Section 5 – Inventory of Lands of
Conservation and Recreation Interest
Artichoke River from Curzon Mill Bridge
A.
Inventory Overview and Organization
This
section provides an inventory of lands of conservation and recreation interest
open
spacesto the Town. Open space parcels offer offer scenic vistas, natural resources areas for wildlife, water resource
protection, conservation, and/or recreation opportunities. This
inventory includes
public, private and non-profit parcels.
Some of these parcels are already protected, others remain vulnerable to
development. (Please refer to Figure 5-1, which maps this
information.).
West Newbury now has 1,723
acres of land well protected from development, out of a total of 9,382 acres (18.3%).
773 acres in CR, Con
Com, P&R, ECGA
515 acres in APR
_435 acres in Fish
and Wildlife
1,723 Total
Importance
of protecting key parcels
In
2000, at the request of the Board of Selectman, the OSC created a “priority parcel list,” or “watch list,” of lands that,
for a number of reasons, are of special conservation or recreation
interest. (Please see Appendix C for
the current priority parcel list, and the criteria for inclusion on the list.)
The priority parcel list was created over the
course of several public meetings, with input from a wide variety of
townspeople, including real estate agents; farmers; Conservation Commission, Water Department, and Parks & Rec members; and others with
interest in land preservation issues. The list has been regularly updated since then as parcel status
has changed. Recently, several parcels
have been removed from the list because they have now been permanently
protected through conservation restrictions.
Definition of
passive recreation
As we analyzed specific parcels of land, we noticed that a
large number of them offer a wide range of passive recreation
opportunities. For the purposes of this
section, passive recreation refers to the following activities
·
Hiking
and bicycling
·
Horseback
riding
·
Cross
country skiing, and
·
Nature
observation
A. Inventory Overview and Organization, Continued
How this
section is organized
As
depicted on the cover of this Plan, and as shown in Figure 5-2, West Newbury
has a gently rolling terrain interspersed by a series of elongated hills. These hills provide a logical starting point
for organizing the
town into geographical areas for the purposes of this inventory. A few areas are not defined by a hill, but by another resource, such as a
reservoir, or by the Town center.
The
areas are listed below in the order in which they are presented in this
section.
·
Pipestave
Hill
·
Lower
Artichoke
·
Upper
Artichoke
·
Cherry
Hill
·
Indian
Hill
·
Kimball
Hill and Illsley Hill
·
Crane
Neck Hill
·
Brake
Hill
·
Long
Hill/River Road
·
Civic
Center
·
Elwell
Square
Within
each geographical region, private parcels are described first, followed by
public and non-profit. Out of respect for
landowner’s privacy, unprotected private parcels are listed by parcel size and
not by landowner’s names.
Note: Lands which are identified as
“Chapter 61” (a tax reduction program for agricultural and recreational lands) are
not permanently protected. Chapter 61
only allows the Town the right of first refusal if the land is to be sold or to
come out of agricultural use.
Insert Map 5-1
-- Open Space Map
Insert Map 5-2
The Hills of West Newbury
B.
Inventory of Lands
Pipestave Hill
[add a brief
description of this region and/or bullet a list of parcels covered below.]
Pipestave Hill is the first hill one encounters
entering West Newbury from the East on Route 113. There
is a large area of Town-owned land clustered here, stretching all the way from the
Merrimack River, across the top of Pipestave Hill, and on to Archelaus Hill. Significant Town-owned parcels include the Riverbend
Conservation Area, the hill top site of the Dr. John C. Page Elementary School,
Mill Pond/Pipestave Hill Recreation Area, and the newly acquired Dunn Parcel. This area forms the
riverside end of a proposed cross-town trail and greenway. It is bounded on the
west by the Indian River, and includes the scenic Mill Pond.
[add a brief description?]
|
A. Pipestave Hill Private Parcels
|
|
Parcel
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
|
|
50 acres
|
N/A
|
Private trails
wooded, significant
wetlands
|
Trails
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. A
Res. C
|
No
|
|
|
19 acres
|
N/A
|
Hayfields
|
Trails
Athletic fields
Greenway
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. C
|
No
|
|
|
Merrimack Island
|
N/A
|
Natural state with some
hunting
|
Passive open space
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. B
|
No
|
|
|
Sargent
Property
8+ acres
|
Con. Comm
|
Natural state
|
Passive open space
|
Via canoe
|
N/A
|
Res. B
|
Yes.
In perpetuity via CR
|
|
|
~ 2 acres
|
Rural Cemetery Association
|
Cemetery
(Vacancy for 60 years)
|
Passive recreation
History field trips
|
Yes
|
N/A
|
Res B
|
|
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
|
B. Pipestave Hill Public
and Nonprofit Parcels
|
Ownership/
Parcel
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Condition
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
|
Town.
Mill Pond Recreation Area
222 acres
|
MPC
BOS
ECGA
|
Passive recreation,
boating, soccer,
baseball,
snowmobiling.
Municipal area: highway barn, recycling
|
Well maintained
|
Currently used to potential
|
Yes.
ADA access to new athletic
fields.
|
N/A
|
Res. B
Res. C
|
200 acres protected in perpetuity via CR
(ECGA)
22 acres unprotected for municipal use
|
|
Town.
Dunn property
71 acres
|
BOS
|
Agricultural
Trails
|
Well managed and maintained
|
Passive recreation.
Athletic fields.
Potential school
site, water well
field site
|
Yes.
No special ADA access
|
N/A
|
Res. C
|
No
|
|
|
BOS
PRSD
|
Playgrounds.
Athletic fields.
Woods & trails.
Agricultural pastures.
Passive recreation.
Highway Dept.,
Town–owned
apartment, and
Park & Rec Buildings
|
|
Amphitheatre
|
Yes.
Parking.
ADA access to school,and apartment
building.
|
N/A
|
Res.
B
Res.
C
|
No
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
|
B. Pipestave Hill Public
and Nonprofit Parcels, Continued
|
Ownership/
Parcel
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Condition
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
|
|
ConCom
|
Passive recreation
Fishing
Canoeing
|
|
Used to potential
|
Yes
Parking at Page school.
No ADA access
|
DCS self help grant
|
|
Yes. Acquired by Town for conservation
purposes. Protected by Self-Help
Program project agreement and Article 97 of MA Constitution
|
|
|
WD
|
Water wellfield
|
|
Restricted
|
|
|
|
Regulated by MA Drinking
Water Regulations.
W. N. Groundwater
Protection Bylaw
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
Lower Artichoke
Reservoir
[add a brief
description of this region and/or bullet a list of parcels covered below.]
This northeast section of Town is bounded on the north by the Merrimack River
and on the east by the Artichoke River and the Lower Artichoke Reservoir. This is the major entranceway to West Newbury when
traveling from the east on Rte. 113 from Newburyport and I-95. There are important defining views along the
roadway here, on land owned by the Society of St. John the Evangelist. A public roadway,
across the private Society land, connects via the historic Curzon’s
Mill Bridge to Maudslay State Park in Newburyport. Water resources are important here, including the Town’s only water well
field, and
frontage along the Lower Artichoke Reservoir.
|
A. Lower Artichoke
Reservoir Private Parcels
|
|
Parcel
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
|
Riverside
28
acres
|
N/A
|
|
Merrimack River
access.
Passive
recreation.
Fishing.
Canoeing.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
No
|
|
Parson’s
Woods
37
acres
|
Parson’s
Woods property owners
|
Passive
open space
|
Passive
recreation
|
No
|
N/A
|
Res.
A
Res.
C
|
Yes.
Protected
in perpetuity via deed restriction
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
B. Lower Artichoke
Reservoir Public and Nonprofit Parcels
|
[add a brief description?]Parcel/ Ownership
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Condition
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
|
St.
John’s the Evangelist/
Episcopal church
42
acres
|
Episcopal
church
|
Religious
retreat.
Agricultural fields.
Woodlands.
|
N/A
|
River
access.
Passive
recreation.
Fishing.
Canoeing.
|
Road
is accessible, land is not No special ADA access.
|
N/A
|
Res.
B
|
No
|
Upper Artichoke Reservoir
[add a brief
description of this region.]
The Upper Artichoke Reservoir is a scenic surface water resource that sits
between West Newbury and the City of Newburyport along the Town’s eastern border. Middle Street and Turkey Hill Street continue into West
Newbury from Newburyport in this area of town. The area is mostly residential
with some significant agricultural lands.
There are two very scenic bridges, where townspeople often fish and
bird.
|
[add a brief description?]
A. Upper
Artichoke Reservoir Private Parcels
|
Parcel
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
|
157
acres
|
N/A
|
|
Passive
recreation
|
No
|
N/A
|
|
Chapter
61
|
|
Ordway
55.15
acres
|
ECGA
|
Passive
recreation
|
Passive
recreation
|
PlannedYes
|
N/A
|
Res.
A
|
Protected
in perpetuity via CR
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
|
B. Upper Artichoke
Reservoir Public and Nonprofit Parcels
|
Parcel/ Ownership
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Condition
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
|
Town.
Upper
Artichoke shores
24
acres
|
Con
Comm.
|
Passive
recreation
|
Natural state
|
·
Passive recreation
·
Fishing
|
Via
50’ footpath
3-car
parking on Middle St
No
ADA
|
N/A
|
Res.
A
|
Deeded for conservation
purposes. Protected by Self-Help
Grant Program project agreement and by Article 97 of MA constitution
|
|
ECGA
Pike’s
Bridge Road
49 acres
|
ECGA
|
Passive
recreation
|
N/A
|
Passive
recreation
|
Via
footpath
No
ADA
|
N/A
|
Res.
A
|
Protected in perpetuity via?
(ownership by a land
trust- ECGA)
|
|
Town.
Turkey
Hill Cemetery
~
2 acres
|
BOS
|
Cemetery
|
N/A
|
Passive
recreation
Abuts
Upper Artichoke Reservoir
|
Yes
|
N/A
|
Res. A
|
No
|
|
Town.
3
misc. parcels near Rte. 95
10
acres
|
BOS
|
Open
scrub
|
Natural
scrub state
|
Passive
recration
|
None
(land-locked)
|
N/A
|
Res. A
|
No
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
Cherry Hill/Reservoir
Cherry Hill is the
former site of the historic Cherry Hill Nursery, founded in 1832 by
the Thurlow
Family. The Nursery provided ornamental
trees and shrubs, such as Norway spruce, laurels,
lilacs, and rhododendron. The Nursery also cultivated and
hybridized peonies, which were famous throughout the world. The Thurlow family
recently closed the Nursery, and began to sell off a number of the Nursery
lands, including this central site, which overlooks the Indian Hill Reservoir. The view from the corner of Cherry Hill and Bachelor
Streets is one that defines West Newbury. The results of the recent Open Space and Recreation Survey strongly supported the
preservation of this particular view.
In the fall of 2002, the Town voted to purchase two subdivided lots
and to
accept two gifted lots, for a total of eight acres, dedicated to passive
recreation and viewshed protection. Several other parcels in
this neighborhood are possible routes for a cross-town trail. Obtaining appropriate easements or other
rights of way in this area will be important for this goal.
|
A. Cherry Hill Private Parcels
|
Parcel
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
48 acres
|
N/A
|
Residential
Wooded upland
|
Trails
greenway
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. A
|
Chapter 61
|
20.6
acres
|
N/A
|
Residential
Meadow, trails
|
Trail, greenway,
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. A
|
No
|
43.0 acres
|
N/A
|
Residence, woodland,
hilltop, contiguous woodland
|
Trails, passive recreation
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. A/B
|
No.
|
Bachelor Street Cemetery
~ 2 acres
|
Walnut Hill Cemetery
Association
(Rick Thurlow)
|
Cemetery
(Vacancy for 100
years)
|
Passive recreation
History classes
|
Yes
|
N/A
|
Res. B
|
No.
|
|
6 acres
|
N/A
|
Open meadow, being
evaluated as a well site
|
Passive recreation
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. A/B
|
No
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
|
B. Cherry Hill Public and
Nonprofit Parcels
|
Parcel/ Ownership
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Condition
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
Town
8 acres
|
BOS
|
Open meadow,
Gardened by previous
owner, passive
recreation, important viewshed
|
Good
|
Passive recreation
only
|
Yes
No ADA
|
None
|
Res. A
|
Yes, by town meeting
vote and Land Bond requirement.
|
NBT
200
acres
|
Newbury-port Water Department
|
Watershed protection,
passive recreation, views
|
Good
|
Passive recreation
only
|
Yes
No ADA
|
None
|
Res. A
|
Regulated
under Wetlands Protection Act and MA Drinking Water Regulations; Public
Surface Water Supply Protection Area (Zone A) (A surface water protection
bylaw will be proposed Fall 2003.)
|
ECGA
18 acres
|
ECGA
|
woodland
|
Wooded upland, some wetland
|
Passive recreation
trail
|
Yes
No ADA
|
None
|
Res. A
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
Indian Hill
I LEFT OFF HERE.A. Private
Parcels
Miscellaneous Cherry
Hill area [I suggest describing each one separately]
Three parcels totaling
about 84 acres abutting or near the Indian Hill Reservoir to the north. Many
have views of the reservoir or Archelaus and Indian Hills.. They contain fields which are key links from
the reservoir northward to Archelaus Hill.
B. Public and Nonprofit
Parcels
Former
Cherry Hill Nurseries property [does this have a name yet?]
Description: [8.9 acres of open space; remaining 7 acres to be
developed, subject to restrictive covenants. This open space protects part of
the view and affords trail connections to and from the reservoir shores. ]
Current use:
Condition:
Public access:
Recreation potential:
Level of
protection: City
of Newburyport - water source buffer
Description: The City
of Newburyport has holds nearly 200 acres of land
surrounding the Upper and Lower Artichoke Reservoirs, the Indian Hill Reservoir
and the Artichoke River to protect the Newburyport water supply (Artichoke Reservoir system) from
pollution.
Current use: They
receive limited passive recreation use -- hiking, nature observation, etc.
Public access: Public
access ranges from none to limited; none of the areas are accessible to people
with disabilities. [make this more positive]
Recreation potential: These
parcels could possibly be better utilized for passive recreation without
threatening the quality of Newburyport's drinking water.
Essex County Greenbelt
Association
Description: 18 acres
contiguous with the Cherry Hill Reservoir, reached by walking around the reservoir
off Moulton Street.
Current use:
Public access:
Recreation potential:
Indian
Hill lies just north of the Cherry Hill Reservoir. It is one of the few remaining undeveloped hilltops in West
Newbury. There are several large lots
in this area of significant preservation interest. One family farm abuts the Reservoir and contains the outflow
brook which courses from this reservoir to the Artichoke Reservoir system. This piece has important water protection
value. Another is a historic homestead,
with beautiful trails and stonewalls in a wooded upland overlooking the
reservoir.
|
A. Indian Hill Private Parcels
|
Parcel
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
36.7 acres
|
N/A
|
Residence, with meadows, wooded upland, and historic
stone walls
|
Trails, views, hilltop
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. A
|
No
|
35.0 acres
|
N/A
|
Farm, residence, fallow
fields, river corridor
|
Mostly important for water
protection, passive recreation
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. A
|
Public Surface Water Supply
Protection Area
Zone A
|
2 parcels
totaling
42 acres
|
ECGA
|
Meadows, hayed fields,
scrub, wet lands
|
Roadside views, passive
recreation
|
No
|
N/A
|
Res. A
|
Conservation restriction
held by ECGA
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
|
B. Indian Hill Public and
Nonprofit Parcels
|
Parcel/ Ownership
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Condition
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
Town
6 acres
|
Con Com
|
Wetlands, scrub
|
Natural state
|
Passive recreation
|
Limited.
No ADA
|
None
|
Res. B
|
Deeded for conservation
purposes
|
Illsley Hill and
Kimball Hill
This
area of town, considered “out back” by some, has some large hilltop parcels,
significant roadside agricultural fields,
pastural
views, Christmas tree farms, and a network of informal trails. Beaver Brook runs just south of the area.
|
A. Illsley and Kimball Hills Private Parcels
|
Parcel
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
64.5 acres
|
N/A
|
Christmas tree farm, very
scenic roadside view
|
Passive recreation
Possible school and
athletic field site
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. B
|
Chapter 61
|
38.0 acres
|
N/A
|
Hill top woodlands
|
trails
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. A
|
No
|
56.5 acres
6 parcels
|
N/A
|
Hay fields, pasture,
roadside views, hillside views
|
Trails, passive recreation
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. B
|
4 parcels in 61
totaling 43.2
acres
|
36.0 acres
|
N/A
|
Christmas tree farm, long
views
|
Trails, passive recreation
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. A
|
Chapter 61
|
43 acres
|
ECGA
|
Roadside hay fields,
meadows
|
Passive recreation
|
No
|
None
|
Res. A, B.
|
Conservation Restriction to
ECGA
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
|
B. Illsley and Kimball
Hills and Public and Nonprofit
Parcels
|
Parcel/ Ownership
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Condition
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
Ownership uncertain.
US Fish and Wildlife
6.5 acres
|
US F&W
|
Landlocked, very wet, brook
corridor, overhead power lines
|
N/A
|
Fishing, passive recreation
|
Yes, via other F&W
parcels. No ADA
|
N/A
|
Res. A
|
Yes
|
Town
Off Moulton and Ash
9 acres
|
Town
|
Passive recreation.
Wooded, much ledge, with
extension of Paddy Rock trail
|
Natural state
|
Trail, important link,
passive recreation
|
Yes
|
N/A
|
Res. A
|
No
|
Town
10 acres
|
Town
|
Limited.
Very wet.
|
Head-waters of Beaver Brook
|
Passive recreation
|
Limited due to wetlands
|
N/A
|
Res. B
|
No
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
Crane Neck Hill/Ash Swamp
This
area lies in the southern tip of the Town and features a large contiguous area
of protected lands. There is the 184-acre
Brown vegetable
farm,
which is protected by an Agricultural Preservation Restriction, and the
adjacent Crane Pond Wildlife Management Area, which
comprises
more than 435 acres, including Crane Pond.
Some would argue that these are the lesser known gems of West Newbury.
|
A. Crane Neck Hill/Ash Swamp Private Parcels
|
Parcel
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
184 acres
|
Browns
Vegetable Farm
|
Vegetable
farm and farmstand, horse pasture, and residence
|
Views
|
N/A
|
APR
|
Res.
A
|
Yes. APR
|
70.0 acres
|
N/A
|
Residence
and farm, very lovely roadside views, some wetland
|
Trails,
passive recreation
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res.
A
|
Chapter
61
|
16 acres
|
N/A
|
Nursery,
farm, residence
|
Athletic
fields, passive recreation
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res.
A
|
Chapter
61
|
28 acres
|
N/A
|
Christmas
tree farm
Hillside
and roadside views
|
Trails,
passive recreation
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res.
A
|
Chapter
61
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
|
B. Crane Neck Hill and Ash Swamp Public and Nonprofit Parcels
|
Parcel/ Ownership
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Condition
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
Town
28 acres
|
ConCom
|
Wet .
Adjacent to Crane Pond WMA.
Passive recreation.
Wildlife observation.
Equine and hiking trails.
|
Natural state. Mostly forest among rock
out-croppings. Some wet areas.
|
Passive recreation.
Trail links Ash Street with
Crane Pond WMA
|
Yes.
No ADA.
|
N/A
|
Res A
|
Yes.
Deeded for conservation
purposes
|
MA Div of
Fisheries and Wildlife
435 acres
|
MA Division of Fisheries
and Wildlife
|
Wildlife observation,
hunting, passive recreation, snowmobiling
Wooded uplands, wetlands
and grasslands.
|
Some dumping, beaver
flooding, damage from vehicle use in wet season
|
Passive recreation, plus
hunting, snowmobiling
|
Yes, Parking is available
No special ADA access.
|
N/A
|
Res. A
|
Yes.
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
Brake Hill/West
End
The area west of West
Newbury’s Town center is named for Brake Hill, the Town’s highest elevation,
where one of the West Newbury’s
water towers sits. Home to the Pentucket Regional High School
and Middle School, this is the Town’s western townline, bordering Groveland.
|
A. Brake Hill/West End Private Parcels
|
Parcel
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
|
18.3 acres
|
N/A
|
Private residence and former
farm
|
River access
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res B
|
Chapter 61
|
|
3.6 acres
|
N/A
|
Private residence
|
Adjacent to high school
playing fields
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res B
|
No
|
|
19 acres
|
Knapp’s Greenhouse
|
Private residences,
greenhouses, fields
|
Viewshed;
Over-55 housing
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res C
|
Chapter 61
|
|
12 acres
|
N/A
|
Private residence and
former farm
|
Viewshed; with access to a
Town-owned 117-acre protected parcel.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res C
|
No
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
|
B. Brake Hill/West end Public and Nonprofit Parcels
|
Parcel/
Ownership
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Condition
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
|
Town.
Brake Hill-Craven Property
117 acres
|
BOS
|
Water tower access road; trails;
contiguous to Groveland Town Forest
|
Well maintained. Natural
state with good trails and road access to water tower.
|
Passive recreation,
active recreation
(athletic fields)
|
Limited. No ADA access.
|
N/A
|
Res. A
|
No
|
|
Town.
Hilltop Circle/Captain
Pierce Drive
9 parcels totaling
121 acres
|
ConCom
|
Informal paths. Perennial running brook feeding Beaver
Brook.
|
Natural state. One 13-acre parcel includes the old Town
dump, now capped.
|
Passive recreation
101 acres contiguous to
Craven (above) and its trail system.
|
Limited. No ADA access.
|
N/A
|
Res. A
|
Yes. Deeded for conservation purposes
|
|
Town.
“Other”
10 acres
|
BOS
|
Landlocked.
Passive recreation
|
Natural state
|
Passive recreation
|
Easement
|
N/A
|
Res. A
|
No
|
|
PRSD
31 acres
|
PRSD
|
School buildings, indoor/outdoor
recreation facilities
|
Well maintained.
|
Active recreation, river
access.
|
Yes.
|
N/A
|
Res. C
Res. B
|
No
|
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
|
|
B. Brake Hill/West end Public and Nonprofit Parcels, Continued
|
Parcel/
Ownership
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Condition
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
|
Town
Rivermeadow Conservation
Land
3 parcels totaling
8 acres.
|
ConCom
|
Passive recreation.
|
Natural state.
|
River access.
River view.
Trail linkages.
Passive recreation
Buffer.
|
Yes, along River-meadow
Drive and Place
|
N/A
|
Res. C
|
Yes. Deeded to ConCom for
conservation purposes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ellwell
Square Area to
Rocks Village Bridge
Named
for the late Albert E. Elwell, venerable West Newbury native and former
representative to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Elwell Square
comprises West Newbury’s busy Town Center.
Fanning out from this small center are Whetstone Street, Maple Street,
and Church Street. Two of West
Newbury’s three churches occupy the corner lots at the top of Church Street,
which leads down to the Merrimac River and the Rocks Village Bridge.
|
A. Elwell
Square Area to Rocks Village Bridge Private Parcels
|
|
|
Parcel
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
|
|
9 acres
|
ECGA
|
Private residence,
hillside fields.
|
Passive recreation,
viewshed
|
N/A
|
|
Res. C
|
Yes. CR
ECGA
|
|
|
3 parcels =
3 acres
|
N/A
|
Residences, businesses,
open land.
|
Town parking, sew-age
treatment plant
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. C
|
No.
|
|
|
37.5 acres
|
N/A
|
Open fields.
|
Viewshed.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. C
|
No.
|
|
|
9.0.
|
N/A
|
Open fields.
|
Passive recreation.
Viewshed.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. C
|
No.
|
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
|
A. Elwell
Square Area to Rocks Village Bridge Private Parcels, Continued
|
|
|
Parcel
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
|
|
37.5 acres
|
N/A
|
Wooded interior parcel.
|
Passive recreation. Trails.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. C
|
No.
|
|
|
14.8 acres
|
N/A
|
Residence, farming, farm
stand
|
Passive/active recreation,
possible over-55 housing
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. C
|
Chapter 61
|
|
|
13.0 acres
|
Institutional/
private
|
Residence/Rectory
|
Trails linking Maple Street
with Civic Center
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. C
|
No.
|
|
|
Pleasant Street Cemetery
~ 2 acres
|
Merrimack Cemetery Board of
Trustees
(Rick Davies)
|
Cemetery
(Vacancy for 10-15 years)
|
Passive recreation. History
field trips.
|
Drive-in, with ADA access.
|
|
Res. C
|
No
|
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
|
|
B. Elwell
Square Public and Non-Profit Parcels
|
|
Parcel/ Ownership
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Condition
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
|
Off Mechanic Street
24 acres.
|
ECGA
|
Mostly wooded and wet
|
Natural state
|
Passive recreation
|
Access off Mechanic St. and
George-town Rd.
|
N/A
|
Res. C
Res. B
|
Land preservation trust
|
|
Town.
Ferry Lane Park
¼ acres
|
P&R
WNGC
|
Grassy open space with
picnic tables affording extensive views of the Merrimac River and Rocks
Village Bridge
|
Well maintained.
|
Additional picnic
facilities possible
|
Yes.
|
N/A
|
Res. C
|
Yes.
Designated Park,
Article 97,
MA Constitution
|
|
State
Boat Ramp
.49 acres
|
MA DEM
|
Boat ramp provides Town’s
only public river access, and the bank is a popular fishing spot
|
Boat ramp in poor condition
|
Used to full potential
|
Limited roadside
parking. No ADA access.
|
N/A
|
Res. C
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
Civic Center
In West Newbury’s thriving
civic center, townspeople congregate at Cammett Park to cheer on Little
Leaguers and soccer players in the
"sports” civic center of Town.
They come together to enjoy seasonal celebrations at the Training Field,
where the Town's Historic
District, its well-used library, and Old Town Hall form West Newbury's
"historic” civic center.
|
A. Civic Center Private Parcels
|
|
Parcel
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
|
22 acres
|
Private
|
Open
field with pond and wetlands
|
Adjacent
to Cammet Park, ideal for passive
recreation, Town park, and/or over-55 housing.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res.
C
|
No.
|
|
3.3 acres
|
Private.
|
Residence
|
Contiguous
to open field above
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res.
C
|
No
|
|
12 acres
|
Private
|
Residence
|
Contiguous
to acreage above
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res.
C
|
No
|
|
B. Civic Center Public and
Nonprofit Parcels
|
|
Parcel/ Ownership
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Condition
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public
Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
|
|
Town.
Cammet Park
Action Cove
23 acres
|
P&R
|
Active recreation:
baseball, soccer, playground, “snack hut”
|
Well maintained.
|
Used to its maximum
recreation potential.
|
Yes.
|
Purchased
out-right
with
Town funds
|
Res. C
|
Yes.
Designated
Park.
Protected by Article 97,
MA Constitution
|
|
|
B. Inventory of Lands, Continued
|
|
B. Civic Center Public and Nonprofit Parcels,
Continued
|
|
Town.
Training Field
1.5 acres
|
P&R
WNGC
|
War memorials. Destination
of annual Memorial Day Parade. Town
Christmas tree.
|
Well maintained.
|
Could host additional
outdoor activities for the town
|
Yes.
|
Town-owned since
Revolutionary War era. Acquired as
training field for soldiers.
|
Res. C
|
Yes.
Historic District.
|
|
Long Hill/River Road
Arguably the most scenic road
in West Newbury, River Road wends its way alongside the Merrimac River,
offering views of Merrimac, Merrimacport, and Amesbury on the other side. Teeming with bird life, eagles have made
frequent appearances on the river in recent years.
Long Hill Orchard is one of
the largest orchards in New England.
|
A. Long
Hill/River Road Private Parcels
|
|
Parcel
|
Management
|
Current Use
|
Recreation Potential
|
Public Access
|
Type of Grant
|
Zoning
|
Protected?
|
Kimball Farm
144 acres.
|
N/A
|
Farm with fields.
|
Viewshed from Bridge Street
|
N/A
|
APR
|
Res. C
|
Yes. APR.
|
|
80 acres.
|
N/A
|
Natural state, wooded. Some meadows.
|
Passive recreation, trails
with frontage on Main Street, Coffin
Street, and Merrimack River.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Res. B
|
|