A presentation regarding The Future of Open Space

• How can our parks and open space system reflect our community priorities and values? • How should our open space system evolve over time? • How do we use the public space that we have well? Purpose 9 Cambridge’s open spaces 11.9% of Cambridge’s land area is public open space 321 acres City-owned parks and open space 169 acres POPS and non-City public open space 10 Somerville ~6% of Cambridge 11.9% of Boston ~15% of ~2 acres per 1000 residents (2019) 4.1 acres per 1000 residents (2020) ~7.6 acres per 1000 residents (2015)

How does Cambridge compare?

11 Over 99% of Cambridge residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park in Cambridge 12 Access to open space Challenges • Developed urban context • Population growth increases demand for open space • Matching park facilities to needs and interests of community • Competitive real estate market • Multiple City priorities, e.g. community facilities, affordable housing, etc. 13 14 Parks and open spaces are some of the City’s tools to address these challenges Challenges • Inequities in open space access • Climate change • Social disconnection – need for spaces to gather and form community bonds Opportunities • Create new open space working with private development or through other means • Improve connections to existing open spaces • Improve/redesign existing spaces • Activating and programming public spaces 15

Online Surveys

• Tell Us How You Use Parks! online survey • Community Values and Priorities online survey • Park Use and Access online survey • Vision and Goals Feedback online questionnaire

Community Meetings

• Kickoff Community Meeting • Core Values and Priorities Community Discussion • Visioning Workshop • Setting Our Goals

Community Engagement

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Community Engagement

Meeting People Where They Are • Focus groups with youth at Gately and Russell Youth Centers, ESOL class at CLC • In-Park Pop-Ups at Joan Lorentz Park, Danehy Park, Toomey Park, and Hoyt Field, Dana Park, Greene-

Rose Heritage Park

• Presenting to Neighborhood Groups, Advisory Boards and

Committees, and Other Groups

Flexible Space for Discussion