New Open Space and Recreation Plan in Progress

The Town of Rehoboth, in partnership with SRPEDD (Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District), has officially initiated the development of the Town's 2026-2036 Open Space and Recreation Plan.

The first interactive public drop-in OSRP workshop was held on June 23. Attendees reviewed the OSRP's goals and provided feedback. According to SRPEDD:

The newly reappointed Rehoboth Open Space and Recreation Plan Steering Committee is formally directing the planning process to ensure that the vision updates perfectly mirror modern community priorities.

In April 2026, the Town formally contracted SRPEDD to provide comprehensive technical planning assistance, advanced GIS mapping, and regulatory compliance synchronization.

The project team is completely overhauling the plan's components between May 2026 and October 2026. This work includes synchronizing all charts with modern 2020 Census figures, creating dedicated climate change resilience subsections, and establishing a year-by-year, highly detailed ten-year Action Plan table.

By successfully finalizing the 2026–2036 OSRP, Rehoboth will secure its grant eligibility while implementing an official blueprint to protect its distinct agricultural character, sensitive groundwater resource districts, and outdoor passive spaces.

The Rehoboth OSRP Steering Committee members include: Nathan Fournier - Planning Board, Bob Materne - Conservation Commission, Rob Johnson - Selectman, Carol Entin - Agricultural & Natural Resources; Preservation Commission, Arthur Pierce - Historical Commission, Kathy Amaral - Parks Commission, Tish Vadnais - Agricultural Commission, and Arthur Gareau - Water Commission. 

“(The residents) want to make sure we’re protecting our wetlands and passive recreation areas,” Johnson said Wednesday.

All the data compiled from the event will be shared in a public workshop to be held in September.

“In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, an Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) is a vital municipal document designed to guide community-driven investments in natural resource preservation and public recreational facilities,” SPREDD noted on their website. “These plans provide a systematic framework for assessing a town's existing environmental assets, identifying structural or spatial gaps in park and trail availability, and addressing the unique needs of special user groups such as senior citizens and families.”

“The Massachusetts Division of Conservation Services (DCS) mandates that municipalities maintain an active, state-certified OSRP to qualify for lucrative state conservation and recreation grant funding. This includes critical financial resources used to acquire protected conservation lands, develop shared-use trail systems, and upgrade community parks.”