By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – The 2011-2018 plan to preserve and develop Marlborough's open space and natural resources was approved by the City Council at its March 24 meeting. Prepared by Conservation Officer Priscilla Ryder and the Open Space and Recreation Committee, it provides for upgrading and building new parks to meet the city's recreation needs and acquiring parcels for passive recreation and new community projects.
“It's a wonderful document, very extensive and very optimistic,” said Ward 1 City Councilor Joseph ?Delano. “Although I am not committed to every single part of it, I think we should approve it.”
The draft plan was submitted to the state in 2010 and received conditional approval which made the city eligible for park and conservation grants. Councilor-at-Large Mark Oram praised Ryder and the councilors, who he said had provided guidance to her.
The 100-page plan provides the inventory, history, needs analysis and action plan to implement the primary goals over the next seven years. Among major recommendations are acquiring an appropriate undeveloped parcels of land including the South Street swamp and Shoestring Hill? and developing an additional major recreational facility at the old Bolton Street landfill.