Open Space Purchase on Town Meeting Warrant
At Town Meeting on May 6, residents of Holliston will vote on an article
approving the purchase of 22 acres of land on the Ashland/Holliston border.
This property is adjacent to the 118 acres of conservation land in Ashland known
as “Warren Woods” and will be part of a 1600 acre contiguous wildlife corridor
that also includes Waseeka Audubon Sanctuary, Poitras Conservation Land,
Holliston Town Forest, and Ashland State Park.
The Community Preservation Committee and the Board of Selectman have approved
the purchase of the parcel which will be protected conservation land and will
extend the Warren Woods into Holliston for passive recreation by the public.
The land is being purchased from Northeastern University for $350,000. An
anonymous donor is donating $150,000 toward the purchase, and the remaining
funds are coming from the Town’s Open Space Acquisition Fund and Community
Preservation Act Fund, pending approval at Town meeting. No additional taxes
will be levied on residents for this acquisition.
The Holliston Open Space Committee and residents of Ashland who were
instrumental in acquiring the Warren Woods property in Ashland are hosting a
guided walk of the Holliston parcel on Saturday, May 4 at 10 a.m. (Rain date is
May 5.) Anyone interested in joining the walk should meet at the Warren Woods
parking lot on Chestnut Street in Ashland, across from the Warren Center.
About the Open Space and Community Preservation Committees
The Massachusetts state legislature enacted the Community Preservation Act (CPA)
which empowers communities to shape their future through an independent fund to
be used for the preservation of open space/recreational open space, historic
resources, and community housing. The Community Preservation Committee (CPC)
consults with town agencies and community organizations, evaluates community
preservation needs, develops a long range community preservation plan, and makes
recommendations for CPA fund expenditures at Town Meeting. The Open Space
Committee identifies land that may be acquired for conservation, open space,
recreation and related purposes and makes recommendations for its purchase. The
Committee also identifies land that are eligible for conservation restrictions
or other open space preservation options.
LT- There are numerous studies that prove that open space saves towns money and reduces taxes. If the area were developed as single family residential as originally planned, the net result would be increased costs and taxes to the Town.
Robert Weidknecht | 2013-05-01 19:28:49
Jeff, We are not NJ. We have plenty of open space already purchased. When will we have enough? It's just a question. And by the way, all CPC funds come from us as either local property owners or state tax payers. One way or another, we all pay for it.
LT | 2013-05-01 05:34:57
I believe that all the trails are existing.
paul | 2013-05-01 02:35:25
Are the colored lines on the photo trails, or proposed trails?
Gretchen | 2013-04-30 19:57:53
Um, that's an easy one- There's never enough open space... and if you don't like it, move to Jersey! Btw- the funds used to purchase this land is from CPC funds and has no effect on the budget.
Jeff | 2013-04-30 18:06:17
How much open space is enough?
LT | 2013-04-30 08:54:04