The Open Spaces and Recreation Plan Committee was encouraged by the high rate of responses from Sandisfield residents to the online survey of community opinions and suggestions about opportunities for public use of open spaces.

Andrew McKeever, consultant for the Berkshire Regional Planning Council, said on August 25, "Ninety responses have been received which is an excellent result and ahead of expectations to this point. It is encouraging to know that there is significant interest in the community concerning the future of land use in Sandisfield. We appreciate everybody's contribution."

The number of surveys returned to date translates to about ten percent of Sandisfield's population and perhaps one-quarter of households.

McKeever said that the committee is hoping to gather more by the end of September for optimal statistical reliability.

The online survey takes only about ten minutes to complete. To access it, scan the QR code above, or go to Sandisfield Open Space and Recreation Plan Survey. Also, paper copies are available at the library, transfer station, and town hall where there is a computer and assistance on request.

Last month, the committee reviewed the Town's historic population and demographic data as well as future projections from the UMass Donahue Institute as a start to an analysis of needs for different age brackets. The committee also reviewed maps depicting land suitable for developnent and historic patterns of construction in Sandisfield. These latter surveys will help identify areas that may need environmental protection or greater access to outdoor recreational opportunities.

The next meeting, (open to the public) will be Wednesday, September 16, at 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall. The committee will continue to review these topics and begin the process of inventorying important environmental components such as watersheds, wetlands, flood hazard areas, prime farmland, rare species, and wildlife corridors in Sandisfield.

Later this fall and winter, the committee will explore conservation and outdoor recreational needs. The resulting action plan will be heavily informed by broad community input gathered from the survey, two public listening sessions, and a period of time for community members to review and comment on a complete draft plan before the committee adopts it.

The committee last month welcomed Terry Spohnholz, Anne Mihalick, and Carol Ivers, who joined committee members Adam Brown, Kathleen Segrin, Calvin Rodman, Ron Bernard, and Ralph Levenworth.