Town Develops Plan for Open Space

The Conservation Commission presented selectmen with its management plan for the town's 140-acre Cannon Property Wednesday night. 

That land was purchased in 2008 but only recently did the town receive a $450,000 state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection grant toward the $959,000 purchase price. The money had been held up due to DEEP's feeling the public lacked access but the donation of three parcels off Robin Drive from the Canton Land Conservation Trust solved the issue. 

And late last year, Harrison Wasserbauer, a member of Canton Boy Scout Troop 177, blazed a trail from the Robin Drive to the property. Now the town will begin the process of providing parking, signage, recreational opportunities and more on the property itself. 

"It should be noted here there's a great deal of work to do on this property," commission member Jay Kaplan said. 

The management plan is based on a template that can also be easily adapted to other town properties such as the 35.5-acre Carpenter property off of Case Street. 

The Board of Selectmen will adopt the management plan for the Cannon Property as a policy. It contains suggestions such as providing hiking trails and posting markers to keep people from trespassing on abutting properties. 

Permitted activities would include hiking, environmental education and bird watching. Prohibited ones would include use of alcoholic beverages and motorized vehicles. 

Some activities, such as camping for scout groups, would be allowed by special permission from Town Hall. 

One idea from commission members and selectmen is to see if other Eagle Scout candidates are interested in helping to blaze trails.