GREENFIELD — The city is hosting a public meeting via Zoom to review a draft of its 2021 Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) on Tuesday, April 20, at 6 p.m.
Members on the OSRP Planning Committee include representatives from the Department of Planning and Development, Recreation Department, Department of Public Works, Tree Committee, City Council, Cultural District Committee, Greening Greenfield and others, according to a notice from Allison Gage, land use and natural resources planner with the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG). The committee also put out a survey to inform the plan’s update, and received about 270 responses.
The updated Open Space and Recreation Plan includes an assessment of climate change data and impacts on Greenfield, which informed the development of new goals and objectives, the notice explains. For example, one of the plan’s new goals is to prioritize climate resiliency in open space and recreational strategies to support the health of residents, natural resources and infrastructure.
The plan also builds on the city’s recently updated Hazard Mitigation Plan, and forthcoming Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan and Pollinator Action Plan.
Interested residents can view the draft Open Space and Recreation Plan at bit.ly/32rOdRF. Section 9 includes a list of all action items related to the city’s open space and recreation facilities. According to the notice, high-priority action items include developing a city-wide bicycle lane, adding a skate park, improving pedestrian safety and pedestrian access to Poet’s Seat Tower and Sachem’s Head, and continuing to plant native trees in the downtown area.
The committee hopes to hear from residents during the public forum on Tuesday. Interested residents may register at bit.ly/GreenfieldOSRP.
There is also a public comment period following the meeting, which is open until May 4. Comments can be emailed to Planning and Development Director Eric Twarog at eric.twarog@greenfield-ma.gov.
GREENFIELD — The Girl Scouts of Central & Western Massachusetts invites girls and their guardians to an Intro to Outdoor Skills event at Highland Park on Saturday, April 24, from 2 to 3 p.m.
The event is for girls in preschool and kindergarten who are not yet Girl Scout members, according to a Girl Scouts of Central & Western Massachusetts press release. Girls will earn their first Girl Scout patch while learning basic hiking and trail safety skills.
Space is limited, and participants must register by Wednesday, April 21, at bit.ly/GSoutdoorGreenfield.
All COVID-19 health safety precautions will be followed, the release states. Because the event is outdoors, along the Green Trail in Highland Park, participants are advised to dress accordingly.
For more information, contact Recruitment Manager Tammy Gilpatrick at tgillpatrick@gscwm.org or 508-749-3639.
GREENFIELD — Looking to shine a light on the redistricting process, the League of Women Voters of Franklin County will host a People Powered Day of Action with state Rep. Paul Mark, former House chair of the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting, via Zoom on Thursday, April 29, at 7 p.m.
The League of Women Voters is hosting events around the country to increase public awareness and engagement around the redistricting process, and to make sure the public’s voice is heard, a League of Women Voters press release states. Redistricting is a process in which congressional and legislative districts are drawn to determine how communities are represented based on census data.
The event will include a brief “Redistricting 101” overview, with Rep. Mark, D-Peru, providing further insight. According to the release, the League of Women Voters will also demonstrate map-drawing as another tool to influence the process and outcomes for fair and equitable local and state maps.
“People should choose their politicians, not the other way around,” League of Women Voters of Franklin County President Marie Gauthier said in the release. “We have a chance to make sure our communities are represented more accurately and equitably, and we want to encourage people to get involved. When the public is involved in the redistricting process, we achieve fairer maps.”
To receive a link to the free virtual event, email lwvfranklincounty@gmail.com.