North Gloucester Woods Study

Gloucester, MA (2012)

Brown Walker Planners worked with Nick Holland of Land Stewardship Inc to prepare a land study and preservation plan for the North Gloucester Woods area.

The study area is comprised of some 175 parcels under both public and private ownership. The goal of the study was to assess the potential for developing a public trail system and to identify land protection priorities and future management strategies. The study involved a comprehensive inventory that included both map data and property ownership research.

The preservation plan consists of three central components: maps, an annotated inventory of land with parcel-level detail, and a set of recommendations to guide implementation of land protection policies for the City and the neighborhood. Potential funding mechanisms and land protection partners were also identified. The project included a community process that involved neighborhood residents, property owners, and City leaders. Brown Walker Planners lead the public outreach process which included interviews and meetings with stakeholders and property owner as well as three community meetings.