Preserving Open Space
The Commission works with Land Use officials to identify and acquire properties. We manage open spaces by removing invasive plants, maintaining habitats for wildlife and providing access to the public by developing trails and building bridges and parking areas so that residents can enjoy the land that has been preserved for future generations.
Why is Open Space Important?
There are over 8,000 acres of open space in Newtown, including town and state owned parks, meadows and forests as well as private land trusts. Open space with public access provides all Newtown residents with the opportunity to experience and enjoy nature. Open space encourages interaction and bipartisanship with neighboring towns, counties, private property owners, residents, land trusts, and the State of Connecticut. By working together, these entities can foster protected areas, establish wildlife corridors, and preserve areas of environmental concern.
However, a field, meadow, forest, or wetlands parcel that is not developed cannot be considered open space unless it is protected in some formal way. This includes legal conservation easements filed on the land records with proper development restrictions, purchase of development rights, or other regulatory mechanisms. The highest level of protection is ownership by the town, state, or a private land trust.
Protected open spaces provide the essential habitat needed for the continued existence of native plants and wildlife. Native plants which need certain soil types or moisture requirements thrive in open space areas where non-native grasses, nutrients, and herbicides are absent. Native flowers that are seldom seen in manicured landscapes survive in open spaces where town residents can discover and appreciate them. In addition, the Conservation Commission’s goal of linking open space parcels has resulted in the creation of larger wildlife corridors. These corridors are places where birds and animals can safely move in protected places to feeding, shelter, or breeding areas. Many animals will avoid roads when they can safely move through open space wildlife corridors.
Establishing greenways and wildlife corridors are essential to the long-term sustainability of native plants and animals. These larger tracts have the potential to span town and county lines giving animal and plant communities the opportunity to benefit from larger ranges. Opportunities for improved water absorption and filtration, soil regeneration, and species richness can also benefit from larger, contiguous parcels. Wetlands are protected portions of open space that filter pollutants from soils and water. Bacteria and oils break down in wetland environments and result in cleaner water supplies.
However, a field, meadow, forest, or wetlands parcel that is not developed cannot be considered open space unless it is protected in some formal way. This includes legal conservation easements filed on the land records with proper development restrictions, purchase of development rights, or other regulatory mechanisms. The highest level of protection is ownership by the town, state, or a private land trust.
Protected open spaces provide the essential habitat needed for the continued existence of native plants and wildlife. Native plants which need certain soil types or moisture requirements thrive in open space areas where non-native grasses, nutrients, and herbicides are absent. Native flowers that are seldom seen in manicured landscapes survive in open spaces where town residents can discover and appreciate them. In addition, the Conservation Commission’s goal of linking open space parcels has resulted in the creation of larger wildlife corridors. These corridors are places where birds and animals can safely move in protected places to feeding, shelter, or breeding areas. Many animals will avoid roads when they can safely move through open space wildlife corridors.
Establishing greenways and wildlife corridors are essential to the long-term sustainability of native plants and animals. These larger tracts have the potential to span town and county lines giving animal and plant communities the opportunity to benefit from larger ranges. Opportunities for improved water absorption and filtration, soil regeneration, and species richness can also benefit from larger, contiguous parcels. Wetlands are protected portions of open space that filter pollutants from soils and water. Bacteria and oils break down in wetland environments and result in cleaner water supplies.
The Role of The Conservation Commission
Conservation Commission goals for Open Space include:
- Acquiring properties that link existing Open Space owned by Town, State or private land trusts to create important wildlife corridors.
- Promote the conservation of soils, wetlands, water supplies and other natural resources.
- Preserve and protect open space from potential sources of contamination or development.
- Conserve and protect natural systems and their functions in order to encourage and maintain indigenous wildlife and plant life.
About the CommissionThe Newtown Conservation Commission is dedicated to the acquisition, preservation and protection of 2,000 acres of town-owned open space. In addition, the Commission is actively working to encourage healthy habitats and increase the diversity of our native wildlife and vegetation.
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3 Primrose Street Newtown, CT 06470 (203) 270-4276 |