Open Space and Recreation Plans

Find details on Open Space and Recreation Plans (OSRPs) and links to resources you may find helpful in preparing your community’s OSRP.

Open Space and Recreation Plans (OSRPs) are a tool through which a community plans for the future of its conservation and recreation resources.   OSRPs are informed by a thorough public participation process and reflect the needs of its community members.  The plans are reviewed and approved by the Commonwealth to ensure that they conform to the current OSRP requirements, most recently updated in 2025.  When a community has an approved OSRP, it becomes eligible for DCS grant programs for up to ten years.

Gaining Additional Three Years of Eligibility on Previously Approved Plans

OSRPs can now be submitted with a ten-year Action Plan and be approved for a period of ten years.  If your community’s plan has been submitted for review and approval within the past seven years and you would like the plan to receive an additional three years of eligibility, you may expand your action plan by three years to do so.  Send the updated Ten-Year Action Plan to Melissa Cryan for review and approval. Once approved, your community’s plan will gain an additional three years of grant eligibility.  The expanded action plan must be received by September 30, 2025.  Please contact Melissa with any questions on this process.  Your community’s OSRP contact should have also received a letter or email with these same instructions.

OSRP Review Process

1. Send an electronic copy of your OSRP to Melissa Cryan at [e-mail] with a cover letter identifying a contact person.
    
2. OSRPs are reviewed in order received for completeness and conformity with OSRP requirements. For more information on the requirements, see the Open Space and Recreation Planner’s Workbook below. Appendix E contains a checklist of the items that must be included in an OSRP for it to be considered complete.
    
3. A conditional approval letter is sent, which details remaining items that need to be addressed prior to plan receiving final approval.
    
4. Once those items are addressed, and a completed electronic copy of the plan with the changes/additions is emailed to DCS, a final approval letter is sent.