Protected: From Risk to Recovery: A Community Resilience Conference
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Continue reading...Framingham Arts & Culture Vision Plan
Framingham Arts & Culture Vision Plan
MAPC, in partnership with the City of Framingham, is developing an Arts and Culture Vision Plan to guide how Nevins Hall and the Community Center can better support arts and culture in Framingham and strengthen connections to community needs. The project includes artist-led creative engagements that help gather local perspectives and on-the-ground insight to shape the plan and inform the City’s ongoing investments in arts and culture.
Creative Placemaking Call for Artists
In partnership with the City of Framingham and a group of local Project Advisors, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) seeks artists to submit proposals for temporary creative placemaking activities at Nevins Hall. The main goal of the project is to explore how Nevins Hall can support the needs of artists, cultural bearers, and community members, and how it can serve as a bridge connecting the constellation of people and places across Framingham’s arts and culture ecosystem.
The deadline to submit application is Friday, May 1st, 2026.
Click here to read the full Call for Artists.
Click here to apply.
Engage with Us!
Contact:
Project Manager
Lindsay Randall
[email protected]
Upcoming Events
There are currently scheduled. Be sure to check back often no upcoming events!
Relevant Prior Work
Arts in MetroWest Listening Sessions Findings Report (2025)
In spring 2025, the Community Foundation for MetroWest and MAPC convened six listening sessions with artists, cultural organizations, and regional stakeholders. This report captures key themes and recommendations shaping regional arts and culture strategy.
Protected: Making Space for Art | A Policy Agenda for Securing Cultural Infrastructure
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Melrose Memorial Hall Strategic Plan
Melrose Memorial Hall Strategic Plan
MAPC’s Arts and Culture Team is currently working with the City of Melrose in developing a strategic plan for the Melrose Memorial Hall. The goal is to provide recommendations to guide future operations and management of Memorial Hall based on an assessment of viable uses and market demand by June 2026.
Since October 2025, the team has conducted an existing conditions analysis and initiated stakeholder engagement and assessment, both scheduled to be completed in February 2026. MAPC has conducted two site visits, reviewed and analyzed existing data from documents provided by staff, and researched the business models and operations of comparable municipal venues in Massachusetts.
During December 2025, a community survey for this project received almost a thousand (1000) responses. In addition, the team has conducted interviews with ten local stakeholders to better understand the market demand for use of Memorial Hall.
Go to Section:
Questions?
Lourdes Alvarez Silva
Assistant Director of Arts and Culture
[email protected]
Upcoming Events
Melrose Memorial Hall Strategic Plan Community Session
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Melrose Memorial Hall (590 Main St, Melrose, MA 02176)
We invite the Melrose community to attend this public hands-on session where the project team will gather feedback to guide future operations and management of Memorial Hall.
Project Partners
- City of Melrose, Massachusetts
- Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) – Arts and Culture Team
Gloucester Housing Compass
Gloucester Housing Compass
A policy guide for a more affordable community today and tomorrow
About
Gloucester Housing Compass is a plan to help the City better understand and meet local housing needs, create targeted strategies to improve access to affordable housing, and proactively guide new development in line with community housing needs and goals.
The City is working with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) on this 5-year plan to update the City’s existing Housing Production Plan (HPP).
Stay in the Know!
Subscribe to the project email list to always be up to date on updates and events.
Upcoming Events and Updates
We want to hear from you!
Take our survey to tell us about your housing story and stay in the loop about the planning process.
Upcoming Events
There are currently no upcoming scheduled events. Check back often, and we encourage you to subscribe to the email list to be in the know!
Past Events:
- Gloucester Community Safety Day
- October Backyard Growcery Markets
- City of Gloucester Halloween Party
Project Timeline
Fall 2025
Assessment of Gloucester community housing needs.
Winter 2025/2026
Analysis of constraints and opportunities for affordable housing.
Spring 2026
Development of strategies to meet local housing needs.
Summer 2026
Create the plan.
Project Contacts
Advisory Committee
Local perspectives are critical to understanding the housing needs and goals of the Gloucester community. Throughout the planning process, the team will work closely with an Advisory Committee, made up of 14 representatives including Gloucester residents, community-based organizations, local leaders, and municipal staff with a range of expertise and connections to housing in Gloucester.
The Advisory Committee will meet regularly throughout the planning process to advise and provide input on the plan.
- Peggy Hegarty-Steck, Action Inc.
- Erin George, Action Inc
- Deanna Fay, Gloucester Affordable Housing Trust (GAHT)
- Traci Thayne Corbett, Art Haven
- Colleen Murdock, Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce
- David Calvo, Committee for the Arts
- Fred Cowan, Council on Aging
- Jen Hapgood, Gloucester Housing Authority
- Maiuza Alvez, Housing for All Gloucester
- Sunny Robinson, Housing for All Gloucester
- Jay McNiff, McNiff Company
- Shawn Henry, Planning Board
- Michael Nimon, Zoning Board
- Ben Lummis, Superintendent of Gloucester Public Schools
- Grant Clark, West Gloucester
City Contact:
Alex Koppelman
Gloucester Community Development Director
[email protected]
MAPC Contact:
Casey Williams
Senior Housing and Land Use Planner
[email protected]
Advisory Committee Contact
For updates on the Advisory Committee Meetings, please contact Alex Koppelman.
Resources
Housing Resources
- Housing Production Glossary – housing plans often come with lots of terminology and technical jargon. This resource is a great place to start when you are learning to “speak housing”.
- City of Gloucester Housing Programs
- Action Inc. Programs and Resources
- Housing Navigator – Affordable housing search tool
Metro Boston Youth Climate Summit
Metro Boston Youth Climate Summit
Spring 2026
The Metro Mayors Youth Climate Summit will bring together high school students from across the seventeen Metro Mayors Coalition (MMC) communities to connect and share climate action and inspiration.
This half-day summit will feature opportunities to build collaborative relationships, hear from speakers, and share youth-led climate solutions, while learning about local and regional government action on climate change.
Application period for the Youth Climate Summit Taskforce has now closed.
Thank you to all of the high school students who applied to serve on the Taskforce!
Stay In the Know!
Subscribe to the Youth Climate Summit email list to be among the first to know about updates and other information.
Go to:
Youth Summit Application and Process
About the Metro Mayors Coalition (MMC)
Questions? Please Contact:
Sasha Shyduroff-Gutman
Principal Planner
[email protected]
Application and Process – Now Closed
The application period closed on Monday, January 5, 2026.
The Youth Climate Summit
The half-day Youth Climate Summit will bring together high school students from around Metro Boston to connect on local climate action efforts, interact with local elected officials, and hear from inspiring speakers.
The Youth Climate Summit Taskforce
Thank you to all of the high school students in the Greater Boston area who applied for the Taskforce. We are currently reviewing all submitted applications.
Taskforce Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants must meet all of the following:
- Reside in one of the seventeen Metro Mayors Coalition (MMC) communities.
- Attend high school within the region (be in 10th or 11th grade).
- Be available to participate in up to four virtual meetings between January and May 2026 (total time commitment is expected to be between 10 to 15 hours in addition to attending the Summit in May 2026).
Selected applicants will have a demonstrated interest in climate, sustainability, environmental justice, or related issues.
Important Dates:
Application Period Opens
Monday, November 17, 2025
Application Period Closes (extended!)
Monday, January 5, 2026
(5:00 p.m. ET)
Important Links:
Metro Mayors Coalition (MMC)
The Metro Mayors Coalition (MMC) is comprised of Mayors and City Managers from seventeen municipalities in the inner core of Metro Boston.
In May 2025, the Mayors and City Managers came together to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of regional climate action and re–committed to preparing the region for the impacts of climate change while reducing emissions.
As part of their renewed commitment, the MMC announced plans to host a regional Youth Climate Summit.
Description: A map of the Metro Mayors Coalition cities and towns. They are: Arlington, Medford, Melrose, Malden, Revere, Lynn, Everett, Somerville, Chelsea, Winthrop, Cambridge, Watertown, Newton, Brookline, Boston, Quincy, and Braintree.
MMC Communities:
Arlington
Boston
Braintree
Brookline
Cambridge
Chelsea
Everett
Lynn
Malden
Medford
Melrose
Newton
Quincy
Revere
Somerville
Watertown
Winthrop
Thriving Together: Greater Boston’s Economic Roadmap 2025 – 2030
Thriving Together: Greater Boston’s Economic Roadmap 2025–2030
At its core, the Roadmap is a dynamic, data driven guide for prosperity and resilience.
The Vision
By 2030, Greater Boston will be a thriving, inclusive, and climate-resilient regional economy – where all residents, regardless of race, income, or geography, have access to quality jobs, stable and affordable housing, resilient infrastructure, and opportunities to build wealth and shape their communities.
The region will lead not only in innovation, but also in equity, sustainability, and shared prosperity.
The Roadmap
Thriving Together: Greater Boston’s Economic Roadmap (the Roadmap) charts a bold, inclusive course for the region’s future. Grounded in data analysis, stakeholder input, and regional collaboration, it addresses the intertwined challenges of economic vitality, housing, infrastructure, equity, and climate resilience.
The Roadmap prioritizes an economy where opportunity is accessible to all, closing racial and geographic wealth gaps and strengthening pathways to good jobs through education, training, and child care support.
Go to:
Funding, Support, and Community Input
Resilience Region 2030 Outreach
Questions?
Raúl González
Principal Economic Development Planner
[email protected]
The Roadmap’s Goals and Strategies
Thriving Together: Greater Boston’s Economic Roadmap 2025 – 2030, focuses on nurturing Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and Women-owned businesses, fostering innovation in sectors such as life sciences and climate tech, and revitalizing local commercial centers.
It also emphasizes investment in affordable housing, transit, broadband, and resilient infrastructure, while advancing a clean energy economy that protects communities most vulnerable to climate change.
This Roadmap is informed by the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), which provides the underlying data. This work included and would not have been possible without the insight and partnership of the advisory committee (View the Acknowledgments Section, page 3).
Regional Alignment
Connecting local priorities with MetroCommon 2050, MAPC’s regional land use and policy plan, to promote sustainable growth, equity, and resilience across the region.
The Roadmap reflects a shared commitment to sustainable development, economic equity, climate adaptation, and innovation, ensuring that Greater Boston is prepared not only to compete but also to thrive in a changing economy.
Funding, Support, and Community Input
Funding and Support
This initiative has been made possible with generous financial support from the Commonwealth’s District Local Technical Assistance Program, MAPC’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP), and other state and local sources. It continues to support municipalities in implementing projects that align with MetroCommon 2050 and Thriving Together: Greater Boston’s Economic Roadmap. Together, these resources empower the region to plan collaboratively, address systemic inequities, and build a more competitive, climate-ready economy.
Community Input
The development of this Roadmap would not have been possible without the insights, experiences, and vision shared by residents, business owners, nonprofit leaders, workers, students, and community organizations across Greater Boston.
We are deeply grateful to all who contributed their time, ideas, and lived expertise to ensure that this Roadmap reflects the hopes and needs of the diverse communities it is designed to serve.
Resilience Region 2030 Outreach
Acton Cultural Arts Strategic Plan and Art Inventory
Lead artist: Meg Nichols. Community Artists: Claire Bian, Dia Prakash, Julie Piera, and Peter Berry.
Acton Cultural Arts Strategic Plan and Art Inventory
The Town of Acton’s Economic Development Office is partnering with MAPC’s Arts & Culture Team to create a Cultural Arts Strategic Plan and an Art Inventory for Acton. The plan will synthesize community priorities, identify ways to strengthen municipal support for public art and creative activity, and establish a simple system to track and share Acton’s arts and culture assets. This work builds on prior MAPC efforts in Acton, including the Regional Trails Creative Placemaking Strategy, Making it Public for Municipalities, the South Acton Vision and Action Plan, the Powder Mill Road Corridor Initiative, and “How to Do Business in Acton.” The process will grow a network of local partners, raise awareness of cultural assets, and support policy and partnership improvements that help arts and culture thrive.
Go to:
Upcoming Events
There are currently no upcoming events scheduled. Be sure to check back often!
Plan Resources
Coming soon!
Essex Open Space and Recreation Plan
Essex Open Space and Recreation Plan
Photo of the Essex River | Photo Credit: John Cruz, MAPC
Essex Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP)
The Town of Essex is working with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to update its Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP).
OSRPs are a tool through which municipalities plan for the future of their conservation and recreation resources. The Town of Essex’s previous OSRP was completed in 2016.
The 2026 OSRP update will include goals and action items for the next ten years to preserve and improve parks, open spaces, and recreation resources in Essex.
The Town and MAPC (the Planning Team) together will work with Essex residents and stakeholders to understand the community’s needs and priorities in terms of recreation and conservation. Input received from community members will directly inform recommended actions.
Questions? Please contact:
Evelyne St-Louis, Principal Land Use Planner at MAPC, [email protected]
Valerie Massard, Essex Town Planner, [email protected]
Stay in the Know!
Subscribe to the project email list to always be up to date.
Ways to Engage
Upcoming Opportunities
Virtual Community Forum
Thursday April 16, from 6:00 to 7:30pm on Zoom
Please join us for the Essex OSRP 2026 Virtual Community Forum! All Essex community members interested in sharing their feedback on the Town’s Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) are invited to join. The OSRP will guide how the Town of Essex protects and improves its open space, parks, and recreational amenities over the next ten years.
This event will include a brief presentation by Town staff and MAPC, and it will be followed by an interactive activity for community members to share their feedback on the draft goals and strategies.
Community Forum Link
Date & Time:
Thursday April 16 from 6 to 7:30 pm
Zoom Link:
mapc.ma/virtualforum
Please note that the meeting recording and a follow-up feedback form will be made available after the event.
Previous Opportunities
Community Survey
The community survey has closed. The project team is analyzing the responses, so stay tuned for the results. Thank you to everyone who completed the survey!
Results from the Community Survey are available in the meeting materials from Open Space Committee Meeting #4
First In-person Community Engagement Event
This first community engagement event has passed. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
Photo Credit: John Cruz, MAPC.
Four kayakers in the Essex River Basin
Photo Credit: Lindsay Randall, MAPC
Project Team
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is the regional planning agency for Greater Boston. MAPC provides planning and technical assistance to the 101 cities and towns within the region. MAPC is responsible for leading technical aspects of the OSRP update, developing plan content, and supporting the Town with community outreach. The MAPC project team members involved in the Essex OSRP are Evelyne St-Louis and John Cruz.
The Town of Essex is responsible for overseeing MAPC’s work, coordinating with the Open Space Committee and other Town officials, and interfacing with members of the public. Valerie Massard, Town Planner, is the primary contact for the Town of Essex.
The Town of Essex Open Space Committee is responsible for advising and guiding the Planning Team throughout the project. Committee members include:
- Julie Scofield (Chair)
- Lysa Leland
- Rebecca Davis
- Janet Carlson
- Stacie Capotosto
- Russell Kuhl
Project Timeline
Summer 2025
Open Space Committee formation
Background materials review and data collection
Fall 2025
Environmental and open space inventory analysis
Fall 2025 – Spring 2026
Community outreach happening throughout this time period, including an online survey and two opportunities for in-person engagement
Spring 2026
Draft action plan
Summer 2026
Final Draft OSRP review period
Approval from the state
Resources
Essex Open Space and Recreation Plan, 2016-2023
Access the 2016-2023 Plan
Open Space Committee Meeting One | September 10, 2025
Access the Meeting Presentation
Open Space Committee Meeting Two | October 9, 2025
Access the Meeting Presentation
Open Space Committee Meeting Three | December 4, 2025
Access the Meeting Presentation
Open Space Committee Meeting Four | February 4, 2026
Access the Meeting Presentation
Open Space Committee Meeting Five | March 16, 2026
Access the Meeting Presentation
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Open Space and Recreation Planner’s Workbook
Access the Planner’s Workbook
An adult and two small children at Conomo Point, Essex Photo Credit: John Cruz, MAPC
What is an OSRP?
Open Space and Recreation Plans (OSRPs) are a tool through which municipalities plan for the future of their conservation and recreation resources, such as parks, playgrounds, open spaces, conservation areas, and other recreational sites.
As part of an OSRP, a community puts together an inventory of all the open space and recreation sites within their municipality and identifies goals and actions to protect, enhance, or improve these resources over the next 10 years. OSRPs are informed by a community engagement process and reflect the needs of community members.
Municipalities must submit their OSRP to the Division of Conservation Services (DCS) of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) for review and approval. This review process ensures that OSRPs conform to the state’s specific requirements, which were most recently updated in 2025 (access the OSRP Workbook).
It is important to note that when a municipality has an approved OSRP, it becomes eligible for DCS grant programs for up to ten years.
Showcasing Local Venues
Showcasing Local Venues
A regional marketing and tourism effort centered on arts and culture entertainment venues in the area served by Encore Boston Harbor, recognizing that local stages compete with casinos and national promoters for audiences, marketing reach, and talent.
MAPC is working with ArtsBoston, CreativeGround, and municipalities across Metro Boston to strengthen the visibility of small and mid-sized arts and entertainment venues.
Through this initiative, venues are being connected to regional marketing tools, an expanded inventory of cultural facilities, and strategies that improve promotion, audience development, and language access.
The effort highlights opportunities for residents and visitors to experience the region’s diverse arts, culture, and entertainment venues, while reinforcing the long-term vitality of independent cultural spaces.
Questions?
Please contact:
[email protected]
Project Milestones
From April through July 2025, the project team conducted interviews and focus groups with municipal staff and venue operators to better understand the local venues ecosystem. Findings from this engagement were shared back at an in-person listening session held at The Rockwell in Somerville on July 14.
The next phase of the project will provide opportunities for venue operators to create or update profiles in CreativeGround and the ArtsBoston calendar to identify key features of interest to local venues and document additional needs and preferences unmet by existing platforms.
The project will culminate in a final report summarizing opportunities for municipal and regional partners to provide more accessible and comprehensive marketing and promotion strategies to strengthen the regional arts and entertainment ecosystem.
Showcasing Local Venues in Metro Boston listening session flyer at The Rockwell in Somerville, MA | Photo Credit: MAPC
Partners
Municipal Partners
Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett,
Lynn, Malden, Medford, Melrose,
Revere, and Somerville
Project Funding
The project is supported through the Community Mitigation Fund administered by the Mass Gaming Commission.