Open Space Survey - Here's What the Community Said!

As adapted from The Advocate - "ConCom Hears Results of Open Space Survey", August 24, 2018

While presenting the reslts of her Open Space Survey to the Conservation Commission on August 21, resident Lucy Madden said many of the 583 respondents cited the lack of trail markers and signage in the town's reservations. Madden said 31% of the respondents said they visit the Partridge Island Boardwalk and Trail; 17% visit Beaver Dam Brook Reservation; and 14% visit the Bennett Keenan Conservation Area and the Ipswich River. "A lot of people don't know about these places", she said.

Regarding the use of the town's recreation areas, 89.9% of the respondents said they use the equipment at the Lynnfield Middle School, and 85.2% said they use the equipment at the high school. Jordan and Glen Meadow Parks were not far behind with each one receiving a 78.6% response.

Information from the Town Clerk's Office highlighted Lynnfield's younger population; 27% between ages 20 and 44, 29.5% between ages 45 and 64. Current census data show a town population of 12,589, an 8.6% increase since 2010.

In summation, ConCom Chair Paul Martindale told Madden that he and the commission will step up and make the necessary improvements and changes. He asked Madden to prepare a list of the top five requests from the survey and submit it to ConCom Agent Emilie Cademartori. "We'll implement whatever we need to do so that it's not just a report on a piece of paper", said Martindale. "We'll do it."

Martindale added that the commission is in the process of purchasing the land that was formerly home to Gerry's Cider Mill. He said once the transaction is complete, the commission will add the parcel to the town's open space inventory. He also cited the vast trail network at the Lynn Woods Reservation, which is accessible from Lynnfield's Bow Ridge conservation area.

Madden conducted the survey as part of her Gold Award Project for Girl scouts.