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]
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Upcoming Events
Events and other opportunities to engage with the OSRP planning process to be announced soon!
We encourage you to subscribe to the project email list to be among the first to know as engagement opportunities are announced.
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
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Open Space and Recreation Planner’s Workbook
Access the Planner's Workbook
A n 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.