2 - Town of Colchester

Open Space in Colchester
Perceived
16,317 acres
(52 percent of Colchester)
Type
Area
State of Connecticut 3,497
City of Norwich 1,052
Town of Colchester 44
Golf Course 90
Cemetery 51
Public Facility 399
Other 66
Vacant and
11,118
Uncommitted Land
Total 16,317
acres
Preserved
3,592 acres
(11 percent of Colchester)
Type
Area
State of Connecticut 3,497
Town of Colchester 44
Other Properties 51
Total 3,592
acres
INVENTORY
Most people tend to think of “open space” as land that is not built upon. However, this definition includes land that is in
private ownership and may be developed in the future. In fact, while over 16,000 acres of land in Colchester is perceived
as “open space” at the present time, about 75 percent of this is privately-owned vacant and under-developed land that
could be developed at some time in the future.
For purposes of the Plan of Conservation & Development, open space is defined as land that is preserved or dedicated to
open space uses (about 4,800 acres in 1998). Open space in Colchester can be further classified as dedicated open space
and managed open space.
Dedicated open space includes all land that is permanently preserved as open space either for public access, such as
parks, recreation areas, or for natural or scenic values. The bulk of the dedicated open space is State of Connecticut
lands (about 3,500 acres) located in western Colchester at Salmon River State Forest, Day Pond State Park, and Babcock
Pond Wildlife Management Area. It also includes land owned by the Town of Colchester.
Managed open space includes land that is used or preserved for some purpose other than open space but that provides
open space characteristics. In Colchester, this includes City of Norwich water supply land, cemeteries, and golf courses.
Existing Colchester Open Space
Preserved
Total Area
(acres)
Dedicated Open Space 3,540
Town of Colchester Yes 44
State of Connecticut Yes 3,497
Managed Open Space 1,260
City of Norwich Probably 1,052
Golf Courses Probably 90
Hayward VFD Possibly 66
Other Yes 51
TOTAL 4,800
Sources: Town of Colchester, Tax Assessor Records, Planimetrics
Parcels classified as open space typically allow for passive recreation activities (walking, bicycling, sight-seeing). More
active recreational activities (organized field sports, recreation fields, and supervised recreation activities) are also
considered under the Community Facilities element of this Plan.
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