Southampton Greenway and Manhan Canal Trail Network Strategic Plan 2014

Manhan Canal Trail Connections: Szczypta Farm/Whittemore Conservation Site to the Greenway Rail Trail Between Coleman Road to Gunn Road Extension

Greenway Rail Trail Bordering The Manhan Canal Route: Gunn Rd Extension To East Street at the Entrance to the Manhan Meadows Conservation Site

Table of Contents Page

Executive Summary 3 Context 5 Strategic Goals and Action Steps 20 The Environmental Context of the New Plan for Progress 26 Developing the New Plan 28 Phase One: Southampton Rail Trail Acquisition 28 Phase Two: Manhan Meadows Heritage Trail 31 Phase Three: Whittemore Conservation Area 50 Phase Four: Szczypta Barn Environmental Education Center 72 Phase Five: Connections to Park Lands 80 Phase Six: Connections to Recreation Lands 84 Complete Greenway Segments 86 Prioritize Actions 87 Define Funding and Financing Options 87 Negotiate for Land Acquisition 90 Evaluate Land or Right-of-way Acquisition Options 93 Conservation Toolbox 94 Partnerships 95 Greenway Acquisition Tools 96 Land Management 97 References 100

Executive Summary

The plan presents methods and priorities to create a Greenway Corridor with adjacent open space parcels in Easthampton for a multi‐purpose recreation trail to be known as the Southampton Regional Greenway. The proposed uses for the Greenway include passive, non‐motorized activities such as walking, biking, and cross‐country skiing. The Greenway connections would tie into the Manhan Rail Trail—an existing rail trail along this very railroad line that currently terminates at the Southampton‐Easthampton town boundary at Coleman Road. In addition, it involves connection through a bridge over the Manhan River from the Whittemore Conservation Area to Easthampton’s Pomeroy Meadow Trail. Purpose of Project: The plan provides a foundation for decision-making. The Southampton Conservation Commission has determined that its highest priority, during FY14 and FY15 is to acquire the 4.25 mile long Pioneer Valley Railroad line running through Southampton creating the Southampton Greenway. The next high-priority project is to redevelop the Manhan Meadows conservation site to increase its connectivity with the recently acquired Howland CR and to examine the existing bridge over the Manhan which connects the Manhan Meadows site with the Parsons Memorial Forest. Consideration of the potential implications of being able to cross over the Manhan River at the PVRR rail bridge also needs to be evaluated. The last high priority site is the redevelopment of the Whittemore Conservation site and seeking to develop connectivity with Easthampton’s Pomeroy Meadow Trail, now in the early phases of the Project’s development, providing Southampton residents connectivity with a growing network of multi‐use trails in Hampshire County. Medium Priority is set for three additional projects as described herein. Natural resource values and characteristics as they relate to the Project Quality categories (recreation, landscape conservation, water resources, biodiversity): Recreation: The greenway corridor meanders near Southampton’s most densely populated areas as well as along existing protected conservation land and protected farmland. The planned development of this unused rail line, now in its acquisition stage, along with it’s connections to approximately 600 acres of open space land into a multi‐use trail will provide important geographic connectivity to existing civic, commercial, residential, recreational, and conservation uses as well as encourage new connections. Southampton is one of the fastest growing communities in the region. Over the last twenty years, the population increased by 29 percent while the number of households increased by 46 percent. Over 400 residential building permits were issued from 2000 to in 2009, which was comparable to the number of building permits issued in Belchertown and Ludlow over this same period—communities whose populations are double and quadruple the size of Southampton’s respectively. The rail trail will run along the eastern edge of three areas that the town’s Master Plan considers to be community focal points for aesthetic improvements, pedestrian connections and pedestrian safety improvements, and future commercial and residential growth. These areas are the historic village center, mixed use area from Pomeroy Meadow Road to Gunn Road along College Highway, and the commercial area at the Easthampton‐Southampton town line. The multi-use trail will also directly connect to or bring users in close proximity to several civic and historic resources. Civic resources are: town hall, town library, Conant Park (town park), and Labrie Field (town ballfield), and the Congregational Church. Historic resources are: Southampton Center Historic District, Lockville Historic District, remnants of the New Haven‐Northampton Canal. Landscape Conservation: The unused railroad line along with extensions of existing trails on adjacent conversation lands will not only provide recreation opportunities when converted to a multi‐use trail, its acquisition will be a critical piece in the town’s network of open spaces and natural resources. The connections of multi-use recreational trails will

connect to over 432 acres of protected land. These resources are: Whittemore Conservation Area, Manhan Meadows Sanctuary, Parson’s Memorial Forest, Riverdale Road Conservation Area, Anne Bussler Environmental Center, Howland Conservation Restriction, Gwinner Open Space, Cross APR, Kaniecki APR and Fletcher APR. It will be in close proximity to an additional 200 acres of protected open space. The rail line alone abuts almost 300 acres of Chapter 61 lands, of which 151 acres are Chapter 61A. It will be in close proximity to an additional 200 acres of protected open space. Water resources: Over 90 percent of the multi-use trails are within the Barnes Aquifer Water Supply Protection District. The Barnes Aquifer is a Zone II aquifer. Wetland areas are located adjacent to the multi use trail network in many areas along its length through Southampton. In particular, the rail line runs along the east side of Lost Pond. In addition, wetlands are located where the rail line crosses the Manhan River at Brickyard Road and at Gunn Road. Bio Diversity: In addition, over 80 percent of the project lies within or abuts MA Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) BioMap2 designated areas for Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape. Description of Highest Priority Property: The rail line was completed in 1863, connecting New Haven to Northampton with connections to other cities in New England. The rail line enters Southampton from Westfield near Valley Road and travels north‐south into Easthampton at Coleman Road, for a total of approximately 4.5 miles. It has not been used by the Pioneer Valley Railroad Company (PVRC), current owners, since the early 1990s. The rail bed spans an average width of 50‐feet along the 4.25 mile stretch that the Town seeks to acquire for a total of approximately 25.75 acres. The rail line purchase would also include two railroad trestles. The rail line crosses the Manhan River at Brickyard Road and Gunn Road via a railroad trestle at each of these locations. Admittedly, the level of development threat to this highest priority property is low. The rail line has not been used since the early 1990s and, while the condition of the tracks is unknown, the appraisal noted the railroad ties have not been maintained and many would need to be replaced. All this being said, the rail line is active just south of the Southampton‐Westfield town line, and the Southampton segment of the rail line, while unused, has not been formally abandoned by the PVRR. The PVRR’s realistic options are to reactivate the Southampton part of this line, sell this part in pieces to abutters, or sell the entire part to the Town of Southampton. As noted earlier, the level of development pressure in town generally is high, but most of Southampton’s conservation land adjacent development threat is similar to that of the rail line. This proposed trail along with the existing sites will provide much needed recreational opportunity while connecting residential, commercial, recreational, and conservation areas to one another.

Project schedule Phase /Task Timeline Phase One : Southampton Greenway 1/14-6/15 Phase Two : Manhan Meadows 1/14-12/15 Phase Three: Whittemore Site 6/14-6/16 Phase Four: Szczypta Barn 1/15-6/17 Phase Five and Six: Connections to Park and Recreation Lands 1/17-6/18

Context

A network of bicycle and pedestrian trails will connect the Southampton community, businesses, schools, parks and other attractions of Southampton, offering valuable

opportunities for recreation, transportation, and economic development. This network of trails will also contribute to the future viability of the Town through the conservation of open space along trail corridors, protecting natural habitats, water resources, and cultural resources. The trails will be open to all, providing positive opportunities for active living among neighbors, co-workers, families, visitors, and friends. In addition, Southampton will feature its own portion of the MA Greenway, linking the local trail network to people and places throughout the Pioneer Valley. Through a collaborative master planning process, community members in Southampton articulated a vision for a community greenway system and put forth thoughtful recommendations for how best to connect people and places with trails throughout the Town. The many community partners who have been involved in the planning process recognize the urgency of starting a Town-wide and region-wide linear park system now, while opportunities still exist for making connections and linking important places. They also recognize that this plan will not be implemented overnight, and that while segments should begin appearing soon, it will take years, if not decades, to link them all together. The time to start is now. The Strategic Plan for Greenway Connectivity defines a 7 to 10-year vision and 5-year action plan for developing an interconnected system of lands and waters that will conserve important natural resources and, over time, provide public access to some of the most scenic and important cultural areas of the Town. Although implementation of this plan will take place during the course of the next several decades, it is important for all Town residents to understand that participation in this greenway program will occur through a partnership with willing landowners. Most importantly, this Plan defines Southampton’s desire to be linked with a part of the Bay State Greenway (BSG). Southampton is the final connecting point creating a cohesive network of bicycle facilities. The Bay State Greenway (BSG) is a system of 788 miles of facilities in seven corridors, crossing the Commonwealth, in tandem with a secondary network of feeder routes. Utilizing both shared use paths and on-road facilities, the BSG provides transportation connections to population centers, recreational resources, and neighboring states along seven corridors of which Southampton is part of the Pioneer Valley Corridor. The Strategic Plan intends to meet the goals set out by DCR in its recent plan to:

Create greenways along priority river corridors for resource and habitat protection, public education and as community ‘connectors.’

Link protected open spaces and parks for conservation and

recreation.

Protect and expand existing trail corridors and networks.

Develop information and technical support for greenway and trail efforts.

Complete the BayState Trail and Greenway.

Support the creation of a regional rail-trail network as part of the

cross-state trail.

Introduction to the Town of Southampton History The Town of Southampton is a 28.96 square mile community located in Hampshire County on the western uplands of the Connecticut River Valley in Western Massachusetts. The town straddles two of the states’s major watersheds, those of the Connecticut and the Westfield Rivers. The topography rises from the east to the west, and the Pomeroy and Little Mountains are visible landmarks from distant neighboring towns. Traditionally a farming community, Southampton is a rural residential community that serves as a gateway to the countryside. The town is bordered by expanding urban centers (Westfield, Holyoke and Easthampton) along the valley side predominately to the east and south, and by sparsely populated highland villages (Montgomery and Westhampton) to the north and west.

Chronology (10,000 B.C. - 1620) Native people inhabited, traversed and hunted this region for 10,000 years. This history exists in oral traditions and archaeological evidence. Research reveals that the Native Americans greatly affected the landscape. Largely agricultural people who grew corn, beans and squash as staple foods, Native peoples managed the woodlands and wildlife populations by setting fire to the forests. Seasonally migratory, communities moved from inland areas in the summer to coastal regions during the winter. Communities settled along rivers, where flat fertile fields were cleared for agriculture. The Connecticut River, the longest river in New England, was an important transportation route. Along the river, deep alluvial soils offered excellent conditions for farming. Tributaries, such as the Manhan River, provided access to inland regions and abundant game. These people lived in relationship to the land far differently than European settlers. In the 1630's, proprietors of the Massachusetts Bay Colony purchased uninhabited land from the Nonotuck Indians and settled Northampton. Caleb Pomeroy, one of the town’s original settlers, petitioned the General Court of Massachusetts to grant him land in 1680.

Chronology (1675-1775) First settled by colonists in the 1680s, these entrepreneurs partnered with the local Native Americans and established a lucrative fur trade. In 1730, Southampton was established as a precinct, and thirty families drew land grants. In return, they were required to build at least a one-room house within two years, and improve a certain number of acres. Improvements generally meant clearing, cultivating and enclosing land. The nearest

church was eight miles away in Northampton. In 1743, Jonathan Judd preached in the town and continued to do so for sixty years. The church was reinforced as a fortress against Native American raids. This frontier settlement was the farthest to the northwest, with no other between it and Canada. By 1753, most of the Native American raids had subsided and settlement increased. At this time, Southampton was incorporated as a district with nearly all town privileges. At this same time a schoolmaster, Silas Sheldon, was hired. Later he gave the town a considerable gift of $2,500 for the establishment of Sheldon Academy. In 1773, Southampton had its first town meeting at which the official name, "Southampton", was adopted.

Chronology (1775-1830) The town's industries consisted of lumbering and forest clearing, and there were many sawmills within the town. In addition to sawmills, Southampton also had a charcoal plant, bark mill, match mill, turning mills for axe helves and piano legs, a chair factory, and two shingle mills. The town also had a large tannery, gristmills, whip factories, a woolen mill, clothier works, and a thriving network of rum and brandy distilleries. As forest cleared, more rich agricultural lands were uncovered, leading to large acreage of farming. Two of the more recent and publicized enterprises were the lead mines, which had their heyday in 1770, and the Northampton-New Haven Canal which passed through the town and was in operation for thirteen years.

Southampton Lead Mines Along the northern end of Lead Mine Road, in the general vicinity where the boundaries of Easthampton, Westhampton, and Southampton meet, lead mines once operated. Robert Lyman, a hunter, discovered the mines in 1679 when all the land belonged to Northampton. Boston interests and capital spurred lead mine development after Northampton granted 100 acres to be worked. However, capital waned and product was slight, and the mine was abandoned. In 1764, nearly seventy years later, New York interests reopened the mines. The working crew included Ethan Allen of Revolutionary War fame. The richest veins of lead were found in the Southampton section. A stamping mill with six hammers and a smelting furnace were erected. Operations reached their height in 1770. The Revolution, however, forced abandonment of the mine. Again Boston interests re-opened the mine in 1807. This time the mine was open for about thirteen years. Shafts ran as long as 726' laterally and as deep as 110'. Sporadic interest from New York once again re-opened the mine in 1851. In 1863, 150 men, two powerful steam engines, and efficient stone crushing machines were located at the mines, and machinist and blacksmith shops were erected. The final abandonment of the mines occurred in 1865.

Chronology (1830-1870) In the early 1800's, heavy freight was transported by water carriers. Freight was transported up from Connecticut by means of slow flat boats which were pulled along the Connecticut River. Spring water rises made this mode extremely difficult and slow.

Speculation ran high with plans drawn to continue the canal to the Vermont-Canada line where the Canadians would join it with the St. Lawrence River. By 1822, plans for canal construction from New Haven to Northampton materialized, including construction plans through seventeen towns, including Southampton. Excavation was begun by two companies, one in Connecticut and one in Massachusetts.

New Haven – Northampton Canal (1835 -1847) The official opening of the canal was on July 29, 1835. The canal had two summits. The first was at the Massachusetts - Connecticut line, 20' above sea level. The other, after the canal dropped to 98' in Westfield, was at Timber Swamp, just a mile south of the Southampton line, 231' above sea level. A feeder canal from the Farmington River supplied the Connecticut section with water, while the Congamond Lake supported the Massachusetts section. A feeder canal from Salmon Falls (now Woronoco) provided water at Timber Swamp. The canal specifications: 24' wide at the bottom; 34' wide at the surface; water depth 4'; horse tow paths 10' wide, 2-5' above the water level. The boats were 75' long, 11' wide, and 7’ high. Pleasure boats carried from 150 to 250 people. The passenger fare from Northampton to New Haven was $3.75, including meals, and the time through was approximately twenty-six hours. There were thirty-two locks in Massachusetts and twenty-eight in Connecticut. The locks were 80' long, 14' wide. The Southampton section had 6 locks: one near Route 10 to the south with a 10' elevation change; a 60' aqueduct near Lyman's Tin Shop bridged the Manhan River, followed immediately by three more 10' locks; and two additional locks. The next lock system lowered the canal into Easthampton at the town line at the North Branch of the Manhan River, where five locks lowered the canal 36'. The construction cost was over one million dollars for the eighty-mile canal (approximately $13,000/mile). Unfortunately, the canal never realized its potential. The railroad is attributed to the final downfall; however, structural problems had greatly hindered its success, including bank slumpage and leaks due to muskrats, floods, poor soils, droughts, decaying of wooden locks, and very leaky aqueducts promoted by decay. In 1847, the New Haven and Northampton Canal Company declared bankruptcy and the canal ceased operation. By 1855, the right-of-way had been purchased and the "Canal Railroad" had been completed. In Southampton, the railroad lines were constructed in the canal bed from East Street south to the Westfield line.

Chronology (1870-1945) Robert Lyman discovered lead in the north part of town in 1678 and lead mines operated in this area until 1868. The lead mines were never profitable, but they continued as a speculative business venture for quite some time. Over the centuries, mineral resources permitted several other mines, quarries, and brickyards to operate in town. Numerous springs on Little Mountain provided water for the village center. As early as the 1820's, wooden pipes carried water from the mountain springs to village homes. A group of local businessmen established the Southampton Aqueduct Company, the Town's first private water company, in 1865. The company reorganized and became the Mountain Spring Water Company and later the Mountain Spring Water Works, which provided the town center residents with water until 1931, when the town bought out the troubled company.

During the mid-to-late 19th century, mill industries began to spring up throughout Massachusetts. Southampton, however, was not inclined to support these businesses and the attendant influx of immigrant workers. Many of these businesses began in neighboring Easthampton. Effectively, this helped to preserve Southampton's rural tradition, and agriculture remained its primary economic base until the end of World War II.

Chronology (1945 to Present) In 1977, Southampton initiated town planning. The town was a leader in conservation planning and preservation, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts acknowledged Hazel Young, Conservation Commissioner, for her efforts in preservation and conservation. Southampton accepted the Community Preservation Act in 2001 and its local committee began work in early 2002. Funds are used for planning activities in the four areas of open space, recreational land, historic resources and community housing. Southampton’s Conservation Commission has worked to restore 550 acres of conservation properties under their stewardship. In the summer of 2009, the Town of Southampton purchased a Conservation Restriction on a 200 acre parcel called the Wolf Hill Sanctuary.

Wolf Hill CR: 200 Acres

Successful $400,000 Southampton LAND Grant 2009

Today, Southampton is a community of commuters and a few farmers. Despite the loss of farms, residents perceive Southampton as a rural community with a small town character. Currently, it is not agriculture but services, trade, mining and construction that comprise the bulk of its economic base. Residents place a high value on the remaining

farmland and open space and continue to work to preserve and protect these prized resources. Southampton’s positive attributes of high quality of life and close proximity to urban areas make it a desirable place to live. These characteristics also create development pressures that are altering Southampton’s rural character. It is one of the Commonwealth’s most rapidly growing towns. Determination of the appropriate jobs/housing balance is expected to guide the community’s future development.

Southampton Greenway Open Space Connectivity: 570 Acres of Protected Land

Growth Area Boundaries, Conservation Lands, Historic District, Historic

Canal, Labrie Field and Proposed Greenway

(Outlined with Red Circles and Lines)

The Southampton Canal and Greenway Connectivity trails are part of a regional network of trails and conserved land that will reach over 20,000 citizens. It will link people, places, cities of Northampton, Easthampton and Westfield, towns and attractions. The trail will help preserve our natural areas and will be a place for the exploration of nature, culture, science and history, for family adventure and celebrations of friendship. It will be for young, old, and people of all abilities. This is a landmark project, and creates a legacy that will give so much, to so many, for so long. The scale of the trail’s connectivity is based on certain guiding principles and core values: collaboration, community self determination, connectivity, inclusivity, leverage and respect for the land, and respect for landowners

Collaboration and self-determination Collaboration and communication among the communities of Hampshire County is as important as connectivity. This strategic plan has been produced through a collaborative process in which trail corridors have been conceived and located in cooperation with adjoining communities in such a way that a regional asset is created from a series of interrelated local decisions and actions.

Connectivity and inclusivity

Creating connections between communities and historical, cultural and recreational attractions is important. The multiuse trails seeks to create a region known for its “ribbons of green” connecting people to each other and to their heritage. In offering the vision of greater community interaction, the strategic plan seeks to build bonds among diverse neighborhoods, as well as afford all residents greater access to our natural surroundings. Through this plan, these goals are established.

Leverage

The success of this plan depends on generating additional investment of outside capital in the Town’s natural resources. Funding sources at the local, state and federal level are included herein.

Respect for the Land and Landowners

During the planning process, Southampton Conservation Commission determined the locations for the Canal Trail and greenway Rail Trail by considering alternative routes and alignments that took into existing public lands, property owned by landowners willing to participate in future trail development and land developers that view greenways as an amenity to neighborhoods. The broadly defined greenway corridors present multiple opportunities and adjustments for a defined route, so that landowners can continue to be involved in fine tuning and defining the location of trails and amenities. Expert trail builders indicate that trails are built by assimilating land parcels over time in this manner and that eminent domain is very rarely, if ever, used. Through an inclusive, collaborative process, Southampton and its partner municipalities have determined where the trail system will be developed and how this system links to the Bay State Greenway. Not all local trails are destined to be part of The BSG. Analogous to our highway systems, The BSG is developed as a “green interstate” focused on linking local trails and regionally significant attractions. Other trails will continue to exist or be planned but may not receive The BSG designation. Local trails will retain their own identities, whether or not they are designated as part of The BSG. The Strategic Plan indicates phases that a particular trail is part of a plan to create an interconnected system, and a plan created by local communities working together with their neighbors to identify connection points and to build trails that will grow together over time.

Southampton Growth Areas Adjacent to Canal Sites

Southampton Protected Open Space Lands (Outlined in Red)

Southampton APR Lands

(Outlined in Red)

600 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE CONNECTIVITY

Southampton Proposed Growth Areas (Red Circles)

Historic Southampton Canal Route (Red Line)

Proposed Southampton Greenway Replacing PVRR (Red Line) Southampton Proposed Greenway Rail Trail (Red Line)

Elements of the Southampton Conservation Commission Strategic Plan

The Conservation Commission has responsibility to manage over 600 acres of open space with the Town of Southampton effectively playing the role of a land trust. It has identified projects for these properties that would enhance their utilization by the residents. To accomplish this, the Commission has sought grants. These have enabled some additional acquisitions and trail development. This includes a major project in progress purchasing and developing a 4.25 mile corridor from Pioneer Valley Railroad that could eventually become a Greenway Rail Trail. In order to develop these trails in an orderly and systematic manner, the entire network needs to be evaluated and prioritized for development. The following criteria are to be used to select segments for future phased development. 1) Near Population Centers: Candidate segments of the trail network need to be near or within populated areas because they provide numerous benefits to the residents in the form of health and wellness activities, recreation and transportation.

2) Available Land/Right-of-Way: An assessment should consider segments to determine where land or right-of-way is contiguous and capable of supporting future trail development. 3) Functional Segment: The design of trails should have an “anchor” or destination landscape on each end, such as a park, neighborhood, school, shopping area, or other popular destination. 4) Ease of Development: Candidate segments should be understood in terms of obstacles to development, e.g. support within the Town, environmental regulations. 5) Available Funding: An assessment should be made as to the ease of funding. For example, if a project presents a strong case for sustainable planning funding, District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) would be the logical choice for a grant. This evaluation and prioritization of projects will need to be reviewed on an annual basis by the Conservation Commission and presented to the Select Board and other interested groups [municipal partners and non-profit partners] for support.  

Set Priorities

High Priority- Within 1 Year Medium Priority- Within 2-5 Years

Low Priority- Within 6-10 Years

Project Outcome:

- A network of trails within Southampton that will draw attention to recreation opportunities, awareness of existing natural resources, and historical /cultural sites within the Town.

Implementation Goal: Stimulus for Economic Development

- Maintain and expand recreational opportunities

- Develop Documentation: trail hiking maps

- Develops Infrastructure: parking facilities, trail signage, and documentation of historic canal remains

Outcomes:

- Educates and engages town residents and visitors on Southampton’s unique historical, cultural and natural resource assets.

- Provides design and signage creating a historic walking/biking tour based on a points of interest map for the Southampton Heritage and Riverwalk Trail

- Supports growth management and protects and preserves the rural landscape, scenic vistas and historic resources that define the community character of Southampton, consistent with its open space and master planning process.

Strategic Goals and Action Steps

A. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Southampton residents cherish the scenic landscape all around them and want to maintain the rural character of their community and the quality of life it affords them. Most integral to Southampton’s character are the protection and management of forests, protection of water quality, active agriculture, and healthy, diverse and contiguous wildlife habitats. Residents seek to continue and expand the many forms of outdoor recreation found in Southampton including trails for walking, hiking, biking, snowmobiling and horseback riding areas open to the public.

Goal 1: Identify and preserve important parcels for ecological, recreational, cultural and historical value to create a town‐wide green network.

Objective: Increase capacity for management of town‐owned open space lands and promote public use of existing open space network.

Objective: Connect open space resources to enhance community livability and wildlife habitat, and to encourage walking and biking.

Objective: Protect and enhance the scenic vistas through the town.

Goal 2: Protect Southampton’s remaining agricultural lands, promote local farming, and create opportunities for residents to become involved in local agriculture.

Goal 3: Protect Southampton’s water resources.

Objective: Continue to protect Southampton’s public water supply and the Barnes Aquifer for generations to come and assure that all infrastructure is up to date and in good repair.

Goal 4: Promote land use policies that protect the town’s natural lands and rural community character.

Objective: Balance residential development with the protection of the town’s natural, scenic and historic resources.

Objective: Establish land use and development policies that respond to infrastructure capacity.

B. SEVEN-YEAR ACTION PLAN

This section provides a detailed Action Plan spanning the next seven years for working toward the goals and objectives outlined in this plan. The Action Plan is intended to be a realistic, implementable plan for the coming years. Throughout the development of this plan, as well as in planning processes in neighboring communities, it has been widely recognized that all-volunteer boards are stretched extremely thin and sometimes experience “board fatigue” resulting in the loss of valuable committee members. To address this, the Action Plan targets key projects, partners and funding opportunities to implement important building blocks toward the achievement of the long-term goals outlined herein. Three tenets are inextricably linked to each of the eleven goals: • Land conservation through private and public means • Support of working forest and farmlands • Continued and expanded access to working lands (farm and forest) and conservation lands for recreation There is no one size fits all approach to achieving any of Southampton’s goals for open space and recreation. Land conservation will require local, state and federal government investment through ownership and/or funding assistance. Non-profit land trusts can be critical partners either as outright land owners or the holder of a conservation restriction. Private land owners will need access to many potential partners to implement voluntary restrictions, and donations or sale of their land for conservation purposes. Local Community Preservation Act funds are a critical source of funding that can be used in part or in whole for any number of the land conservation partnerships and strategies noted. State and federal grants will also be important. To maximize Southampton’s ability to apply for conservation grants, the community needs to be ready to act when the opportunity presents. This requires staying in touch with important land owners to know when opportunities for land protection may become available. It is recognized that there are typically only a few times in a land owner’s life when they start to plan for the future of their land. Estate planning can help a land owner meet their financial and personal goals relative to their land, and address a community’s goals for the protection of natural resources. Similarly, the community should be aware of and maintain working relationships with land trusts and other conservation organizations for technical assistance on these matters and potential access to funding. Much of the same approach applies to development and expansion of trails and other recreational opportunities. The Open Space Coordinating Committee has prioritized several on-going and successive trail projects for completion as part of this Action Plan. Building on past trail success at Wolf Hill and Szczypta Farm Conservation sites and the emerging Southampton Greenway, additional funding will be needed through grants and possibly local CPA funds.

Another critical component of land conservation is ensuring that local bylaws and regulations promote growth in areas where infrastructure exists and supports the protection of important natural resources.

Target Dates for Completion are organized into two categories: Short Term (completion within 1‐5 years); Mid Term (completion within 6‐10 years)

Goal 1: Identify and preserve important parcels for ecological, recreational, cultural and historical value to create a town‐wide green network

Objective: Increase capacity for management of town-owned open space lands and promote public use of existing open space network.

Strategy 1: Develop a prioritized list of key open space parcels for acquisition based on available developable vacant lands, key natural resource areas, critical habitat areas, priority agricultural lands and soils, recreational lands, and expansion and connection to town‐wide green network.

Responsible Party: Conservation Commission, Agricultural Commission, Planning Board, Recreational Needs Committee, Community Preservation Committee Resources Needed: Volunteer Time Target Date for Completion: Ongoing

Strategy 2: Establish and develop a relationship with existing land trusts in the region.

Responsible Party: Planning Board, Town Administrator, Select Board, Conservation Commission, Community Preservation Committee Resources Needed: Volunteer Time Target Date for Completion: Ongoing

Strategy 3: Continue to update the town’s Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) every five years in order to qualify for state and federal grants.

The state Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) grant and federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants provide funding to communities for acquisition of open space, but the town must have an updated OSRP in order to qualify

Responsible Party: Conservation Commission, Planning Board, Town Administrator Resources Needed: Volunteer Time, Staff Time, Consultants Target Date for Completion: Ongoing

Strategy 4: Maintain a current environmental inventory and develop a management plan for conservation areas.

Responsible Party: Conservation Commission, Planning Board, Parks Commission Resources Needed: Consultant, Staff Time, Volunteer Time Target Date for Completion: Short Term

Strategy 5: Develop a comprehensive outreach and education campaign to inform the community about existing open space resources, to improve and maintain trail networks, and to improve signage and access to open space resources. Develop trail maps, establish a volunteer trail maintenance program, and educate the public about conservation issues as part of this effort.

Responsible Party: Conservation Commission, Open Space Committee, Parks Commission Resources Needed: Staff Time, Volunteer Time Target Date for Completion: Ongoing

Strategy 6: Develop a plan to enhance Conant Memorial Park and to connect it to other town and open space resources.

Responsible Party: Department of Public Works, Recreation Commission Resources Needed: Staff Time, Volunteer Time, Consultant Target Date for Completion: Short Term

Strategy 7: Explore the possibility to secure public access to the Tighe‐Carmody Reservoir area with the City of Holyoke..

Responsible Party: Select Board, Town Administrator Resources Needed: Staff Time, Volunteer Time Target Date for Completion: Mid Term

Objective: Connect open space resources to enhance community livability and wildlife habitat, and to encourage walking and biking.

Strategy 1: Develop a rail trail along the existing rail bed to create a north‐south connection between the numerous open space areas along its length. Consider

expanding the current plan to extend the Rail Trail south along its entire length to Swanson Corners and the Westfield town line.

Responsible Party: Planning Board, Recreation Commission, Highway Department, Conservation Commission Resources Needed: Staff Time, Volunteer Time, Consultant, Transportation Improvement Funds, PVPC, MassDOT Target Date for Completion: Short Term

Strategy 2: Develop a Manhan River Greenway and Wildlife Corridor Management Plan, and develop a list of priority parcels for acquisition or easements to support the development and enhancement of this greenway and wildlife corridor area.

Responsible Party: Conservation Commission, Planning Board, Select Board Resources Needed: Staff Time, Volunteer Time, CPA funds, state LAND grant, federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant Target Date for Completion: Ongoing

Goal 2: Protect Southampton’s remaining agricultural lands, promote local farming, and create opportunities for residents to become involved in local agriculture.

Objective 1: Develop a public outreach strategy to support agricultural activity.

Strategy 1: Compile an inventory of farmlands with ownership information, protection status, vulnerability, etc., and meet with owners to explain their importance to the community and available preservation options. Coordinate these efforts with the community’s prioritized list of key open space parcels for acquisition, (as listed under Goal 1, Strategy 1).

Responsible Party: Agricultural Commission, Board of Assessors, Community Preservation Committee, School Committee Resources Needed: Volunteer Time, Staff Time Target Date for Completion: Short Term

Strategy 2: Work with farmers and develop marketing materials to promote agriculture in Southampton.

Responsible Party: Agricultural Commission Resources Needed: Volunteer Time, Consultant Target Date for Completion: Short Term Strategy 3: Develop educational materials and hold public meetings to stimulate consciousness about agriculture and the tools available to protect it.

Responsible Party: Agricultural Commission, School Department Resources Needed: Volunteer Time Target Date for Completion: Ongoing

Strategy 3: Establish a weekly Farmer’s Market in an appropriate location in the community

Resources available at Federation of Massachusetts Farmers Markets (massfarmersmarkets.org) or MA Department of Agricultural Resources (mass.gov/agr)

Responsible Party: Agricultural Commission Resources Needed: Volunteer Time Target Date for Completion: Short Term

Strategy 4: Identify appropriate locations and parcels to be used as a town owned community garden

Responsible Party: Agricultural Commission, Select Board, Conservation Commission Resources Needed: Volunteer Time Target Date for Completion: Short Term