Summary Report on Discernment for the Purpose of Land Use Planning
The Land Use Planning Subcommittee is charged with planning improvements to the grounds of Third Haven Monthly Meeting (THMM.) We have looked back at the Guiding Principles formed several years ago to help structure our work. Participants in that activity felt a strong commitment to preserving history while moving our Quaker Meeting forward to meet our future needs. We have discussed several important values that may help us in this endeavor. We present these to all THMM to discuss. First and foremost, we value our grounds and our natural environment and want our planning to enhance the beauty of our land and the sanctuary of Quaker values it represents.
As an initial step in this process, the committee reached out to members and attenders for responses to three queries. The queries and responses are listed below.
1) In what ways does your committee use the property and grounds now?
In general, members, attenders and the broader community use the grounds for the following
activities:
- hospitality at First Day Rise of Meeting
- receptions for weddings, memorial services, and other special events
- visitation to gravesites and memorial plaques
- spiritual retreats
- recreational walks by Meeting members and attenders as well as the broader community
- nature appreciation by adults and children
- environmental education for adults and children
- picnics
- gardening
- grounds clean up
- birdwatching
The First Day School uses the entire grounds including woods, stream, parking areas and fields on a weekly basis during Sunday Meeting for Worship as well as for our nature based Summer camps. The activities include:
- exploration of the woods, meadows, gardens, stream and parking areas
- creating outdoor play areas and activities, including the mud kitchen, teepee, raised bed pollinator garden, tire swing, and balance beam that are scattered around the grounds
- identification of trees, insects and birds
- worship and gathering at the brick meditation circle
2) Are there barriers that prevent your committee's use of property and grounds as you
would wish?
In general, responses indicated concern with safety and accessibility.
- creation of low-impact, level, ADA accessible walking paths for access to and from buildings, burial grounds and parking areas
- creation of low-impact, level, ADA accessible walkways to and from the parking areas and between key buildings
- installation of signage that directs visitors to parking areas and other areas of interest
- creation of a path for pedestrians entering from Washington Street
- creation of a network of low impact, level, ADA accessible walking paths/trails for access by all to the stream, through the woods and meadows and to the native garden that acts as a barrier between Third Haven's grounds and the apartments on Washington Street
- installation of a gate and signage at entrances to limit public use to designated times
- creation or designation of additional parking space
- improved lighting in parking areas, along walkways and near buildings for personal safety and security of the property, while being mindful of the potential for unnecessary light pollution
- creation of a covered outdoor space, such as a pavilion, for children's activities and for other meeting-wide or public gatherings. A pavilion was suggested several times.
- Development of a maintenance plan that includes the safe removal and control of poison ivy and other invasive vines and plants, good stewardship of trees, shrubs, meadows and gardens, maintenance of paths and walkways, outdoor structures, the burial grounds and memorial wall
- increase the designated number of handicapped parking spaces
3) What uses does your committee envision for the future of the grounds?
In general, the responses indicated that members would like to increase the Meeting's use of the
grounds with improved access, expanded opportunities and/or features, and assurance of safety
and maintenance. The following ideas were put forth:
- creation of an herbarium for our grounds. An herbarium is a comprehensive resource of what grows on our grounds and putting it together could be a First Day School activity or a collaboration with a local environmental organization
- limit new plantings of trees, shrubs and plants to native species in most cases
- allow limited planting of non-native trees, shrubs and plants for demonstration or other specific approved purposes
- installation of interpretive signage for historic, cultural, and environmental education
- food for human and wildlife consumption using primarily native fruit and nut trees and shrubs, beehives, berry patches and/or vegetable gardens
- designation of area(s) to be used as a memorial scatter garden (there are no permitting requirements for private property)
- designation of specific areas for the planting of memorial trees
- creation of an inventory of the trees and native plants
- designation of area(s) for green burials (there may be permitting issues for this)
- creation of space that can be enjoyed safely by all
- Consider which areas will be maintained as full sun and which areas will be maintained and managed with a tree canopy
- creation or enhancement of a children's play area located in close proximity to the Common Room
- develop a path or road from the lower parking area to an egress at the stream corner of the property
- development of maintenance plans for the various features of the grounds as mentioned in the previous section
Additional thoughts on future uses:
- Location of a Quaker retirement community
- Development of an Interpretive/Visitor/retreat Center
- Installation of solar panels on buildings and/or grounds
- Community gardening and/or community composting