Open Space and Recreation Plan - Town of Natick

Draft 9-16-11
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PLAN SUMMARY . . . . . . . . 1
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . 2
Statement of Purpose . . . . . . . 2
Planning Process and Public Participation . . . . 3
COMMUNITY SETTING . . . . . . . 5
Regional Context . . . . . . . 5
History of the Community . . . . . . 8
Population Characteristics . . . . . . 9
Growth and Development Patterns . . . . . 13
ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS . . . 20
Geology, Soils and Topography . . . . 20
Landscape Character . . . . . . . 23
Water Resources . . . . . . . 25
Vegetation . . . . . . . . 31
Fisheries and Wildlife . . . . . . . 38
Scenic Resources and Unique Environments . . . . 41
Environmental Challenges . . . . . . 45
INVENTORY OF LANDS OF CONSERVATION
AND RECREATION INTEREST . . . . . 49
Introduction . . . . . . . . 49
Protected Open Space and Recreation Lands. . . . 49
Other Public Lands . . . . . . . 49
Other Private Lands . . . . . . . 49
COMMUNITY VISON . . . . . . . 67
Description of Process . . . . . . 67
Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals . . . 67
NEEDS ANALYSIS . . . . . . . . 68
Summary of Resource Protection Needs . . . . 68
Summary of Community Needs . . . . . 69
Summary of Management Needs . . . . . 71
OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES . 72
ACTION PLAN . . . . . . . . 74
Action Plan Summary Chart . . . . . . 75
REFERENCES . . . . . . . 86
APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . 87
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