Another item from Buckslocalnews.com
By Petra Chesner Schlatter; BucksLocalNews.com
Not much open space remains in Morrisville Borough, but borough leaders aim to maintain what little open space is left.
Currently, borough leaders are hoping to receive funds from Natural Area Protection Grants to improve some of the riverside land in Morrisville.
In a unanimous vote, the Morrisville Borough Council approved the 60-page Preliminary Open Space Plan as prepared by the Morrisville Environmental Advisory Council (MEAC.) The preliminary plan will be forwarded to the Bucks County Open Space coordinator.
Bill Setzer, chairman of the MEAC, noted many volunteer hours went into crafting the proposed plan and it took six to seven months to complete. He emphasized this plan is new, and does not replace the plan that was approved in 2000.
Setzer said that plan “served us well” and he commended those who had compiled it. However, he noted the current proposed plan is “dramatically different.”
Volunteers, not a consultant, “personalized” the proposed plan, Setzer said. “We used our local knowledge.”
The Bucks County Open Space program allocated $26 million towards the Municipal Open Space Program.
The money can be used for land acquisition and the improvement of community parks.
Morrisville’s total share is $344,625 and the borough is expected to provide a 25-percent match for any money used.
Setzer said “Morrisville is lucky” because the Bucks County Open Space program is also directing funds towards communities along the Delaware River for natural areas protection grants.
“The county has not finalized guidelines for this program, but it is going to be a competitive grant process,” he said.
In order to be eligible for either of these programs, municipalities are required to update their Open Space Plans. The county gives detailed instructions.
According to the county, “An open space plan articulates a community’s vision and strategy for protecting open space and natural resources. In addition to identifying and prioritizing land available for preservation, the local open space plan provides officials and residents with a common rationale for decision-making. Open space plans can also help municipalities assess financial resources needed to pursue open space acquisition and improvement projects.”
Setzer had asked council members to keep in mind the definition that the county uses for the term, “open space:”
“…land that has not been developed for intensive human use; that has no (or very few) buildings, roads, or other structures. Open space can also perform many important ecological, economic, aesthetic, recreational and agricultural functions. The Bucks County Open Space Program distinguishes three types of open space: Natural Areas, Farmland, and Parkland.”
For more information about the program, visit the county’s Web site at www.buckscounty.org.
