VIII. OPEN LAND AND CONSERVATION
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CONSERVATION COMMISSION
"The Conservation Commission was established
by vote at a Special Town Meeting held on November 2, 1959. Dover
was one of the first towns in this area to establish such a Commission
which was authorized by the Massachusetts legislature in 1957,"
per the 1960 Town Report. The Selectmen appoint the seven-person
Conservation Commission. Among its first projects was an index
of all swamps and open lands, as a prerequisite for a program
of land acquisition and easements for access to land and water
rights. The Commission also conducted a study of aerial spraying
for mosquito control. The Commission encouraged private landowners
to donate land to the town. In 1964, the first easement was granted.
In 1962 the Town voted an appropriation of $4,000 to be used for
acquiring conservation land, and in subsequent years, varying
amounts up to $25,000 have been voted annually for this purpose.
The Commission has explored other methods of financing land purchases,
such as bonding and limited subdivisions.
The Dover Conservation Commission's first major
acquisition was the 52.6 acre Valley Farm on Haven Street
and Main Street, which was funded by private citizens and the
federal government. Another twelve acres that abutted
Valley Farm were acquired in 1967 and 1970 via private
donations and state aid. Bordering the Charles River and situated
along Claybrook Road is the 47.5 acre parcel of land that was
purchased outright from the Scott Estate in 1971.
OPEN SPACES (see map below)
Of the Town's total acreage, approximately 30% (or
approximately 3,000 acres) is currently open space. The Town of
Dover and the Dover Park and Recreation Commission own/control
442 acres, primarily acreage associated with the public schools.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts owns 345 acres, primarily at
Elm Bank, which is a public park and the headquarters of
the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, which can be accessed
off Route 16 at the South Natick/Wellesley line. The Commonwealth
of Massachusetts also owns Medfield State Forest and Medfield
State Hospital on the Dover/Medfield line off Junction Street
in Dover, behind the Dover-Sherborn Regional High School. The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns 93 acres, primarily along Trout
Brook from Springdale Avenue to Claybrook Road. The Trustees of
Reservations own 893 acres, of which the largest areas are Noanet
Woodlands off Dedham, Walpole, and Powissett Streets, Rocky
Woods Reservation off Hartford Street, and Chase Woodlands
off Farm Street. Hale Reservation owns 626 acres off Powissett
Street and owns a lake in which swimming is permitted for a fee.
The Dover Land Conservation Trust owns/controls 353 acres. Its
most popular destinations are the Snow Hill Reservation
(with fire tower) on Pine Street and Springdale Field on
the corner of Springdale Avenue and Farm Street. Activities such
as hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, and the walking
of dogs (with some restrictions) are permitted at most locations.
The Dover Conservation Commission controls 328 acres as previously
described, with its boat launch on Bridge Street being among its
most popular locations.
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