The Planning Board and the Conservation Commission along with other interested citizens and Board members are seeking community involvement in a project to create an Open Space and Recreation Plan for Ashby. This Plan will spell out townspeople's recreational needs and our open space preservation goals. Open space can be defined as any undeveloped land which may have scenic, historic, conservation or recreation interest. Most open space in Ashby is in private hands and most private landowners are concerned about maintaining the character as well as the value of their land. Eventually however, we will all sell or leave our land to our heirs. Has the community given landowners the options they need to recover the value in their land while protecting its character? Is Ashby prepared to purchase land the citizens feel is critical to open space and community character? Is Ashby serving the recreation needs of the community or are there needs left unfulfilled?

The responses to this survey will help us to evaluate your feelings on the subject. However, in order for our statistics to be meaningful we need a representative return, and we hope you will spare the time to help us. Please fill in the survey and bring it to the Special Town Meeting on March 10, or return it to the Town Hall, P.O. Box 155, by March 20, 1999. When they have been returned and collated, a public meeting will be held to discuss the results with interested townspeople.

We also would welcome you if you wish to become more involved in this project. For more information contact Alan Pease at 386-7981 (e-mail: Alan@countrybed.com) or Roberta Flashman at 386-7104 (e-mail: thewein@ix.netcom.com).

1. How important do you feel it is to preserve….

sites with historic value 1 2 3 4 5

farmlands and agriculture 1 2 3 4 5

open space for water conservation needs 1 2 3 4 5

open space for hiking/snowshoeing/birdwatching 1 2 3 4 5

open space for hunting 1 2 3 4 5

scenic views and vistas 1 2 3 4 5

2. To preserve open space, would you…

____ Vote for town purchase of land?

____ Donate money to buy land?

____ Limit use of your land through a deed restriction?

____ Help fund raise or work in some other voluntary capacity?

____ Donate land to the town?

____ Sell land to the town at below market value?

____ Sell land to the town at market value?

3. Which of the following recreational facilities do you feel Ashby needs more of?

____ bike trails

____ children's play areas

____ golf course

____ bridle paths

____ jogging/running track

____ riding ring

____ conservation areas

____ family picnic areas

____ public swimming areas

____ tennis courts

____ neighborhood park areas

____ ATV accessible trails

____ wheelchair accessible nature trail

____ other (specify) _______________

4. What specific scenic, natural and recreational areas do you feel are unique to Ashby and/or need protection? (For instance, the Stock Farm, Great Meadow, Keystone Bridge, Mt. Watatic, the Squannacook watershed, agricultural fields, etc)

5. How many people does this questionnaire represent? _____

6. Please add any additional comments you feel would be helpful.

There were 123 surveys returned.

1. How important do you feel it is to preserve…. Ranked in order of importance:

open space for water conservation needs 1 2 3 4 5 4.42

farmlands and agriculture 1 2 3 4 5 4.34

open space for hiking/snowshoeing/birdwatching 1 2 3 4 5 4.27

sites with historic value 1 2 3 4 5 4.15

scenic views and vistas 1 2 3 4 5 4.08

open space for hunting 1 2 3 4 5 2.63

2. To preserve open space, would you… Ranked in order of importance

1. 108 Vote for town purchase of land?
2. 61 Help fund raise or work in some other voluntary capacity?
3. 45 Limit use of your land through a deed restriction?
4. 37 Donate money to buy land?
5. 31 Sell land to the town at market value?
6. 9 Donate land to the town?
7. 9 Sell land to the town at below market value?

3. Which of the following recreational facilities do you feel Ashby needs more of?

45 bike trails

46 children's play areas

11 golf course

25 sports fields (soccer, baseball, football)

76 hiking and cross-country ski trails

66 public access to lakes for boating/ fishing

29 bridle paths

22 jogging/running track

10 riding ring

74 conservation areas

36 family picnic areas

35 public swimming areas

21 tennis courts

27 neighborhood park areas

16 ATV accessible trails

22 wheelchair accessible nature trail

other (specify) dog exercise area indoor basketball

indoor track skateboard course

snowmobile trails hunting areas

downhill skiing

4. What specific scenic, natural and recreational areas do you feel are unique to Ashby and/or need protection? (For instance, the Stock Farm, Great Meadow, Keystone Bridge, Mt. Watatic, the Squannacook watershed, agricultural fields, etc)

5. How many people does this questionnaire represent?