Current Projects
The Ashland Open Space Committee is currently
- Leading the development of an Open Space and Recreation Plan for the town, which will allow Ashland to compete for Self-Help grants to fund open space purchases. This is a broad-based effort that includes help from other committees and officials, as well as interested residents. See the OSRP page for more information.
- Represented on the Weston Nurseries Ad Hoc Committee to study land/water resource issues and to network with counterparts in Hopkinton. See the Weston Nurseries Land page for more information.
- Serving on the Community Preservation Act Committee and working to maintain funding at its current level. To date, the Community Preservation Act has given Ashland a fiscally sound way to fund projects such as the Town Hall restoration, Marathon Park creation, and consultation on the Open Space and Recreation Plan.
Past Projects
In the past, the Ashland Open Space Committee has
- Worked to raise local awareness of the Community Preservation Act (CPA), Weston Nurseries land use issues, and the open space planning process
- Participated in Ashland Day, Earth Day, RiverFest, and Rediscover Ashland events
- Inventoried land parcels 5 acres or larger and ranked them according to their suitability as future open space
- Blazed the Ashland portion of the Bay Circuit Trail, including building a footbridge along the trail (west of Route 126).
- Maintained the entire Ashland trail system, often with help from local residents.
- Installed kiosks, sign roofs, and trail markers in the Town Forest and along the Ashland portion of the Bay Circuit Trail.
- Mapped the Town Forest, along with the Ashland Town Forest Committee and Sudbury Valley Trustees.
- Worked with the Town to acquire Mill Pond Park and the River Walk.
- Overseen remediation efforts in the Town Forest after water pipe installation.
- Provided local projects to Boy Scouts earning Eagle badges.
- Sponsored a series of public hikes on Ashland trails.
- Worked with neighboring towns on issues relating to the Bay Circuit Trail.
- Led the 2000 Bay Circuit Trek through Ashland.