SOUTHWICK – The Open Space and Recreation Committee held their first meeting last week as they have begun the process of sending requests for proposals for assistance from a professional consultant with the town’s open space plan.
Southwick’s last plan in 2012 received help from the PVPC (Pioneer Valley Planning Commission). The consultant they are seeking would help gather data and statistics to aid the committee in creating their updated open space plan.
Every community in Massachusetts has the option to renew their open space plan every seven years and since Southwick’s most recent plan was 2011 a committee was formed to explore plan options. The deadline to renew the plan is November 2019.
Having an updated open space plan allows municipalities to apply for various grants from the state
Prifti Park near the Southwick Town Hall is a popular recreational attraction for children. (WNG File Photo)
The members are Russ Fox (designated by Select Board), Dennis Clark (designated by Conservation Commission), Bob Horacek (Community Preservation Commission), David Spina (Planning Board), David DeiDolori (Park and Recreation), Mike Sheil (Park and Recreation), and Craig Samuelson (citizen).
Committee member Russ Fox has noted that a majority of the 2019 plan will look similar to 2011, but some things have changed recreationally in Southwick since 2011. This includes the additions of Whalley Park and a disc golf facility but losing an 18-hole golf course in Southwick Country Club. Additionally, under the 2011 plan Southwick was no longer the host of the Motocross Nationals and that has changed during the last seven years as that event has returned to town.
“I think a lot of it could just be updating that (2011 plan),” said Fox.
Clark was named chairman of the committee at the first meeting and wants to make sure the new plan has an extensive amount of recreational information in Southwick.
“We want to get a lot of information in there,” said Clark.
After the Open Space and Recreation Committee hires a consultant, they will look to form a survey that would go out to all residents in Southwick so they can offer input on the open space plan.
The Community Preservation Committee has decided that they’ll fund the cost of the study for the plan out of their administrative account. It’s a decision that allows the town to explore other entities to help them with this process.
The next Open Space and Recreation Committee meeting will take place in August with a date yet to be determined.
