Middleborough Master Plan Open Space and Natural Cultural Resources Workshop Boards
What is SRPEDD and what do we do? Introduction
We learn from you and work alongside you to plan for your town.
SRPEDD
The Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) is Middleborough’s Regional Planning Agency (RPA). We serve a community of 27 cities and towns in Southeastern Massachusetts. We are the oldest RPA in Massachusetts, and have had the pleasure of working with Middleborough and other Southeastern MA communities for almost 70 years!
We partner with the State and Federal Government, non-profits, community groups, and people across Southeastern Massachusetts to plan for the region’s land use/zoning, transportation, environment, economy, and more.
Ongoing & Past Planning
Some of the recent Town plans we’ve provided technical assistance for include:
• Middleborough Master Plan (Ongoing)
• Route 28 Study (Ongoing)
• Housing Production Plan (2024 - Finalizing)
• Open Space and Recreation Plan (2023Conditionally Approved)
• APC and Nemasket Watershed Management and Climate Action Plan (2022)
The Middleborough Master Plan Discovery Workshop - May 1st, 2024
SRPEDD at the 2024 Herring Run Festival
Historic Downtown
How do you spend time downtown?
How did Downtown become “Downtown,” and how can we envision its future?
Questions
What is your vision for downtown in the next 10 years?
Examples: Pocket parks, community gardens, street trees and plantings, bike lanes, sidewalk improvements, outdoor dining, benches, local businesses, art gallery pop-ups, community events, and more!
South Main Street, 1909
Center Street, 1890
Downtown Middleborough
Thatcher’s Row Downtown (Photo: Town of Middleborough)
Cultural Resources
What makes Middleborough?
How can the Town support cultural institutions and encourage community building?
Please put a sticker on any of the following cultural events and institutions that you value in Town or would frequent:
True Grit Art Gallery Sessions to learn about nature and history Community volunteering events
Arts and Culture events
Concert series or entertainment events
The Alley Theatre
Questions
Local business day or other markets
What other permanent or seasonal events do you feel could encourage community building in Town?
Photo: Heart in Art Chalk it Up Festival
Photo: Sip & Stroll
Photo: Summer Concert Series
The Historical Museum
The Robbins Archaeological Museum
Cultural Resources
Middleborough
Key historic nodes include Middleborough Center and the Muttock Historical and Archaeological District. What makes Middleborough?
is home to many cultural resources!
Questions
What cultural areas or institutions do you frequent in Town?
Arts and Culture:
• The Alley Theatre & Burt Wood School of Performing Arts
• True Grit Art Gallery
• Soule Homestead Education Center
Historic:
• Middleborough Public Library
• Robbins Archaeological Museum
• Middleborough Historical Association
Natural & Indigenous
• Oliver Mill Park
• Wampanoag Canoe Passage
• Native American Village sites: Nemasket, Titicut, Wapanucket
In what ways would you be interested in learning about Middleborough’s history?
How do you interact with water?
How could Middleborough address any necessary improvements to water throughout town?
Water Bodies and Regulated Areas in Town:
Questions
What are your experiences like interacting with bodies of water in Middleborough?
Do you feel the Town should address water quality, public access, ecological restoration, or anything else?
Nemasket River (Photo: Town of Middleborough)
Changing Climate and Weather Patterns
How might more extreme weather events affect you?
Please use a sticker to rank how prepared you feel to address the following weather events or hazards:
Examples of Extreme Weather or Hazards
• High winds, potentially causing property damage and downed trees or power lines
• Consistently high temperatures, potentially causing heat-related illness and risk of fires
• Intense rain, potentially causing property damage or flooding
• Longer stretches of warm weather, increasing the risk of mosquito and tick-borne illnesses
Past Planning: MVP & HMP
Middleborough’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan (MVP; 2020) and Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP; 2023) are documents that examine potential natural, infrastructural, and societal hazards and vulnerable areas in Town for the coming years, and identify the Town’s assets, strengths, and mitigation strategies to address risks and improve resilience.
Potential Hazards & Vulnerabilities
Extreme Weather
Changing precipitation and increased flooding, extreme high or low temperatures, high winds, drought, fires, and more.
Infrastructure Damage
Increased stress on utility systems for heating and cooling, power outages, stormwater, downed trees and more.
Loss of Biodiversity
Increases in algal blooms, invasive species, river narrowing and slowing stream flow. Climate and stormwater impacts on wetlands, cranberry bogs, and more.
Health and Society
Increases in disease from ticks, mosquitoes, and extreme weather. Financial and housing insecurity placing increased climate risks on vulnerable populations.
Questions
Recommendations & Assets
Mitigation & Adaptation
Increase tree canopy, utilize council on aging for cooling and heating services, reduce carbon emissions, improve water management, and more.
Address Built Environment
Tree-trimming, backup power generation, water supply treatment, ecological-based stormwater management.
Ecological Improvements
Enhance habitats of herring, pollinators, vulnerable tree species, and more. Partner with public and private landowners to address invasive species. More wetland regulations.
Allocate Resources
Coordinate insect management at state and local level. Increase housing options and shelter networks for vulnerable populations and animals.
What other kinds of support services would you like the Town to implement in its efforts to address risks and hazards? What other vulnerabilities do you notice in Middleborough?
Accessibility
How accessible are open spaces?
Where do you think the Town could make improvements?
Oliver Mill Park (Muttock)
Please put a sticker on places that you think the Town should prioritize when making accessibility improvements to open space and recreational facilities in Middleborough. Questions
Rocky Gutter Wildlife Park Picone Farm
Are there any additional Open Spaces or Recreation facilities that you think need accessibility improvements or maintenance?
Pratt Farm Soule
Homestead
Design a Park!
How do you want to play?
This is an activity for anyone who would like to participate!
Imagine you could create the playground or park of your dreams, what would it look like? Please take a handout and draw what a fun place to play looks like to you!
Playground equipment
Sports fields or courts
Learning about nature
Places to explore
Drawing, building, or creative play
Climbing or interactive play
Questions
Do you have any other ideas for an ideal park or playground?
Accessibility
How do you move around town?
We want to help make Middleborough more accessible for residents - let us know how below!
Put a sticker on a specific barrier you face when accessing open spaces in Middleborough or add your own example below on a sticky note.
Uneven sidewalks and trails
Obstructed or steep pathways to recreational facilities or open spaces
Lack of signage along trails or in town
Shortage of seating in town or at recreational facilities
Irregular street lighting
Limited shaded areas at recreational facilities
Please use this space to share any other barriers you face related to accessibility in open spaces and recreational facilities
Past Planning: OSRP
In 2004, 77% of the town was either undeveloped or used for agriculture.
The most recent approved Open Space and Recreation Plan (2015-2022), reimagined the same open spaces that were identified as underutilized in 2004, while also protecting 5% of all town land between 2005 and 2013.
Did you know? Middleborough is finishing up its 7th Open Space and Recreation Plan! Find out more about past planning below.
Prior Open Space and Historic Preservation Goals:
Develop bike path and biking opportunities and add more multi-purpose fields
Create more cannoeing and kayaking programs
Install more educational and interpretive signage, including river and stream signs
Preserve the rural character of the community by protecting Historic villages and Archeological sites
Promote life-long activities that serve populations of all ages and abilities
OSRP & Historic Preservation completed and ongoing projects:
• Restoration of damaged historic stonework at Oliver Mill Park
• Acquisition and preservation of 7.88 acres of open space near Pratt Farm Conservation Area
• Acquisition of 94 acres of farmland along the Nemasket River
Town Owned Amenities
What amenities would you like to see more of in town?
Put a sticker in corresponding column of an amenity you would like to see in Middleborough:
Please add any other suggestions here:
How can we be more sustainable?
“Sustainability” is all about resource conservation and helping people exist in harmony alongside the environment.
Think about how the Town could help you and your neighbors conserve energy, waste less, and contribute positively to the environment. Put your wishes for the town’s sustainability programming on the tree below!
Examples could be more pollinator gardens, recycling education, composting resources, energy savings programs, rooftop solar resources, rain garden guides, and more!
Stay in Touch!
How can we keep you involved?
We’d love to see you again! Help us learn the best ways to keep you engaged throughout the planning process.
1. What ways do you prefer to engage with information like this? For example, do you prefer to stay up-to-date online? Do you like responding to surveys? Do you plan to attend in-person workshops?
2. Where should we go to learn more about Middleborough’s open space and recreation?
3. How can we best reach you? For example, email, social media, paper mail, et cetera.
the
Space and Natural Cultural Resources survey! Scan the QR code below, fill out a paper copy, or visit the URL below:
We’ll see you in the Fall!
We are planning to have our next workshop on economic development, housing, and land use in September 2024! Sign up for the newsletter to get the information first!
