CHARLEMONT — Town officials are working to update Charlemont’s 2004 Open Space and Recreation Plan, with hopes of having a draft ready for public input in early December and a final plan ready to submit to the state for review in early spring.

Open space plans are used to outline goals and actions for community conservation and recreation, and are reviewed and approved by the state Division of Conservation Services to ensure they meet state guidelines. Plans are typically updated every seven years, meaning Charlemont’s 120-page plan from 2004 is overdue for an update.

During a meeting of all town boards and committees on Monday, Town Administrator Sarah Reynolds explained that updating the plan is crucial to ensuring Charlemont remains competitive in grant applications. Having a plan that outlines the town’s goals gives the town an advantage because it shows how grant funding would be used as part of a larger vision for Charlemont’s future.

Reynolds added that the original plan took more than a year to write, with dozens of public meetings and board meetings held to draft it. This time, the town is hoping to expedite the process so it can use some of its remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding — which must be allocated for a particular use by the end of this year and spent by Dec. 31, 2026 — to put up the required match needed to receive other grants.

“If we let it die, we’ll never get it done,” she said of the accelerated updating efforts.

The Planning Board has been reviewing and editing the Open Space and Recreation Plan, and has now shared it for review and edits by all town boards and committees. The town hopes to have a public meeting to get input from residents on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

Edits made to the plan so far take into account work that’s been completed since 2004, and changes in goals and the makeup of town government, such as the creation of an Agriculture Commission.

The draft of the updated plan that was presented to all town boards and committees includes continuing to develop the Charlemont Fairgrounds as a public space; increasing recreational opportunities for residents; adding action items such as developing educational programs that teach people about Charlemont’s agricultural landscape, culture and heritage; and removing tasks that were completed or are no longer necessary, such as the 2004 tasks set for the Community Development Committee, which no longer exists.

The updated plan also states town officials will map hiking trails, install kiosks with trail maps, continue assessing and mapping historic buildings, and continue their work toward conserving the town’s farmland, scenic landscapes and wetlands.

A list of goals and objectives being considered for the updated Open Space and Recreation Plan can be found at charlemont-ma.us/files/OSRP_2024_Goals_Objectives_Action_Items_-_Workbook.PDF. Following the Dec. 4 public input session, the town hopes to have a final draft ready by Jan. 27.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.