Management and Preservation of Open Space

By Paul L. Tetreault

We need to be active stewards of our many open space preserves, balancing protection of habitat and public access.

It is important to provide a balance of preservation and public access to our open space. I served for about two years on the Public Use Management Plan (PUMP) Committee that was charged with the task of determining the level of appropriate public access by various user groups. We heard from hundreds of people about how they used the properties or how they should be used by others. Surveys were conducted and during that time I walked a large percentage of all the trails in the City's open space.

Residents have historically used and enjoyed these lands in a variety of ways, and each user group has a right of access. That means hikers, trail runners, equestrians and bicyclists should all have access to these public lands. However, unregulated access will result in user conflicts on the trails and environmental damage. Therefore it is important that we have reasonable restrictions as needed to protect the environment and habitat, and to also allow user groups appropriate access with a minimum of conflicts.

We have the opportunity to do great things with the Open Space, including the creation of an Equestrian Center, habitat restoration projects, limited overnight use by youth groups, docent-led educational tours, better and accessible trails and many others.

But when balancing the needs of the preserves for habitat protection and the desires of the public for access and passive recreation, the habitat comes first. The level of public access must be regulated by the impact it imposes on the environment.