Open Space Committee

The Open Space Committee wants to hear from YOU! Tell us how you feel about open space in Newbury through our brief survey.

CLICK HERE to take the survey!

If you prefer, there are also paper copies available at the Town Clerk's office at 12 Kent Way. More will be made available at other Newbury locations soon!

In addition to taking our survey, learn more and share your ideas about priorities for our town with Committee members at our public meeting on

May 20th, 2025 at 7pm

at the Newbury Town Hall Council on Aging Room, First Floor

12 Kent Way, Byfield MA

The Open Space Committee meetings are held monthly. Find the calendar of events on the right side of this page, or you can sign up for alerts by clicking here (townofnewbury.org/subscribe) and checking Open Space Committee under “News or Announcement” and “Meeting Agenda.”

Open Space Committee is Ramping Up!   

The Open Space Committee is meeting regularly to update the Town of Newbury Open Space and Recreation Plan and to work on issues related to the Town's open space and trails. If you are interested in keeping up with the progress, be sure to sign up here to see meeting dates and agenda items.  A survey to request input from the Town is coming soon – let’s hear your voice!

Town residents who are interested in Open Space planning, land conservation, passive recreation and related issues are encouraged to participate fully in Committee meetings which are always posted and open to the public.

Responsibilities of the Committee

Periodic

• Update the Newbury Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP). Municipal OSRPs are required to be updated every 7 years to maintain eligibility for state funding for open space protection.

Ongoing

• Coordinate and oversee implementation of actions recommended in the OSRP.
• Maintain inventory of lands of potential interest for open space purposes and lands important for resource protection and other environmental concerns.
• Collaborate with the Planning Board on open space issues related to OSRD applications and long-range planning.
• Collaborate with the Conservation Commission on issues related to Town-owned open space.
• Collaborate with the Recreation Committee on issues related to active and passive recreation.
• Collaborate with the Historic Commission on issues related to historic and cultural resources.
• Collaborate with the Select Board on issues related to Town-owned open space and Chapter 61 properties.
• Promote appropriate use of existing public open space.
• Promote or assist in land conservation efforts identified as priorities in the Open Space and Recreation Plan.
• Assist landowners interested in land conservation

For more information about the work of the Open Space Committee, please reach out to the Town's Planning Department:

Sadie Woodward, Open Space/Planning Intern, [email protected], 978-465-0862 x319

Kristen Grubbs, Planning Director, [email protected], 978-465-0862 x336