Draft Open Space Report
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Proposed Henderson Road Playing Fields (looking toward Cabot Street).
CITY OF BEVERLY
OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
ACTION PLAN - 2002
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Dear Beverly Resident:
The Open Space and Recreation Committee is pleased to present this Action Plan for
protection of open space and development of recreation resources in Beverly. This
Action Plan is intended to show the tasks needed to make the general open space and
recreation goals and objectives of the City's Master Plan come to completion.
Beverly is fortunate to have significant areas of undeveloped land, however, any
of the City's open areas now used by neighbors for recreation, may be developed or are
under threat of development. We need to preserve these open lands and develop all the
resources we have to create a balance of active sports facilities and passive recreation
opportunities, readily accessible to every neighborhood.
In April 2001 the City Planning Department hosted a Community Forum to develop a
consensus on Preliminary Goals and Objectives for the Master Plan, the basic ideas and
concepts that frame resident's views of the City. In May 2001, the Open Space and
Recreation Committee hosted a separate resident planning meeting to identify specific
ideas for open space and recreation. This Action Plan incorporates ideas from both of
those sessions and many others that have developed during the Committee's
deliberations.
Implementing the many tasks described in this Action Plan will take many years, require
funding, and most importantly need a substantial volunteer effort. The Committee is
soliciting volunteers for all manner of activities. Please review this Action Plan, consider
your personal interests, and call the City Planning Office (921-6000) or mail in the
response card to volunteer your time.
Together, we will create a more interesting and livable community with open space
recreation resources for everyone to enjoy for generations to come.
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Ellen Flannery Anthony Paluzzi David Gardner
Planning Board Conservation Commission Parks Commission, Chair
Charles Raymond James MacNeil Open
Harbor Mgmt Authority At-Large At-Large
Kathy Skrabut Kathern Tracy Willam Squibb
Ward 1 Ward 2 Ward 3
Robert Buchsbaum Cynthia Modugno Elizabeth Dunne
Baker
Ward 4 Ward 5 Ward 6
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CITY OF BEVERLY
OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
MISSION STATEMENT
"The mission of the City of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee is to
preserve, maintain, and enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Beverly by
developing and maintaining an open space plan, including identifying and recommending
open space acquisitions and identifying other creative strategies to preserve open space,
based on public input and in consideration of City government actions and policies and
the City's master plan."
COUNCIL ORDER ESTABLISHING THE COMMITTEE
April 1999.
Duties and Powers
The Open Space and Recreation Committee shall act as an advisory committee to the
mayor, city council, city departments, private organizations and the general public on
matters concerning open space and recreation and shall have no budgetary powers.
...
The Committee's function shall include, but not be limited to the following:
(1) Prepare, and from time to time, update a five year open space and recreation plan for
current and future use.
(2) Prepare a continuing inventory of open space in the city.
(3) Research and recommend financing alternatives for the acquisition and preservation
of open space and development of recreational facilities including the impact on the fiscal
budget.
(4) Set criteria for prioritizing open space acquisition and recreational facility
development and redevelopment for current and future use.
(5) Explore creative strategies to preserve open space.
(6) Recommend any changes in state and local laws to facilitate the acquisition and
preservation of open space.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
OVERVIEW
A. OPEN SPACE - A COMMON VISION
B. THE ROLE OF THE COMMITTEE
C. THE ROLE OF CITY GOVERNMENT
D. THE ROLE OF VOLUNTEERS
E. APPROACH TO IMPLEMENTATION
ACTION PLAN
CITY-WIDE PROJECTS
TRAIL AND STREET LINKAGES
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
SITE ACQUISITION
PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT FACILITIES
REGULATIONS
MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC LANDS
FUNDING
WARD AND NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS
WARD 1
Waterfront street trail from Danvers line to Green's Hill
Trail linking Obear Park to Folly Hill Trail
WARD 2
Waterfront street trail from Bridge Street to Independence Park
Install benches at Water Street
Complete condo marina walkway
Investigate sidewalk widening along Water Street
WARD 3
Walkway linking Shoe Pond and McKay School
WARD 4
Identify and sign walking streets and trails
WARD 5
Identify and sign walking streets and trails
Investigate development of Brimbal Avenue dump site
WARD 6
Identify and sign walking streets and trails
FUTURE PROJECTS
SCHEDULE
ACQUISITION CRITERIA
INVITATION TO VOLUNTEER
APPENDICES: ACTION PLAN - 2002
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OVERVIEW
OPEN SPACE - A COMMON VISION
Beverly is favored with an extensive and interesting ocean coastline and significant upland lake, wood and
meadow resources. Real estate development, however, continues apace, open space is disappearing,
playing fields are over utilized and insufficient to meet demand. Walking and biking trails and streets are
limited and poorly marked.
What will life be like in Beverly in the decades ahead. We all agree that we need a balance of residential,
industrial and commercial development and land and facilities to provide both passive and active recreation
and protect natural resources. The decisions and commitments to open space and recreation facilities that
we make now will determine what is available for our children and grandchildren.
At planning workshops in 1998 and again in 2001, we citizens of Beverly identified Open Space and
Recreation issues as the most common concern among issues facing the City. Responding to this need, the
City Council created the Open Space and Recreation Committee in 1999, primarily to advise the mayor,
city council, city departments and private organizations and to prepare and maintain an open space and
recreation plan.
In the short time since 1999, the Committee has identified and prioritized open space properties across the
city and been instrumental in the City's purchase of an expansion to Sally Milligan Park, Green's Hill along
the Bass River in Ryalside, and several smaller properties and, the establishment of a municipal open space
and recreation fund.
However we all need to do much more to preserve and enhance our neighborhoods by protecting our
remaining limited open space, and creating additional active and passive recreation opportunities, including
more walking and biking trails.
This ACTION PLAN - 2002, was developed by the Committee to describe specific activities that need to
be undertaken to realize that shared Common Vision of active and passive Open Space and Recreation
facilities sufficient and accessible to all neighborhoods. This Plan includes the detailed information needed
to translate broad open space goals of the City’s master planning process into real projects. These include:
·
Protection of lands for active and passive recreation and protection of natural resources through
acquisition and easements and by revising the planning and zoning ordinances to best promote
open space objectives.
·
Increasing public awareness, appreciation, and use of Beverly’s open space resources.
·
Enhancement and protection of neighborhoods by adding to neighborhood recreation spaces, and
creating trails and identifying and marking streets suitable for biking and walking.
·
Development of additional playing fields for active recreation.
·
Establishment of an on-going open space and recreation funding program.
·
Establishment of a public lands management program.
This Action Plan is also a vehicle to alert City boards and departments and public and private developers to
open space and recreation objectives and suggest how these objectives can be achieved for individual
parcels. The Action Plan complements the Open Space and Recreation Plan, a part of the City’s Master
Plan.
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The Committee proposes that City boards and departments and public and private developers incorporate
the information in this plan into their planning and approval processes to help ensure that open space and
recreation goals are more likely realized. Developers will find that projects made consistent with this
Action Plan will likely be reviewed more favorably as approvals are sought.
THE ROLE OF THE OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
The Committee has twelve members, one from each of the six wards, two at-large Mayoral appointments,
and one member each from the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Parks and Recreation
Commission and the Harbor Management Authority.
The Committee is organized into subcommittees, of "trails", "funding", "public participation", with each
ward representative having special interest in their ward. The Chairman has worked with the Planning
Director on site acquisitions. The Committee has recently completed an Open Space Plan. Since then it has
been meeting monthly reviewing site acquisition priorities, planning public events and identifying open
space issues to be addressed.
THE ROLE OF CITY GOVERNMENT
City government has the central role in support of open space and recreation:
Acquisitions: Through its willingness to approve City purchase of open space property.
Through use of city funds and by its eligibility to apply for state and federal
grants.
Staffing: Staffing of the Planning and Parks and Recreation Departments.
Regulatory Through use of planning, conservation commission and zoning regulations,
Approvals: development is guided to public advantage.
Legal: Maintaining rights-of-way. Protecting private lands from private encroachment.
In-kind services: For example by use of Public Facilities Department work crews for landscaping
and tree planting and parks maintenance.
THE ROLE OF VOLUNTEERS
The urgent work needed to preserve and develop our open space resources will require commitments of
time and energy, clearly beyond the ability of the limited number of Committee members. Therefore the
Committee has established a volunteer program for people interested in the City's open space.
The Committee recognizes that volunteer participation from the City as a whole is essential in developing a
well balanced program. We have need for assistance from individuals and groups such as service clubs and
youth groups, with a wide range of skills and interests, including:
Trails: development and maintenance, mapping. e.g. Norwood Pond and Witch Woods.
Funding: including development of a Beverly Land Trust, grant writing.
Education: conducting field trips, liaison with the school department, special field days and
on-going group activities such as morning walk progams.
Publicity: to encourage public involvement.
Work days: Park and beach cleanup.
Acquisition: to promote gifts of real estate and easements.
Special such as developing the Norwood Pond area and Witch Woods.
Projects:
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APPROACH TO IMPLEMENTATION
The Committee has identified many specific high priority projects as described in the following pages.
There appear to be two levels of projects: city-wide and by ward/neighborhood.
CITY-WIDE: some issues can best be handled by the Committee at-large and ex-officio members. For
example:
Land acquisition negotiations vs private, institutional and public agency (MHD) landowners,
require confidential negotiations and often involve the Mayor.
Coordination with other boards in open space land uses, eg: school board, parks and recreation
commission, conservation commission, historical commission, harbor management,
Advising city departments and the Mayor and Council on planning and zoning regulations.
Linkages - where trails cut across wards, and there is a need to establish continuity, for example,
uniform signage.
Funding - where there is need to prioritize projects vs the budget process and pursue state and
federal grants.
Public participation - to organize city-wide events.
WARD/NEIGHBORHOOD: many actions are best handled by neighborhoods or by wards. In these cases
the ward representative on the Committee would take the lead. These projects might include identification
of neighborhood trails and walking streets, and assessment of open lands for acquisition.
ACTION PLAN
We believe the projects described in this Action Plan - 2002 should be undertaken as soon as possible to
foreclose development of remaining open space; to create needed trails and street walking and biking routes
accessible to all neighborhoods, and to alert City boards and departments to the open space potential of
parcels at risk of immediate development.
Projects are described as city-wide, those that are best developed by the Committee as a whole, and
Ward/Neighborhood projects, with largely a neighborhood focus and best developed by ward.
CITY-WIDE PROJECTS
There are several issues that can best be done by the Committee as representative of the entire City. These
include:
Developing a system of trails and street walking and biking routes.
Creating a public participation/volunteer program.
Negotiating property purchases and easements.
Discussing use of school department property for open space and recreation.
Integrating a program using parks and natural areas into the school curriculum.
Working with City boards and departments on open space regulatory issues
Establishing a joint volunteer/city staff open space management program.
Developing a trail network that includes more than one ward.
TRAIL AND STREET LINKAGES
Trails and walking streets can be the backbone that ties the City's neighborhoods together. The Committee
has mapped out conceptual trails and street walking and biking routes as shown in the Action Plan map in
the Appendix. These links are intended to provide attractive neighborhood routes, to access open spaces
and to link neighborhoods and park lands. The Committee's ward representatives will be identifying
potential neighborhood routes, while the Committee itself will identify major routes to connect
neighborhoods and still undeveloped areas of the City. Among first tasks is creating a route signage
system, to be followed by formalizing a trail network.
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DEVELOP TRAIL AND ROUTE SIGNS
OBJECTIVE: Create signs designed to identify the trails and routes, with a consistent format and color and
readily identifiable design. The extensive trail and street routes planned by the Committee requires that the
routes be adequately signed.
Action Plan:
1. Research standard trail signs used by state agencies, local governments or conservation agencies or groups
such as Trustees of Reservations. If satisfactory available signs cannot be agreed upon, design Beverly trail
signs.
2. Purchase or have signs made.
CREATE TRAIL MAPS
OBJECTIVE: Create trail maps showing street and off-road routes, parking and interesting features.
Action Plan: The Committee is currently developing a City trail map using available maps for Norwood Pond,
Witch Woods and is developing a map of Sally Milligan Park. This is an on-going project, with revised maps to
be issued as additional trails are created.
ESTABLISH CITY-WIDE TRAILS
OBJECTIVE: Create a system of trails and designated streets for safe walking, jogging and biking to link City
neighborhoods, open spaces and parks and to connect to trails in adjoining communities.
1. Find persons experienced in off-road trail routing and to assist the Committee in establishing trail criteria for
existing and proposed trails, such as width and slope limitations, and to identify handicapped and bike trail
options. Request organizations such as Mass Audubon, the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Bike Coalition to
volunteer staff time. Proposed trails include:
Connecting Elliott Street to Raymond Farms via Folly Hill Golf Course
Connecting Green's Hill to Green Street
Connecting Valley Street to Preston Place via Pole Swamp Lane
Connecting Conant Street to Henderson Road along the Bass River
Along Wenham Lake shore via Water Board and Project Adventure Properties
2. Committee reviews and approves suggested off-road trail routes and Committee representatives meet with and
negotiate approvals from private and public land owners.
3. Develop budget. Solicit volunteer contractor estimating input.
4. Prioritize linkage projects.
5. Present to Mayor and Council priorities with budget. Get approval.
6. Organize city labor, contractor and volunteer labor. Layout trails. Place signage on trails and streets.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The Committee has established a volunteer program to solicit help in the many areas needed. Please use
the response form included at the end of this publication and tell us of your interests. These needs include:
Ward and neighborhood projects.
Trail construction and maintenance. Volunteer/s for particular trails.
Park maintenance. Volunteer/s for particular parks. Coordinated by the Parks Dept.
Education programs with school department and the general public.
Conducting public activities such as guided walks and cleanup days.
Fund raising: including establishing a Beverly Land Trust and grants writing.
Publicity: public speakers; developing brochures, trail maps and a "Passport" program to encourage visiting
open spaces around the City; creating a library open space resource program, and; developing and
maintaining a web site and cable video presentations.
Contacting local service groups and businesses for volunteer labor and financial support.
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SITE ACQUISITION
There is a continuing need to acquire selected properties and conservation easements. These properties are
located across the City, and are both large and very small. They are important as they protect important
natural resources, preserve neighborhoods, provide access to larger open spaces, complete trail networks
and fill in larger areas of public holdings such as in Beverly Farms where small landlocked privately owned
properties are located within larger conservation lands. The Committee is assisting the administration in
negotiating acquisition of priority properties and easements. Because of the need to maintain
confidentiality during negotiations, the Committee will be working closely with the Mayor and Planning
Department in pursuing opportunities.
The City needs to further protect its city owned open spaces by bringing, where appropriate, passive open
spaces under Conservation Commission ownership, to better protect these lands from future development
such as for school sites or for construction of other public facilities.
PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
The City's parks and playgrounds are managed by the Parks and Recreation Commission, which has
identified the need for additional playing fields and improvements to existing park facilities. There is
clearly a pressing need for additional fields to accommodate expanding sport league demand and to allow
for fields taken out of service for renovation. Fortunately there are several opportunities to create
additional fields by more efficient layout of existing fields as well as by developing new sites. These
include:
At Hurd Stadium relocating the fence behind the scoreboard and angling the baseball field slightly
east appears to create sufficient space for a full size soccer field between the stadium and the ball
field.
The area above Cooney Field stands, now used by the public facilities department, for a
soccer/lacrosse practice field.
A second soccer field can be created behind Memorial School.
A soccer field is planned on the Project Adventure Site off Cabot Street.
The Henderson Road site, is a large, plateau area, ideal for playing fields when cleanup is
completed.
The Brimbal Avenue dump site has sufficient area, but major issues of grading and compatibility
with playing fields and its past use as a dump.
DEVELOP THE HENDERSON ROAD SITE FOR ACTIVE RECREATION:
Objective: Develop site for playing fields.
This six acre plateau site has the greatest potential for active recreation of any open area in the City. It can
accommodate four playing fields and a full size baseball diamond in an area where parking and night
lighting will minimally impact residences. From an open space point of view, development of the site for
active recreation is attractive, as it will in large measure satisfy current active recreation needs while
reserving other open spaces in their natural state. Planning should proceed now so that as soon as the site is
cleaned up and made suitable for use as a recreation site, construction can proceed.
Action Plan:
The Open Space Committee to assist the Parks and Recreation Commission in preliminary site planning and
in conducting public meetings to define optimal uses of the site including inputs from the Conservation
Commission (who own the site), Planning Board and Salem-Beverly Water Supply Board.
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Commission (who own the site), Planning Board and Salem-Beverly Water Supply Board.
Meet with PS&G to coordinate the clean-up and final grading to facilitate recreational development.
Retain design professionals to develop alternative layouts and to complete preliminary design, using public
input. Design to include lighting, parking, landscaping, irrigation, restrooms, etc. Coordinate work with the
on-going environmental study
Conduct public meetings and define the final development plan.
Obtain permit approvals - Conservation Commission, Planning Board, etc.
Arrange funding.
Construct facility.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT FACILITIES
The School Department owns many of the playing fields in the City, including those at the high school, at
Memorial Middle School, at Hurd Stadium, and at smaller fields at many of the elementary schools. These
areas should be reviewed to determine if alternative layouts would create more fields within existing
spaces.
We propose that liaison with the Committee and School Department be established to review school
facilities and also to develop ways open space can be utilized to enhance curriculum through field trips and
educational programs and the recreational needs identified by the Parks and Recreation Commission.
REGULATIONS
The City is now reviewing its subdivision regulations and zoning ordinances as it prepares a revised master
plan. Revising these ordinances is critical in order to create the administrative tools needed to guide future
development and preserve open space.
As has been done in other progressive communities, we request that the zoning and subdivision regulations
include a full range of land use control options in order to ensure that developers are not restricted in
meeting master plan and open space planning objectives. Options used in other communities include:
Downzoning Upzoning
Conservation Subdivision Backlot development.
Flexible development Phased growth limits
Planned Unit Development Overlay zoning
Historic Slope - elevation protection
Site plan review Great estates
Local option property tax Village center zoning
Drinking water protection district Scenic roads
Conservation Subdivision Design Historic Preservation Ordinances
Administrative Process
We request that a development approval administrative process be developed that will include project
reviews by the Open Space and Recreation Committee as part of the usual application process. In addition,
however, we request that a Concept Plan Permit Process be established as has been done in other
communities such as in the Town of Hopkinton.
How might this work? Using the master plan, this open space plan, other information developed by the
Open Space Committee, and zoning and subdivision regulations, a public or private developer would first
develop a "Concept Plan" with specific information that will enable the approving Boards' (Planning Board,
Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission, Harbor Management Authority) members to assess
the effect of the proposal on open space. The application would include a copy of the Open Space plan
segment affected by the proposal, and a narrative, which will discuss how their proposed project relates to
and will enhance open space. The Boards might then approve development of the project based on this
Concept Plan, subject to whatever additional requirements they impose.
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The process would start with the proposer discussing the project with the city planner and building
inspector. At that time they would be informed of this open space plan and have an opportunity to discuss
how the proposed project could be done to enhance open space. Both proposers of large projects and those
who apply for individual lot zoning variances would be included. In our city, development of, or changes
to, many small parcels have the possibility of adversely impacting open space.
The advantage to the developer is that they will learn about the open space plan and criteria, harbor plan
requirements etc. early in their design process when costs are lower and will then be able to create a
Concept Plan compatible with the open space plan, presumably increasing chances of project approval.
From the Planning Board’s and Zoning Board’s point of view the process will more likely ensure that they
have specific information in the application to assess the proposal vs. open space.
Other administrative procedures the master plan might include are requiring reviews by the City’s Design
Review Board, and establishing a coordination mechanism among the Planning Board, Conservation
Commission, Zoning Board, Open Space Committee, Harbor Management Authority, and Parks and
Recreation Commission, etc.
MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC LANDS
The City owns significant open space including parks, playgrounds and wooded and lake areas. Many of
these could benefit from active management to establish trails and plantings, organize clean-up activities,
protect natural resource, develop appropriate vegetation, promote public use etc.
We propose that the City employ a full time manager to maintain open space land in optimal condition for
enjoyment of all.
FUNDING
Acquiring, developing and maintaining properties and easements will be costly, and while the City has
recently been successful in obtaining state grants, and has provided funds in the budget, significant
additional funds will be required.
FUNDING
Objective: Develop funding including grants from state, federal and private sources, establishment of a
Beverly Land Trust, and annual funding within the City budget.
Action Plan:
1. Grants: We request the City create a grants staff position who will identify sources of funding and apply
for grants for open space projects identified in this Action Plan. The grants person would also develop
proposals for a variety of city projects.
2. Establish a Beverly Land Trust. This trust would solicit private money and property donations for land
acquisition, making tax incentives available to donors. The Open Space Committee will support the work
of a volunteer group already involved in creating a Beverly Land Trust.
3. We propose that open space funding be included as a continuing item in the City's annual and capital
budgets. An example of the type funding which might be done and be funded annually is the $200,000
fund for acquisition of small properties recently established by the Council. Money from the fund is
available to the Planning Office for property acquisition upon Council approval of individual purchases.
The advantage of the fund is that a public hearing is not needed for each purchase. Most acquisitions will
be smaller, typically house size lots, with owners who often cannot wait months for the public hearing
process to be completed and so the deal may be lost. Future use of the fund might include maintenance as
well.
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WARD/NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS
We have an opportunity through this Action Plan to protect and enhance our neighborhoods, creating
attractive open space and recreation resources. We can develop walking and biking trails, create pleasing
visual experiences and add to our open space parklands.
Since city government is organized by ward, it seems appropriate to have the Committee's ward
representative work with the ward councilor and ward residents in developing neighborhood open space
projects.
The Committee has developed a preliminary list of ward projects, which will benefit the ward and provide
benefits to the larger City community as well. Committee members will need volunteer assistance to
complete this work. Therefore, as a start, each of the Committee's ward representatives will be soliciting
volunteers to assist in reviewing and selecting priority ward projects and to work on their implementation.
Because our open spaces are under pressure for development, the Committee feels that the first task in all
the wards is to identify the most vulnerable sites and establish suggested criteria for their development. If
possible, mini-site plans will be created. This information will then be made available to the Planning
Board, the Conservation Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals and departments such as the City
Engineer, Public Facilities, etc. that are responsible for review of private and public development proposals
for their consideration in proposal review. Developers will also be able to use this information in their
initial planning stages, knowing that the approving authorities will be requiring that the ideas put forth by
neighborhood groups be addressed in a the subdivision plan or variance request submittal.
Following this initial task many other projects can be pursued as described in the ward/neighborhood action
plans that follow. The Committee has identified these priority projects as manageable and feasible to
complete in the short term by taking advantage of the properties and street rights-of-way that the City
already owns.
WARD ONE
Ward One is commonly thought of as the Ryalside Area, but also includes the City owned Beverly Golf
and Tennis Club, except for the club house and tennis courts, and the section of Apple Village in Beverly.
The Ward is bounded by the Danvers and Bass Rivers, Echo Avenue and the eastern side of the Golf
Course.
The Ward is among the most densely populated areas of the City. It includes significant open space and
park land including river frontage at Obear Park and Greens Hill, and the large open area of the golf
course, however, it has limited parkland in the residential areas themselves. A major focus in this Ward is
to link those interior residential streets to the rivers, parks and the golf course by creating safe and pleasant
walkways and bicycle paths using side streets and developing off-road trails.
There are many pleasant vistas for walking and biking along Shortell Avenue and South Terrace which
overlook the river and Salem's Kernwood Golf Course. Walkers and bikers could continue past Obear Park
across Kernwood Avnue, then up Winthrop Avenue and Leech Street to a dramatic viewpoint on recently
purchased city park land overlooking the confluence of the Danvers and Bass Rivers. Continuing north
through the Green's Hill lands gives a good view of downtown Beverly, access to the Bass River walkways
both north and south of Bridge Streets, and to a trail north along the west side of the golf course, into
Raymond Farms.
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WARD ONE - ACTION PLAN PROJECTS
WARD 1 - DEVELOP CRITERIA FOR SITES VULNERABLE TO DEVELOPMENT
1. Bass River - Open land at corner of Green and Elliot Streets.
Any developer should be required to create a water edge public walkway,
to become part of a Bass River circumferential walk.
2. Bass River - Open land east of Folger Street
Any developer should be required to create a water edge public walkway
and sidewalk and road way design to facilitate walking and biking to the
City owned public land in the area.
WARD 1 - WATERFRONT STREET TRAIL FROM DANVERS LINE TO GREEN'S HILL
Objective: Create a walking and biking trail on city streets and off road from the Danvers line, along the
Danvers and Bass Rivers, to connect with Elliott Street via Green's Hill. Signage would direct travelers
along side streets, and through Obear Park to Green's Hill. Ultimately the trail would connect with a trail
around the Bass River.
Action Plan (Typical of work required for trail development):
1. OSR Ward representative to identify preliminary route/s.
2. Confirm route with Committee and Ward councillor.
3. Meet with traffic officer on street crossings, and Public Facilities Dept and other city departments and
public agencies on public improvements needed. Meet with Essex County Greenbelt and similar land trust
groups and state agencies.
4. Conduct public meetings to discuss alternative routes.
5. Develop an improvement budget.
6. Obtain full Committee approvals.
7. Present to Mayor and Council for their approval if required.
8. Install signage.
9. Publish/add to trail map.
WARD 1 - TRAIL LINKING OBEAR PARK TO THE "FOLLY HILL" TRAIL
Objective: Create a walking and biking trail on city streets directly north from Obear Park to connect to the
proposed Folly Hill trail north of Elliott Street.
WARD TWO
Ward Two is the area south of the City by the Beverly-Salem Bridge from the Bass River on the west,
along the harbor waterfront, past Independence Park, to Dane Street Beach, then heading west including the
Central Cemetery to Bridge Street.
Open space in the Ward is limited, including Independence Park, Pleasant Park, the landing and Dane
Street Beach on the waterfront and Ahern Park and Bartlett Gardens on the interior. There are many
interesting spaces in the Ward particularly along the waterfront including the view from the old Ventron
site looking up the Danvers River and into Salem. Street walkways through Goat Hill and along the harbor
itself and along Independence Park will provide Ward 2 residents with local jogging and biking trails and
be part of a citywide trail network.
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WARD TWO - ACTION PLAN PROJECTS
WARD 2 - DEVELOP CRITERIA FOR SITES VULNERABLE TO DEVELOPMENT
1. Ventron Site - Any developer should be required to create a water edge public
walkway.
2. Properties along Water Street
Any developer should be required to design sidewalks and road ways to
facilitate safe walking and biking in this congested area.
WARD 2 - WATERFRONT STREET TRAIL FROM BRIDGE STREET TO INDEPENDENCE PARK
Objective: Create a walking and biking trail on city streets and off road from Bridge Street, along River
Street, through Goat Hill, the City owned waterfront area, along. Water Street and the water's edge, to
connect with Lothrop Street. Signage would direct travelers
WARD 2 - COMPLETE CONDO MARINA WALKWAY
Objective: Create a continuous pathway by adding fencing to allow through walkers along condo marina to
continue back to Water Street.
WARD 2 - INVESTIGATE SIDEWALK WIDENING ALONG WATER STREET
Objective: Determine feasibility of widening sidewalks along Water Steet and issue a report with
suggestions for future sidewalk projects.
Action Plan:
1. OSR Ward representative to meet with the City engineering department to review street ROW.
2. Establish ROW and feasibility of widening sidewalks along Water Street.
WARD THREE
Ward Three is the area in the central city including the high school, Cummings Center, Briscoe Middle
School extending west to the Bass River. There are several open spaces in the ward including the high
school playing fields, the walkway along the east side of the Bass River and along the "Shoe" ponds, and
the open field behind Northridge off Sohier Road.
Open space opportunities include creating a walkway to link the shoe pond, McKay School and the
perimeter of the Cummings Center as an example.
It has been proposed that the ball field at Innocenti Park be relocated to the newly acquired Green's Hill to
create space for a youth center to replace that at Cummings Center. Green's Hill is valuable open space and
perhaps too limited for a full size ball field . The corner of Cabot and Herrick Streets on the high school
property and perhaps other sites within the ward may be better locations for a youth center than at Innocenti
Field.
WARD THREE - ACTION PLAN PROJECTS
WARD 3 - DEVELOP CRITERIA FOR SITES VULNERABLE TO DEVELOPMENT
1.Bass River south of Bridge Street - These are lands owned by Moynihan Lumber, the boat yard, Keyspan
and Massachusetts Electric. A trail could be created along the
waters edge to link Bridge Street to River Street at the south of the
Mass Electric property.
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WARD 3 - WALKWAY LINKING SHOE POND AND MCKAY SCHOOL
Objective: Create a walking and biking trail on city streets and off road generally around the perimeter of
Cummings Center and linking the Shoe Pond, with McKay School property and Balch Street Playground.
Signage would direct travelers.
WARD FOUR
Ward Four is an area bounded by the coast including Lynch Park, extending north to include Beverly
Hospital, west to Cabot Street, and east to a line east and parallel to Boyles Street. Ward open spaces
include several parks Bessie Buker, Cooney Field, Lynch , Dane Street Beach, Sally Milligan, and the
Central Cemetery as well.
There are at least two priority open space issues in the ward: acquiring additional land to protect and
complete Sally Milligan Park (negotiations now underway), and laying out park trails and identifying
streets suitable for walking.
WARD FOUR - ACTION PLAN PROJECTS
WARD 4 - DEVELOP CRITERIA FOR SITES VULNERABLE TO DEVELOPMENT
1. Sally Milligan Park - Any developer of properties adjacent to the park should be required to create a
a buffer zone to protect the Park.
2. Bartlett Estate - Work with developer for perimeter pathways w/ land for a Cove School nature reserve.
WARD 4 - IDENTIFY AND SIGN WALKING STREETS IN THE WARD
Objective: Create walking and biking trails on city streets and in Sally Milligan Park to link neighborhoods
and be part of a citywide trail network.
WARD FIVE
Ward Five is the area north of Route 128, from the Danvers line to east of Norwood Pond. The ward
includes significant open space including the Norwood Pond area, Project Adventure Land, land of the
Salem-Beverly Water Board, the Henderson Road site, and the Brimbal Avenue dump site. These spaces
offer opportunities for both active and passive recreation.
WARD FIVE - ACTION PLAN PROJECTS
WARD 5 - DEVELOP CRITERIA FOR SITES VULNERABLE TO DEVELOPMENT
1. Norwood Pond area - Any developer of adjacent property should be required to create buffer zones to
minimize adverse impacts on the City owned land.
WARD 5 - - IDENTIFY AND SIGN WALKING STREETS IN THE WARD
Objective: Create walking and biking trails on city streets and off road public and private lands to connect
existing open spaces as shown on the Action Plan. This network has the potential to allow off road travel
across nearly the entire ward.
WARD 5 - INVESTIGATE DEVELOPMENT OF BRIMBAL AVENUE DUMP SITE
Objective: Develop ideas for open space use of the dump site with its current steep grading. Alternatives
might include creating walking trails, dog park areas, plantings/seeding to create a flowering meadow.
Action Plan:
1. OSR Ward representative to meet with the City engineering department to determine site engineering
and costs of various options.
2. Establish feasibility of alternatives.
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WARD SIX
Ward Six is the largest ward in the City and includes the area north of Route 128 from Norwood Pond east
to the Wenham line and south of Route 128, east from Boyles Street to the Manchester Line and to the
coast. The ward includes significant open space in the Witch Woods and Beverly Commons woodland
areas, the northern section of Endicott College and Landmark School properties and the area along Pole
Swamp Lane. These spaces are ideal for passive recreation their current use. This Action Plan seeks to
encourage their use for passive recreation by creating off road trails and street links to tie many of them
together.
WARD SIX - ACTION PLAN PROJECTS
WARD 6 - DEVELOP CRITERIA FOR SITES VULNERABLE TO DEVELOPMENT
1. Properties adjacent to and within Witch Woods and Beverly Commons, and the Pole Swamp Lane areas
- Any developer of these properties should be required to maintain the natural character of the City owned
open space areas or maintain open space use.
WARD 6 - - IDENTIFY AND SIGN WALKING STREETS IN THE WARD
Objective: Create walking and biking trails on city streets and off road public and private lands to connect
existing open spaces as shown on the Action Plan. This network has the potential to allow off road and
safe street travel across the entire ward.
FUTURE PROJECTS
Many projects will need to be left to the future. These include development of additional off-road trail and
walking street trails. Other needs include development of dog parks, BMX bike areas and cemetery
planning.
Additional needs for trails and street walkways will undoubtedly become evident in future years.
Those potential routes can be assessed as described above.
City cemeteries will be filled in the foreseeable future. Many communities now have memorial
gardens where plaques honoring the deceased are placed as an alternative to continued cemetery
expansion. Each of our cemeteries have locations where such contemplative spots can be created.
Dog parks are needed to remove dogs from public parks where they sometimes create dangerous
conditions and fouling of the grounds. Areas should be designed for both small and large dogs
and should be located around the City for neighborhood residents.
BMX bicycle off-road areas are in demand and at least one should be created in the City to allow
that activity if natural terrain will not be harmed.
SCHEDULE
The Committee has adopted the following schedule as a goal:
Finalize draft Action Plan March
Name and setup a volunteer coordinator. April
Complete trail map, first edition End April
Meeting w/ Council, Plan Board etc March meeting
Public hearing to review revised draft (solicit volunteers) Mid-March
Ward reps meet with volunteers, plan activities March-April
Action Plan Finalized April meeting
Earthday activities (mark trails, install signage, etc) April 20-21
Continue program: (monthly public events; activate school, Henderson Road
funding subcommittees; vulnerable sites descriptions to Boards ) April-September
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ACQUISITION CRITERIA
1.Opportunities lost. If the site is developed will that development preclude future opportunities for
contiguous open space, access to other parcels or other open space values.
2. Neighborhood Site development will impact neighborhood traffic, parking, and storm
Infrastructure drainage and, eliminate open land and potential linkage to open space
Impacts in other areas of the city.
3.Linkage: Does the site provide linkage to other open space areas.
4.Cost and The cost of acquiring real estate, especially in recent years, is
Funding Options: extraordinarily high, exceeding the City's ability to pay for acquisition of all sites
with open space potential. Alternative funding sources include federal and state
grants and purchase through private funding such as the Essex County Greenbelt or
the Trustees of Reservations. In addition, there may be situations where costs of
acquiring ownership rights such as easements are possible, thereby effectively giving
the public open space land at reduced cost.
5, Size of Parcel: Generally larger parcels offer more opportunities for both active and passive
recreation. However, smaller parcels which provide opportunities for linkages,
visual benefits, or natural resource preservation, etc. need to be considered.
6.Type of control: Land use control may be by acquisition, easement or conservation restriction. The
method of control has been recommended based on how the site can be best utilized.
7.Active Recreation: Primarily organized sport facilities ie. playing fields and courts, but also bicycle
8.Passive Recreation: Walking trails, undisturbed open space including wooded areas, shoreline, and
meadows.
9.Visual: Does the site provide an unusually valuable visual experience, such as appealing
wooded areas, open meadow, distant open space views etc.
10.Natural Resources: Is the area in an area of valuable natural resources such as wildlife habitat, flora or
fauna
11.Consolidation: Does acquisition of the site offer an opportunity to consolidate an otherwise
fragmented area of open space.
12.Degree of Areas not immediately subject to development for a range of factors
Development including: physical features such as wetland, ledge or steep
Potential slope restrictions; ownership restrictions such as conservation easements, and;
ownership form such as lands in institutional holdings.
13.Coastal Access: Since Beverly is unique in having extensive coastline, much in private ownership or
control, public access is important.
14. Potential for How imminent is the sale and/or development of the site likely to be?
Imminent
Development
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INVITATION TO VOLUNTEER
Your willingness to volunteer is appreciated. There are many tasks to be done with both citywide and
neighborhood focus, some as a member of a group, and others individually, all with varying time
commitments.
CITY OF BEVERLY
OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
I am interested in assisting with Open Space Issues in the City.
Name _________________________________________________________________
Address _________________________________________________________________
Phone _________________________________________________________________
Please mail to:
Planning Department
City of Beverly
City Hall
Cabot Street
Beverly, MA 01915
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