FREEPORT’S OPEN SPACE
& PUBLIC ACCESS PLAN
by Jack Murphy
12/29/99
As the
title indicates, this plan is purely an open space and access plan. It mentions recreation issues only as it
pertains to open fields that are required for many recreation functions. The
conservation and protection issues that are covered in the plan are done
well. It did not address a major
component of recreation that is part of the vision for the Brunswick plan.
·
The summary and mission or vision, is adequately
addressed immediately.
·
A physical inventory of property, etc. is listed in a
table at the end of the plan.
·
I did not find that the plan employed a User
Survey. However, it is a draft and one
could have been formulated later in the final plan.
·
The plan did address several areas or neighborhoods of
Freeport. I could not find any
indication that the plan was reviewed by impacted neighborhoods.
·
The community needs were adequately addressed in the
vision statements.
·
This plan does not strike a balance between recreation
issues and open space issues.
·
The implementation period for this plan is 10 years
starting in 1998 and sets goals for 2008.
My comment here would be that Freeport’s plan encapsulates its titles as
GOALS FOR 2008. I think it implies to
decision makers that they can postpone tough decisions to a future time. I would use wording such as GOALS THROUGH
2008. I think it demands a plan for
continuous action.
Overall, I think the Freeport plan is good for the areas it
covers. It seems to address many of the
areas that have been identified by our group, such as, shorelines, wetlands,
paths and trails, farmlands, large undeveloped tracks of land, scenic vistas,
and wildlife habitats. Our group will
need to incorporate a recreation element to the plan.
