Tomorrow, the community will vote on if funds should be allocated to acquiring an open space, but what is an open space and what benefit will it have for the town?
The language on the ballot will read:
“Shall the $2,000,000 appropriation and bond authorization for the acquisition of land, or easements, development rights and other interests in land for open space preservation, recreation, farmland preservation, or conservation be approved?”
This means there is a proposal for the town to put aside $2 million dollars that could be used in the future to buy land, or the rights to land, to protect open space in South Windsor.
“Preservation of open space is an important factor in quality of life for all residents of any community,” Co-founder of South Windsor Initiative for Thoughtful Growth (SWIFT), Corey Davis explained. “Open space provides natural buffers between developed spaces reducing urban sprawl.”
(Omar Scott)
Examples of open space within South Windsor are parks like Nevers or Wapping, and land preserves like Major Michael Donnelly Land Preserve.
Open space is vital to hedge against the growing possible threat of urbanization of South Windsor. Since the Baby Boom after WWII, South Windsor has been seeing major population growth. Between 1950 and 2000, South Windsor’s population has tripled. The population grew from under 5,000 to over 24,000 in this 50-year span. The population of South Windsor has increased by nearly 10,000 in the last 40 years, and by more than 1,000 in the last 10 years. This has led to farms and the natural scenery, which made South Windsor bucolic for so long turn into neighborhoods and stores.
“South Windsor is rapidly losing its natural spaces, including woodlands and farmland, to ever increasingly larger developments,” Davis said.
Mark Abrahamson, a candidate running for the Town Council’s Planning and Zoning Committee, believes that the open space initiative isn’t really a divisive issue.
In past years, “it has won by the biggest plurality of anything that’s on the referendum,” Abrahamson said.
In light of the global push for environmental protection, South Windsor residents are more conscious about their environmental impact, sparking the push for open space preservation.
(Omar Scott)
Along with environmental impacts, local amateur photographer, Payton Guaderault, finds natural beauty to be his source of inspiration.
“I enjoy the land preserves in town for my bird photography and walks, and I think South Windsor should focus more on keeping and making more land preserves and preserving wildlife and animals as well,” Guaderault told The Prowl.
Open spaces are a vital parts of the community.
“I think the Wapping Park trails are good, but an addition would be pretty nice,” SWHS freshman KIllian Drummound said. “I believe that it should be extended since going on walks alone helps me think by myself and focus on my thoughts. It’s quite a stress reliever and in addition to my statement I truly hope that it will have an extension towards it, going forward in the future.”
Open space is one of the few things in the town that most of the 26,000+ residents use. Anyone from young kids making memories on the swings at Never’s Park, to a senior couple taking a weekend walk through Wapping park. Open Space’s are some of the very few things in this community which can unite everyone. That’s why it’s important for the town to continue to acquire more open spaces.
