Politics & Government

Committee Presents Open Space Survey Results

The town's Open Space and Recreation Plan Update Committee presented the results of a recently-conducted Open Space Survey Monday night.

Members of the town's Open Space and Recreation Plan Update Committee presented the results of a recently conducted Open Space Survey at the Monday night.

In January, the Board of Selectmen appointed the seven-member committee and charged them with updating Marblehead's Open Space and Recreation Plan, which was last submitted to the state in 1999.

The state requires that a town have a plan that is current, and will not distribute grant funding to a town with an Open Space and Recreation Plan that is more than five years old.

Find out what's happening in Marbleheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The following survey was conducted between January and March and the results were based on the 120 responses the committee received. The responses came from residents in all of the town's precincts, though 44 percent of those who participated have lived in Marblehead for more than 30 years and 65 percent did not have a child under the age of 18.

The following results have been rounded up to the nearest percent and some were estimated.

Find out what's happening in Marbleheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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The survey showed that the top nine most visited open space locations in Marblehead were unchanged since the survey in 1999:

  • Railroad Right of Way (Path)

How satisfied are you with the places for children and youth to play and recreate in town?:

  • Very dissatisfied - 0 percent
  • Dissatisfied - 11 percent
  • Neutral - 22 percent
  • Satisfied - 49 percent
  • Very satisfied - 18 percent

How satisfied are you with the places available in town for recreation us by adults?:

  • Very dissatisfied - 1 percent
  • Dissatisfied - 8 percent
  • Neutral - 27 percent
  • Satisfied - 46 percent
  • Very satisfied - 18 percent

Do you feel that opportunities for recreation programs in Marblehead are adequate?:

  • Yes - 84 percent
  • No - 16 percent

Do you feel that Marblehead has enough recreation areas (playgrounds, fields?):

  • Yes - 73 percent
  • No - 27 percent

Should the town expand recreational opportunities for specific age groups?:

  • Older children - 34 percent
  • Adults - 27 percent
  • Seniors Citizens - 24 percent
  • Pre-school: 15 percent

Do you feel that Marblehead has enough areas that provide access to the coast?:

  • No - 52 percent
  • Yes - 48 percent

Public recreational facilities felt to be needed:

  • Bike trails - 23 percent
  • Coastal access for boats - 16 percent
  • Dog Parks - 13 percent
  • Fields: soccer, lacrosse, football - 8 percent
  • Ice skating: outdoor - 8 percent
  • Ice skating: indoor - 7 percent
  • Fields: baseball, softball - 7 percent
  • Tennis courts - 6 percent
  • Swimming pool: outdoor - 6 percent
  • Swimming pool: indoor - 6 percent

Do you feel that Marblehead has enough conservation land?:

  • No - 61 percent
  • Yes - 39 percent

How important is it for the town to acquire and preserve conservation areas as natural areas?:

  • Not at all - 4 percent
  • Not very - 1 percent
  • Neutral - 12 percent
  • Important - 18 percent
  • Very important - 65 percent

To preserve open space, would you:

  • Sell land to the town at a reduced rate - 11 percent
  • Support a proposition 2 1/2 override - 51 percent
  • Donate money to buy land - 36 percent
  • Contribute land to the town - 2 percent

Should the town concentrate its efforts on:

  • Place equal emphasis - 38 percent
  • Acquiring additional recreation land - 7 percent
  • Acquiring additional conservation land - 23 percent
  • Maintaining current recreation areas and facilities - 32 percent

The committee plans to submit their finalized plan to the state by June 30.


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