2009 - Town of Raynham Community Survey for Open Space & Recreation Planning
The Town is in the process of updating its 2002 Open Space and Recreation Plan. An update is necessary to qualify for State reimbursement programs for acquisition and protection of important open space. This survey is being conducted as part of the update in order to understand the needs and concerns of the citizens of Raynham regarding open space and recreation facilities.
For this survey “open space” will be defined as public or privately owned undeveloped land that is important for a variety of reasons. The land may or could be used for active or passive recreation, agriculture, forestry or have important scenic qualities that are worth preserving. Please answer all of the questions and return by mailing or drop off to:
How many years have you lived in Raynham? (Please circle one)
0-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51 + years
What of the following best describes your current living situation?
____single parent- children at home ____family- grown children no longer at home ____single young adult- living alone ____family with older children ____single young adult- sharing living quarters ____senior couple or family
____young adult couple- no children ____senior living alone ____young family with young children ____other
Do you consider Raynham: (Please circle one choice)
A rural town yes no not sure
A suburb of Boston yes no not sure
A bedroom community yes no not sure
A town in transition yes no not sure
Please circle the number corresponding to your choice for the following question.
Very Important - 5 Important - 4 Neutral - 3 Less Important - 2 Not Important - 1
How important is it to you to preserve:
Buildings of historical or architectural interest? 5 4 3 2 1
Places of historical value? 5 4 3 2 1
Open spaces to meet our recreation needs? 5 4 3 2 1
Open space to meet our water supply needs? 5 4 3 2 1
To preserve open spaces in town, would you:
Donate money to buy land? Yes No Not Sure
Rewrite your deed to limit future development of your land? Yes No Not Sure
Sell land to the town at a “bargain price”? Yes No Not Sure
Sell or contribute a conservation easement/restriction to protect
your land from future development? Yes No Not Sure
Sell some land to the town at fair market value? Yes No Not Sure
Vote for a town-supported land acquisition? Yes No Not Sure
Sell development rights to your land in order to not development your land in the future? Yes No Not Sure
Favor requiring developers set aside open space in new subdivisions? Yes No Not Sure
Support a real estate transfer tax to acquire land on new construction (residential)? Yes No Not Sure
Support a real estate transfer tax to acquire land on any real estate transfer? Yes No Not Sure
How important is it to you for the town to acquire and preserve conservation areas for natural areas?
___Very important ___Important ___Neutral ___Less important ___Not at all important
Do you favor preserving farmland? Yes No No opinion
Do you favor preserving farmland through state programs? Yes No No opinion
What private actions do you favor to preserve farmland? (Check all that apply)
_______Purchase of valuable land _______Limited development
_______Donation and receipt of conservation restrictions _______Have a farm restriction placed on your land in perpetuity
What public actions do you favor to preserve farmland? (Check all that apply)
_______Outright purchase of land _______Purchase of development rights
_______Property tax reduction programs for farm, forest and recreation land
What residential growth policy do you favor for the town? (Please circle one)
No growth Growth evenly spread
Regulate growth in existing developed areas Regulate growth in existing undeveloped areas
What business and industrial growth policy do you favor for the town? (Please circle one)
No growth Growth evenly spread
Regulate growth in existing developed areas Regulate growth in existing undeveloped areas
Do you know where all the conservation areas are in town? Yes No Not Sure
Please answer the following questions about our recreation needs
Very Satisfied-5 Satisfied-4 Neutral-3 Dissatisfied-2 Very Dissatisfied-1
How satisfied are you with the places for children and youth to play and recreate in town?
5 4 3 2 1
How satisfied are you with the places available in town for recreational use by adults?
5 4 3 2 1
Do you use recreational facilities located outside of Raynham? Yes No If yes, which ones? _________________________________________________
Please number the top five recreational facilities you feel are needed?
Pick only five and number 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 (#1 being the highest priority down to #5 being the lowest priority)
Little League field_____ Soccer field___ Football field___ Babe Ruth field___ Tennis Courts___ Children’s play areas___ Bike trails___ Basketball courts___ Picnic Area___ Hiking & cross country skiing trail___ Ice skating rink___ Conservation areas___ Outdoor amphitheater___ Develop a town common ___ Recreation center building___ Local neighborhood parks___ Public access areas to water bodies_____ Swimming Pool_____ Fitness Trail____ Other (Please Specify)_________________________
Do you know about all the recreational programs available? Yes No Not Sure
Do you know what kind of activities you can do on conservation areas? Yes No Not Sure
Should the town act first to maintain its current recreational facilities, or acquire more conservation land, or should there be equal emphasis on both?
______Maintain current recreation areas and facilities
______Acquire additional conservation land
______Place equal emphasis on both maintenance and acquisition
Is there anything else you would like to tell us about open space and recreation planning in Raynham, if so, please use the space below for that purpose. Thank you very much for your effort and time. Results will be made available at Town Hall and highlights will be shared with local papers.
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