Natural Resource Inventory and Assessment - Town of Guilford

Section I NATURAL RESOURCE-BASED RECREATION
I.1 Introduction
See separate Map Atlas for map references
This section is intended to offer a fresh perspective on recreational issues as they relate to natural
resources. A physical inventory of natural resources that are currently used for recreation is then presented,
along with brief descriptions and comments. Guilford now possesses an excellent array of outdoor public
recreational areas. However, land managers are faced with the problem of balancing recreational use with
protecting the integrity of the resource upon which it is based. Land or water areas designated for recreation
need varying degrees of control and must be monitored for possible abuse and overuse. This is a critical aspect
of any stewardship program for natural resources. Guilford has aggressively worked toward setting aside open
space, but systematically addressing land management issues subsequent to purchase is a project still in its
infancy. It is hoped that the following will stimulate more discussion among Town officials in regards to the
management of Guilford’s recreation areas. Questions are raised indicating the need for further study and
dedicated policy-making in the area of land stewardship.
I.2 Characteristics of Natural Resource-based Recreation
Terms such as “passive” or “informal” traditionally have been used to loosely describe the kinds of
recreation such as playing fields and buildings that do not involve intensive development of the landscape.
However, officials are hard-pressed to define exactly what is meant by these terms. To clarify the Town’s
discussions of recreational issues, the NRIA uses the term natural resource based (NRB) recreation, defined
as outdoor leisure activities compatible with natural resource protection, and typically dependent on an
unstructured setting. Keeping in mind that an interpretation of any particular activity often depends on the
viewpoint of the person who is doing it, here is a list of some general criteria for NRB recreational activities:
• contact with undeveloped or minimally disturbed landscapes is required
• quiet and solitude are valued
• presence of wildlife is desirable or essential
• non-competitive; goals are individual
• may or may not be construed as a “sport”
• minimal structures and landscape changes are used (e.g., trails, footbridges, kiosks, clearings for
vistas or habitat enhancement)
• minimal, often unimproved, parking facilities blend into surroundings as much as possible
• transport is by foot and possibly, if compatible, by bicycle, wheelchair, or horseback
• impact on the resources is carefully balanced with achieving recreational goals.
I.3 Managing Agencies and Organizations
It is the task of the agencies or people acting on behalf of the owner to determine which recreation
activities are appropriate for a given land or water area, to regulate them, and to maintain basic
accommodations for access. Natural resource considerations should be primary in this determination.
Even when applying the criteria listed above, it can be difficult to clearly delineate which specific recreation
activities are actually compatible with good resource management. Much depends upon the site in question
and even the time of year, so it is the where and when as well as the what that must be considered. (See
Sections B. Coast, C. Freshwater and D. Uplands, and Section I.6 for further discussion of recreational activities’
impact on natural resources.)
Public recreation takes place primarily on land owned by the Town, the State, South Central
Connecticut Regional Water Authority (SCCRWA), or Guilford Land Conservation Trust (GLCT). For the
town, the primary governing agencies are the Parks and Recreation (PRC) and Conservation (CC)
Commissions. Athletic fields are governed by the Board of Education and cared for by the Parks and
Natural Resource Inventory and Assessment Town of Guilford, CT I1
Natural Resource-Based Recreation