
1. To implement the open space conservation and recreation goals of the Town’s Open Space and Recreation Plan: The OSRP is a working document that must be assessed and updated every 5 years. Historically this has been done once near the end of 5 years after an intensive hard push effort by ConCom. The OSRP Committee proposes to keep track of changes in ownership and status during those five years and assess the Plan’s progress. The OSRP Committed would use this data to update, amend and enhance its multi-year action. This method would ensure greater accuracy and efficiency, and yield a better end result;
2. Protect natural resources and natural landscapes: Ashburnham is situated at the headwaters of 3 major watersheds; the Millers River, the Nashua River and the Souhegan River. Our stewardship significantly impacts water quality for a great many communities in two states. Identifying and documenting which of our parcels have the greatest impact on those water resources and protecting them is crucial to meeting an increasing responsibility;

3. Increase and maintain passive recreational opportunities on conserved land and water resources: Numerous surveys have indicated that Ashburnham’s best economic structure would be best served with recreation/tourism as its focus. The OSRP Committee would work to create new opportunities for passive recreation and enhance current ones by connecting conserved areas of the Town, as well as areas across Town and State borders;

4. Work towards strengthening our economy by providing and enhancing existing opportunities for eco-tourism; ie: hiking, biking, trails, geo-caching, etc., – activities that would draw visitors to town who would then visit our local businesses and perhaps stimulate the creation of more.

5. Protect and preserve the rural and historic character of the Town;

6. Promote partnerships between and provide assistance to; Town Boards and Commissions, local land trusts, governmental agencies and private landowners to advance conservation of the Town’s land and water resources;

OSRC Members are appointed by Selectmen for three-year terms. The OSRC works with Town Boards and Commissions, as well as private organizations and landowners to develop opportunities for land conservation and passive recreation, which may be funded by the Town and various state, federal and private grant sources. Land may be permanently conserved by conservation restriction or through ownership of the land by an appropriate Town, state, federal or non-profit entity.

No meetings of Open Space and Recreation Committee are currently scheduled.

Open Space and Recreation Committee Documents

Past Meetings

For information on older meetings, please contact the Town Clerk.

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