Middleborough Open Space Survey

This survey is being conducted to determine Middleborough's priorities and concerns regarding outdoor recreation and open space needs. The results will be used to prepare an Open Space Plan for Middleborough through the year 2029. An Open Space Plan is required to access state and federal grant money to help with resource protection and recreation site development.

'Open Space' in this survey is defined as... 'public and privately-owned undeveloped lands which are important for a variety of reasons'. These lands can be used for agriculture, forestry, wildlife habitat, available for their scenic qualities, outdoor recreational opportunities, or even their contribution to the overall character of the town.

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* 1. How do you characterize your town?

Rural Community

Suburban

Collection of historic Villages

Urban Center

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* 2. What section of Middleborough do you identify living in?

North Middleborough (Warrentown, Titicut, Purchade)

Central Middleborough (Four Corners, Muttock, West Side)

South Middleborough (Wapanucket, Highlands, Rock Village, South MIddleborough, Deep South)

East Middleborough (Thomastown, Eddyville, Soule, Thompsonville, France)

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* 3. On a scale of 1-5 (1 is low importance, 5 is high importance), how important is it to you to preserve...

	1	2	3	4	5
Places of Historical Value	Places of Historical Value 1	Places of Historical Value 2	Places of Historical Value 3	Places of Historical Value 4	Places of Historical Value 5
Places of archeological Value	Places of archeological Value 1	Places of archeological Value 2	Places of archeological Value 3	Places of archeological Value 4	Places of archeological Value 5
Open spaces to protect water supplise	Open spaces to protect water supplise 1	Open spaces to protect water supplise 2	Open spaces to protect water supplise 3	Open spaces to protect water supplise 4	Open spaces to protect water supplise 5
Land along rivers	Land along rivers 1	Land along rivers 2	Land along rivers 3	Land along rivers 4	Land along rivers 5
Open Spaces to meet recreational needs (Horse Trails, Walking Trails)	Open Spaces to meet recreational needs (Horse Trails, Walking Trails) 1	Open Spaces to meet recreational needs (Horse Trails, Walking Trails) 2	Open Spaces to meet recreational needs (Horse Trails, Walking Trails) 3	Open Spaces to meet recreational needs (Horse Trails, Walking Trails) 4	Open Spaces to meet recreational needs (Horse Trails, Walking Trails) 5
Agricultural land	Agricultural land 1	Agricultural land 2	Agricultural land 3	Agricultural land 4	Agricultural land 5
Forest land	Forest land 1	Forest land 2	Forest land 3	Forest land 4	Forest land 5
Wildlife habitats	Wildlife habitats 1	Wildlife habitats 2	Wildlife habitats 3	Wildlife habitats 4	Wildlife habitats 5
Scenic vistas	Scenic vistas 1	Scenic vistas 2	Scenic vistas 3	Scenic vistas 4	Scenic vistas 5
Remaining open spaces in developed areas	Remaining open spaces in developed areas 1	Remaining open spaces in developed areas 2	Remaining open spaces in developed areas 3	Remaining open spaces in developed areas 4	Remaining open spaces in developed areas 5
Parkland	Parkland 1	Parkland 2	Parkland 3	Parkland 4	Parkland 5
Elements of historic value	Elements of historic value 1	Elements of historic value 2	Elements of historic value 3	Elements of historic value 4	Elements of historic value 5
Picnic Areas	Picnic Areas 1	Picnic Areas 2	Picnic Areas 3	Picnic Areas 4	Picnic Areas 5

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* 4. Which of the following approaches do you support to protect natural areas and/or acquire recreational land?

	Yes	No
Purchase Land with town funds	Purchase Land with town funds Yes	Purchase Land with town funds No
Conserves sensitive tax titled land (land taken for taxes)	Conserves sensitive tax titled land (land taken for taxes) Yes	Conserves sensitive tax titled land (land taken for taxes) No
Purchase land with partial state reimbursement	Purchase land with partial state reimbursement Yes	Purchase land with partial state reimbursement No
Protect land through zoning	Protect land through zoning Yes	Protect land through zoning No
Tax incentive for private conservation	Tax incentive for private conservation Yes	Tax incentive for private conservation No
Purchase development rights or conservation easements	Purchase development rights or conservation easements Yes	Purchase development rights or conservation easements No
Encourage programs of land giving	Encourage programs of land giving Yes	Encourage programs of land giving No
Encourage private sector recreational investment	Encourage private sector recreational investment Yes	Encourage private sector recreational investment No
Encourage private nonprofit and public partnerships	Encourage private nonprofit and public partnerships Yes	Encourage private nonprofit and public partnerships No

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* 5. The Town of Middleborough owns the eight parcels listed below. Please comment on your knowledge of these parcels. (The Town also owns several other parcels)

	Use	Don't Use	Would like to use	Where is it?	What is available?
The Soule Homestead	The Soule Homestead Use	The Soule Homestead Don't Use	The Soule Homestead Would like to use	The Soule Homestead Where is it?	The Soule Homestead What is available?
The Pratt Farm	The Pratt Farm Use	The Pratt Farm Don't Use	The Pratt Farm Would like to use	The Pratt Farm Where is it?	The Pratt Farm What is available?
Oliver Mill Park	Oliver Mill Park Use	Oliver Mill Park Don't Use	Oliver Mill Park Would like to use	Oliver Mill Park Where is it?	Oliver Mill Park What is available?
Thomas S. Peirce Playground	Thomas S. Peirce Playground Use	Thomas S. Peirce Playground Don't Use	Thomas S. Peirce Playground Would like to use	Thomas S. Peirce Playground Where is it?	Thomas S. Peirce Playground What is available?
The Weston Forest	The Weston Forest Use	The Weston Forest Don't Use	The Weston Forest Would like to use	The Weston Forest Where is it?	The Weston Forest What is available?
Stuart Morgan Property	Stuart Morgan Property Use	Stuart Morgan Property Don't Use	Stuart Morgan Property Would like to use	Stuart Morgan Property Where is it?	Stuart Morgan Property What is available?
Nemasket Village / Jamar Property	Nemasket Village / Jamar Property Use	Nemasket Village / Jamar Property Don't Use	Nemasket Village / Jamar Property Would like to use	Nemasket Village / Jamar Property Where is it?	Nemasket Village / Jamar Property What is available?
Oliver Estate	Oliver Estate Use	Oliver Estate Don't Use	Oliver Estate Would like to use	Oliver Estate Where is it?	Oliver Estate What is available?

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* 6. Please check the top five recreational facilities you feel are needed more of.

Bicycling/walking trails

Horse Trails

Conservation Areas

Children's play areas

Family picnic areas

Softball field

Baseball Field

Basketball Courts

Ice skating rink

Hiking & Skiing Trails

Large park with many facilities

Local neighborhood parks

Outdoor amphitheater

Public beach

Recreation center building

Soccer Field

Designated ATV trails

Boating Canoeing/Kayaking

Golf

Agritourism

Healing Garden

Dog Park

Skate Park

Community Garden

Other

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* 7. What other recreational facilities or open space areas would you like to see in Middleborough that are currently not available?

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* 8. Would you support a wetland protection bylaw that goes above the state protection bylaw?

Per the Environmental Handbook for Massachusetts Conservation Commissioners put out by the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions: “A non-zoning wetlands town bylaw gives a municipality the authority to regulate activities in or near wetlands or water bodies by imposing stronger protective measures than the state Wetlands Protection Act (MGL Ch. 131, Sec. 40). These local laws are administered and enforced by the Conservation Commission.”

Yes

Other (please specify)

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* 9. What is your greatest concern about recreational activities in town?

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* 10. Would you support town appropriations for:

	Yes	No
Conservation Land	Conservation Land Yes	Conservation Land No
Recreation Facilities	Recreation Facilities Yes	Recreation Facilities No
Affordable Housing	Affordable Housing Yes	Affordable Housing No
Elderly/VA Housing	Elderly/VA Housing Yes	Elderly/VA Housing No
Historic Preservation	Historic Preservation Yes	Historic Preservation No

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* 11. How do you feel about access to and availability of parking in Middleborough?

	Good the way it is	Could use improvement
Downtown	Downtown Good the way it is	Downtown Could use improvement
Town Parks - Pratt Farm	Town Parks - Pratt Farm Good the way it is	Town Parks - Pratt Farm Could use improvement
Recreational Facilities	Recreational Facilities Good the way it is	Recreational Facilities Could use improvement
Soule Homestead	Soule Homestead Good the way it is	Soule Homestead Could use improvement
Field of Dreams	Field of Dreams Good the way it is	Field of Dreams Could use improvement
Boat Ramp / Launch Areas	Boat Ramp / Launch Areas Good the way it is	Boat Ramp / Launch Areas Could use improvement

Specific Concerns

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* 12. How do you feel Middleborough is meeting the future needs of.... (Scale of 1-5: 1 being bad, 5 being good)

	1	2	3	4	5
Water Supply	Water Supply 1	Water Supply 2	Water Supply 3	Water Supply 4	Water Supply 5
Population Growth	Population Growth 1	Population Growth 2	Population Growth 3	Population Growth 4	Population Growth 5
Environmental Sustainability	Environmental Sustainability 1	Environmental Sustainability 2	Environmental Sustainability 3	Environmental Sustainability 4	Environmental Sustainability 5
Traffic	Traffic 1	Traffic 2	Traffic 3	Traffic 4	Traffic 5
Energy Needs	Energy Needs 1	Energy Needs 2	Energy Needs 3	Energy Needs 4	Energy Needs 5
Water Quality	Water Quality 1	Water Quality 2	Water Quality 3	Water Quality 4	Water Quality 5
Sewer Capacity	Sewer Capacity 1	Sewer Capacity 2	Sewer Capacity 3	Sewer Capacity 4	Sewer Capacity 5
Rural Character	Rural Character 1	Rural Character 2	Rural Character 3	Rural Character 4	Rural Character 5
Housing	Housing 1	Housing 2	Housing 3	Housing 4	Housing 5
Climate Resiliency	Climate Resiliency 1	Climate Resiliency 2	Climate Resiliency 3	Climate Resiliency 4	Climate Resiliency 5
Open Space	Open Space 1	Open Space 2	Open Space 3	Open Space 4	Open Space 5

Other (please specify)

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* 13. How do you feel about the new development that the new commuter rail station coming into the area in June 2023 will bring?

Positive

Neutral

Negative

Why?