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10 Years of Community
Preservation in Newton
 Newton was one of the first communities in the
Commonwealth to adopt the Community Preservation Act (CPA), and this year marks its 10th anniversary. Newton has
used CPA funds to acquire about thirty acres of open space
and recreation land. Without the CPA, Newton’s high land
costs would make it impossible to acquire and improve open
space for both recreation and conservation, to create affordable
housing and to save historic structures and landscapes, such as
the 1732 Durant Homestead. Open-space acquisitions alone
include Kesseler Woods, the Angino Farm, parkland on Crystal
Lake, and conservation land around Dolan Pond—all for only
about $60/year for a midrange single-family house in Newton.
The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) wants to know what residents feel is important
to their villages in terms of open space, historic
preservation and affordable housing in the future. Are
there important green spaces near your home that might be
preserved either by acquisition or a conservation restriction?
Are there historic landscapes that could be preserved? Is the
place where you take your contemplative walks possibly
threatened by loss of access or development? The CPC needs
to hear from you, either at one of the neighborhood
meetings or through their online survey site.
The CPC is
celebrating the CPA’s 10th anniversary by holding
neighborhood meetings to provide input for determining
funding priorities for the next 10 years. The first meeting
for Wards 1-2 was held on November 15 at Newton North
High. Times and places for the gatherings for other wards
are given below.
--Mike Clarke
Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 7-9 pm
For West Newton, Auburndale, Lower Falls (Wards 3 & 4)
Warren House, 1600 Washington Street, West Newton
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
For Waban, Newton Upper Falls, & Newton Highlands
(Ward 5)
Location TBA
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
For Newton Centre, Thompsonville, Chestnut Hill
(Wards 6 & 7)
Location TBA
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
For the South Side, including Oak Hill & Oak Hill Park
(Ward 8)
Location TBA
More information
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