Parks & Rec Considers Future Development, Conservation

By Kendra Bobowick

Just “penning and inking” changes to their roughly 20-page portion of the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), the Parks and Recreation Commission got to work Tuesday, December 13, Director Amy Mangold said. As the year’s last days pass, Ms Mangold and the commission members will work to refine language describing the town’s recreation properties such as Treadwell Park, various playing fields, Eichler’s Cove Marina, Dickinson Park, and other existing facilities.

Ms Mangold hopes to get their portion of the POCD in to Director of Planning and Land Use George Benson’s hands by January 1.

Members read the pages line-by-line, concerned with wording, when Ms Mangold warned, “It’s not just grammatical, but content …”

As members quickly chose to take their pages home and read through them and make suggestions, Ms Mangold said, “I am asking you to think about vision, and things you think are important.”

Commission Chairman Ed Marks admitted that this is the group’s first “serious look” at the document in a long time, but warned, “It’s not the be-all, end-all,” and can always be revisited.

Considering the work leading them into 2012, Ms Mangold said, “Little by little we’re getting concept plans done and master plans done.”

Regarding all the town’s departments that are reviewing portions of the POCD, Mr Benson said, “We’re just collecting information.” He anticipates a coming year of public hearings and meetings as the town looks at suggestions and changes for the plan.

Last published in 2004, the POCD serves as a long-term planning document for the town, he said. “It’s concepts and ideas, but not a mandate.” He described it as a blue print for future development and conservation to protect the town. Commissions including Planning and Zoning aim to comply with the POCD.

As projects of the current year conclude, Mr Benson looked toward 2012, saying, “I should have more time to devote to this,” and he hopes to have a nearly completely revised plan by the end of the coming year.