The Open Space Committee has completed its work and is no longer active

Town of Cummington Survey Results

Town of Cummington Open Space & Recreation Plan Final Report

At the annualCummington town meeting in May of 2000 money was raised and appropriated to pay for the creation of an Open Space and Recreation Plan. This plan will serve three purposes for the Town of Cummington. First it will develop a consensus opinion about the development and preservation of open space in Cummington and second, it will contain a five year plan of action items that will implement the open space and recreational vision of the community. By developing and filing this plan with the Office of Environmental Affairs, the Town of Cummington will become eligible for a range of state and federal grant moneys.

The Cummington Open Space and Recreation Committee was formed during the fall of 2000. Members of the Cummington Recreation and Pettingill Memorial Field Committee, the Cummington Planning Board, the Cummington Board of Health, the Cummington Historical Commission, the Cummington Conservation Commision, and the Cummington Board of Selectmen participated. The first order of business was to develop a community survey to determine Cummingtons residents views on the development and preservation of Open Space and to determine the current and desired recreational opportunities that these open spaces provide. The survey was quite lengthy but the response was enthusiastic. Of the 900 surveys mailed out, 101 were completed and returned.

In December the town contracted with the Conway School of Design to develop and write a draft Open Space and Recreation Plan for Cummington. Three students and an advisor were assigned to the project as part of their coursework for the spring semester. The students gathered background documentation and maps from various Cummington residents and held extended interviews with several residents to gain a sense of place and history. Three public meeting were held. The first, attended by 22 people, was to develop a list of places and attributes that the residents of Cummington treasure and a list of changes that they would like to see. The second meeting presented the findings of the students and the lists developed by the residents in the first meeting. The 26 people attending the second meeting were then asked to develop goals and interests and to identify areas of special concern. The third meeting presented the findings of the second meeting and obtained input from the participants to clarify the community goals and to develop potential action items for achieving these goals.

The students took the information from their background research and from the public meeting and produced a very through and insightful draft of Cummingtons Open Space and Recreation Plan. The plan was presented to the Town in April 2001.

During the next year the Cummington Open Space and Recreation Committee reviewed and edited the draft plan and present the final goals, objectives, and action items to the annual Cummington town meeting in May 2002 for community acceptance. The final document was then be forwarded to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of Environmental Affairs for acceptance.

Thanks to all of the residents of Cummington who have enthusiastically given their time and energy to the development of this plan.