Weston unveils final draft 2026 Open Space and Recreation Plan at public forum

WESTON -- February 10, 2026, Weston held its final public presentation of the draft 2026 Open Space and Recreation Plan on February 10, drawing roughly double the public survey response of the previous 2017 update. The ad hoc Committee on Open Space and Recreation Plan, appointed by the Select Board and co-chaired by Hannah Peters and Beth Marsh-Doyal, partnered with consultant Barrett Planning Group, led by Jill Slankas and Laurel Muir, to produce the plan, which sets five goals and a 10-year action plan covering connectivity, natural resource stewardship, recreational programming, and inter-departmental coordination. A survey translated into Simplified Chinese through the efforts of committee member Emily Wu drew 654 responses, up from roughly 300 in 2017. Recreation Director Chris Fitzgerald confirmed the plan contains no specific capital projects, calling it more directional than prescriptive, and staff acknowledged that implementing the plan's objectives will require additional town staffing and funding. The plan next goes to town boards for letters of support, then to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the state Division of Conservation Services, with submission targeted for late February or early March 2026.