Town Departments » Parks and Recreation

Master Plan

 

Combined Planning Effort

In 2017,  the Dedham Parks and Recreation Commission and the Open Space and Recreation Committee combined efforts to develop a "Parks and Recreation and Open Space Master Plan and Open Space and Recreation Plan Update." The update is for the existing 2010 Open Space and Recreation Plan. The Park and Recreation portion of the plan is complete. The Open Space plan is very near completion. 

Goals

The goal of the project is to develop a mutually supported plan that provides guidance for future development and redevelopment and maintenance of the town’s parks, recreation programming, which also includes open space, trails, facilities, natural features and landscape. The Master Plan will:

  • Guide policy development, delivery of services,
  • Prioritize demands and opportunities,
  • Generate a strategic action plan that will be updated every five (5) years.
  • Support expansion opportunities for ground-breaking amenities by creating a facility and space needs assessment using population growth,
  • Be rooted in innovative strategies including all-inclusive public engagement and cross-boundary/collaborative approaches.
  • Seek to incorporate accessibility, environmental and conservation opportunities.

In addition, the findings from the Parks and Recreation and Open Space Master Plan will be incorporated into the Open Space and Recreation Plan Update. The update will focus on passive recreation and open space-related topics and include costs related to passive recreation and open space needs.

Project Overview

The Dedham Parks and Recreation Commission and the Open Space and Recreation Committee are combining efforts to develop a Parks and Recreation and Open Space Master Plan and Open Space and Recreation Plan Update. The update is for the existing 2010 Open Space and Recreation Plan.

The purpose of the project is to develop a comprehensive Parks and Recreation and Open Space Master Plan for the Town of Dedham’s parks and recreational programming. The goal of the project is to develop a mutually supported plan that provides guidance for future development and redevelopment and maintenance of the town’s parks, recreation programming, which also includes open space, trails, facilities, natural features and landscape. The Master Plan will guide policy development, delivery of services, prioritize demands and opportunities, and generate a strategic action plan that will be updated every five (5) years. It will support expansion opportunities for ground-breaking amenities by creating a facility and space needs assessment using population growth, and be rooted in innovative strategies including all-inclusive public engagement and cross-boundary/collaborative approaches. The project will seek to incorporate accessibility, environmental and conservation opportunities.

In addition, the findings from the Parks and Recreation and Open Space Master Plan will be incorporated into the Open Space and Recreation Plan Update. The update will focus on passive recreation and open space-related topics and include costs related to passive recreation and open space needs.

Documents
Background
  • Project Request for Proposals (RFP) released by the Town of Dedham for this project.  This document explains the goals of the plans and expectations for consulting teams applying to do the work.
  • Response to the RFP submitted by the Horsley Witten Group, the consulting team working on this project.
Resources

Survey Results

First Public Workshop: March 7, 2017 at Dedham Middle School

Second Public Workshop: June 6, 2017 at Oakdale Elementary School

Minutes