Report of the Open Space Planning Committee
The committee was established by the Conservation Commission in 2003 to assist in managing Southwick’s open space lands and act as a catalyst for public participation in planning for future conservation and passive recreation opportunities in our town.
There are currently 13 active members on the committee. Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month in the Land Use Meeting Room on the 2nd floor of Town Hall. The public is encouraged to attend and participate on a volunteer basis throughout the year. Several subcommittees meet and conduct field work at the properties. For more information about the SOSPC, contact the Conservation Commission office at 569-6907.
Land management and conservation activities continued throughout 2010. A very dedicated group of volunteers, led by Jean Cass, spent numerous hours removing invasive plant species from areas around ponds and at the edges of fields at the Sofinowski Preserve on Mort Vining Road. Additionally, an old growth apple tree in the pond area was pruned to help restore fruit production. The proximity to water and abundant small fruit will make this tree an ideal food source for resident mammals of the preserve.
An agreement was reached with the Walter Solek Farm to maintain the fields at the preserve as part of a long term property management plan. This plan was written and funded by Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), a division of the US Department of Agriculture.
A sitting area was established in the large field at the Sofinowski Preserve. A Goshen stone walkway, stone wall, and granite bench form an ideal place to both rest and appreciate the scenic natural beauty. A dedication ceremony was held in October to honor all volunteers that help establish and maintain the preserve. The dedication was well attended, and included Selectmen, State Senators, and SOSPC Board Members.
Ongoing maintenance plans at the Granville Gorge, Loupinski Preserve, and other lands continued through 2010. In an effort to reduce litter at Open Space properties, surveillance cameras on loan from the Massachusetts Department of Health were installed to monitor illegal activity.
The Southwick Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) was revised by the committee and accepted by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) in March. A public meeting was held to solicit input to the plan. Several ideas from this discussion were used in the final revision. The OSRP will serve as a guide to the board in future land planning activities, and is also a application requirement for many grants.
2011 promises to be a busy year for the Committee. Continuation of long term management plans and completion of planting plans will further enhance the Sofinowski Preserve. Maintenance duties at Goose Pond, Loupinski Preserve and the Granville Gorge will persist. Community environmental education will be the focus of the coming year’s events. A bird walk with Seth Kellogg, tracking and wildflower field activities, and a star gazing event are certain to keep the Southwick Open Space Planning Committee in the public eye for another year.
Respectfully submitted,
John Stadnicki, Committee Chair
Dennis Clark, Vice Chair
Jean Cass, Secretary
Rick Solek
Mehmet Mizanoglu
Gary Hoover
Marian Duggan-Markos
Pat Ayotte
Bettye Bradley
Tom Lane
Craig Samuelson
Barbara MacEwan
Chris Pratt