M A S S A C H U S E T T S D E P A R T M E N T O F

C O N S E R V A T I O N A N D R E C R E A T I O N

J U N E 2 0 0 8

t h e f i r s t c h a p t e r

o f t h e h e r i t ag e l a n d s c a p e i n v e n t o r y p r o g r a m

2 0 0 1 – 2 0 0 8

Translations

Contents

6 INTRODUCTION

7 ORIGINS OF THE HERITAGE LANDSCAPE INVENTORY PROGRAM

8 EVOLUTION OF THE PROGRAM METHODOLOGY

12 STATE OF THE LANDSCAPE

18 LESSONS LEARNED

19 LOOKING AHEAD

20 PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES

The Heritage Landscape Inventory Program is an integral part of the Department of Conservation and

Recreation’s mission to protect, promote and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural and

recreational resources.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

DE VA L L. PAT R I C K , GO V E R N O R

TI M O T H Y P. MU R R AY, L I E U T E N A N T GO V E R N O R

EXECUT IVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

IA N A. BO W L E S , SE C R E TA RY

DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREAT ION

RI C H A R D K. SU L L I VA N, JR . , CO M M I S S I O N E R

BUREAU OF PLANNING AND RESOURCE PROTECT ION

JO E OR FA N T, D I R E C T O R

OFFICE OF CULTURAL RESOURCES

PAT R I C E K I S H , D I R E C T O R

HISTORIC LANDSCAPE PRESERVAT ION INIT IAT IVE

WE N D Y PE A R L , D I R E C T O R

SH A U N PR O V E N C H E R , PL A N N E R

HERITAGE LANDSCAPE INVENTORY PROGRAM

JE S S I C A RO W C R O F T, PR O G R A M MA N A G E R

GE O R G I A N N A HE S S , PR O G R A M IN T E R N

TH E HE R I TA G E LA N D S C A P E IN V E N T O RY PR O G R A M I S A P R O G R A M O F T H E DE PA RT M E N T

O F CO N S E RVAT I O N A N D RE C R E AT I O N’S HI S T O R I C LA N D S C A P E PR E S E RVAT I O N IN I T I AT I V E

W I T H I N T H E OF F I C E O F CU LT U R A L RE S O U R C E S . AS A PA RT O F T H E BU R E A U O F

PL A N N I N G & RE S O U R C E PR O T E C T I O N, T H E OF F I C E O F CU LT U R A L RE S O U R C E S P R E S E RV E S

T H E C U LT U R A L H E R I TA G E O F MA S S A C H U S E T T S T H R O U G H S T E WA R D S H I P O F T H E

DE PA RT M E N T O F CO N S E RVAT I O N A N D RE C R E AT I O N’S H I S T O R I C B U I L D I N G S , S T R U C T U R E S ,L A N D S C A P E S , A R C H A E O L O G I C A L S I T E S , A N D A R C H I VA L R E S O U R C E S ; T H R O U G H T R A I N I N G,P U B L I C E D U C AT I O N, A N D A D V O C A C Y; A N D T H R O U G H T H E D E V E L O P M E N T O F I N N O VAT I V E

T O O L S F O R P R O T E C T I N G H I S T O R I C L A N D S C A P E S .

FO R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N O N T H E DCR P R O G R A M S A N D P U B L I C AT I O N S N O T E D I N T H I S

R E P O RT, P L E A S E V I S I T T H E HI S T O R I C LA N D S C A P E PR E S E RVAT I O N IN I T I AT I V E W E B S I T E AT

H T T P ://W W W.M A S S .G O V/D C R/S T E WA R D S H I P/H I S T L A N D/H I S T L A N D.H T M.

Executive Office of Environmental Affairs WatershedInitiative 2001-2003

Andrea Langhauser, Narragansett Bay/Mount HopeWatershed Team Leader

Patrick Rogers, Taunton River Watershed Team Leader

David Janik, Buzzards Bay Watershed Team Leader

Essex National Heritage Commission 2004 - 2005

Annie Harris, Executive Director

Bill Steelman, Director, Heritage Development

Taunton River Wild & Scenic Study Committee 2005

Bill Napolitano, Southeast Regional Planning & EconomicDevelopment District, Environmental Program Director

Nancy Durfee, Southeast Regional Planning & EconomicDevelopment District, Comprehensive Planner

Freedom’s Way Heritage Association 2005-2006

John Ott, President

Mary Whitney, former President

Marge Darby, Chair, Advisory Council

John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley NationalHeritage Corridor Commission 2007- 2008

Jan Reitsma, Executive Director

Joanna Doherty, Community Planner

Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor, Inc. 2007 -2008

Charlene Perkins Cutler, Executive Director

Lois Bruinooge, Deputy Executive Director

Bob Levite, Green Valley Institute, UMass ExtensionEducator

Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission2008

Lawrence B. Adams, Executive Director

Adam Burney, Associate Land Use Planner

North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership 2008

Jay Rasku, Partnership Coordinator

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Heritage Landscape Inventory Program would like to thank the many individuals and organizations that have made this programsuch a success.

Our statewide partners, who were instrumental to the development of the program, providing vision, guidance and support:

The Trustees of Reservations

Preservation Massachusetts

Massachusetts Historical Commission

Members of the DEM Statewide Advisory Committee

Our teams of professional cultural resource management consultants, including Virginia H. Adams and Holly Herbster of The PublicArchaeology Laboratory, Inc.; Gretchen Schuler and Shary Page Berg; Elizabeth Vizza of Elizabeth Vizza Consulting and Electa Tritschof Oakfield Research; and Sarah la Cour, Peter Flinker, Hillary King and Reid Bertone-Johnson of Dodson Associates. These individualshave all put their own stamp upon this program and contributed significantly to its evolution along the way.

Our regional partners, all of whom have enhanced the program and made DCR’s work with their regions and the communities muchmore effective. Our partners include:

Foreword

On behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Department of Conservation

and Recreation (DCR), it is my great pleasure to present Translations: The First Chapter of

the Heritage Landscape Inventory Program 2001-2008.

Initiated in 2001 as a pilot project in southeastern Massachusetts, the Heritage Landscape

Inventory Program has been a great success in 96 communities. With seven regional part-

ners, DCR has identified over 5000 heritage landscapes; hosted a regional educational

symposium; and developed recommendations to protect more than 500 special places. DCR

has distributed over 2000 copies of the American Planning Association award-winning

publication Reading the Land, which outlines a grassroots process for identifying heritage

landscapes. This inventory process is a model for civic engagement, tallying participation

from over 800 individuals, elected officials, municipal staff, board members and volunteers.

The program has inspired conservation and preservation advocates toward a common vision

and increased community appreciation of heritage landscapes. The program has evolved to

respond to local concerns and to address regional landscape preservation challenges, and has

proven to be an efficient, cost-effective way to assist municipalities in times of rapid growth

and change.

I am excited to support DCR’s continued work to strengthen the capacity of local

government to preserve the Commonwealth’s special places and improve the quality of life

for all residents. DCR looks back with pride at the program’s accomplishments over the

past seven years. We are grateful for the support of the partners, local project coordinators,

and residents who have made the Heritage Landscape Inventory Program a success. We

look forward to continuing our work to protect the heritage landscapes that tell the stories

of our communities.

Richard K. Sullivan, Jr.

Commissioner, Department of Conservation and Recreation

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TH E Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has been a

leader in the field of landscape preservation efforts in Massachusetts

– and beyond – for over 25 years. From undertaking the statewide

inventory of scenic areas, to initiating the Olmsted Historic

Landscape Preservation Program, to launching a highly successful grant pro-

gram specifically aimed at providing funds for landscape preservation, DCR has

continued to develop innovative programs to address historic landscape preser-

vation needs. The Heritage Landscape Inventory Program has been an integral

part of this legacy.

The Heritage Landscape Inventory Program has had an undeniable impact upon

the 96 communities and seven regional partners with whom DCR has collaborated.

Through the program, over 800 people have identified more than 5000 heritage land-

scapes that define and enrich their communities. The reach of the program has also

extended well beyond participating communities. DCR receives inquiries about the

program weekly, from all over the US and abroad. The program publication,

Reading the Land, was the recipient of the prestigious Public Education Award from

the American Planning Association in 2004 and is utilized in undergraduate and

graduate coursework at seven colleges and universities.

The program has also been a valuable tool in assessing statewide landscape preser-

vation issues and has highlighted a need for basic information on historic landscape

preservation tools and techniques. In response to this need, DCR developed a series

of technical bulletins entitled Terra Firma: Putting Historic Landscape Preservation

on Solid Ground. With six issues published to date, the Terra Firma series has proven

to be a popular, accessible, and highly effective tool for promoting new strategies for

historic landscape preservation.

“The beauty that we see in the vernacular landscapeis the image of our common humanity…”

Discovering the Vernacular Landscape.John Brinckerhoff Jackson. 1984:xii

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Over 2000 copies of the program guidebookReading the Land have been distributedboth nationally and abroad.

Origins of the Heritage LandscapeInventory Program The Heritage Landscape Inventory Program isrooted in two predecessor programs – theDepartment of Environmental Management’s(DEM) Historic Landscape Preservation GrantProgram, launched in 1997, and the ExecutiveOffice of Environmental Affairs (EOEA)Community Preservation Initiative (CPI), estab-lished in 1999 under Secretary Bob Durand. Bothprograms were outgrowths of the former Senator’swork as chair of the Massachusetts Special Com-mission on the Future of Historic Preservation. TheCPI sought to preserve and enhance the quality oflife across the Commonwealth and significantlyheightened awareness and appreciation of the land-scapes that contribute to a community’s sense ofplace. Through the work of the grant program, itbecame abundantly clear that, in order to be able toprotect community character and promote an inte-grated planning approach, further identification ofthe overall cultural landscape of Massachusetts wasneeded.

The April 2000 EOEA report, The State of OurEnvironment identified the launch of the HeritageLandscape Inventory as a critical step that the stateshould take to help further community preserva-tion efforts. With the support of EOEA SecretaryBob Durand, planning for the implementation ofthe Heritage Landscape Inventory Program beganin earnest. Collaborating with Historic Massachus-etts Inc. (now Preservation Massachusetts), theTrustees of Reservations, and the Massachusetts

Historical Commission on the vision and method-ology for the program, Secretary Durand andDEM launched the pilot project in 2001.

The Pilot Project2001 to 2003

Southeastern Massachusetts, a region that beganexperiencing unprecedented growth and develop-ment during the 1990s, was selected as the pilotregion. Fifteen communities in three adjoiningwatersheds – the Taunton River, Buzzards Bay, andNarragansett Bay/Mount Hope – participated inthe program. The goals of the pilot were to increaseawareness of the broad range of unprotected land-scapes that have both cultural and natural resourcevalues, and encourage municipalities, state agenciesand private organizations to collaborate on conser-vation and preservation issues

Placing a high value on local knowledge andopinions of significance, a grassroots communityparticipation component became a key feature ofthe methodology. Individuals, board members,commissioners, elected officials and municipal staffwere asked to self-identify unprotected heritagelandscapes that were significant to them – ratherthan the consulting team approaching landscapesthat they felt had value. The project consulting teamreviewed these landscapes with participants todetermine which resources were priority landscapesbased on level of threat, integrity, public under-standing, access and potential for public education.Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC)inventory forms were prepared for these selectedlandscapes.

Landscapes that are prioritized by the community are assessed in the field by consultants and localparticipants.

“Historic preservation

is a vital part of the

environmental agenda.”The State of Our

Environment (2000)

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A major component of the pilot project was apublic education initiative to outline the process foridentification, evaluation and protection of heritagelandscapes and to foster an integrated approach tolocal decision-making. Using the experience of thesoutheastern Massachusetts pilot project as a guide,the program developed and published a HeritageLandscape Inventory guidebook, Reading theLand. The guide has been widely distributed toindividuals, preservation and conservation organi-zations, educational institutions, and governmentalagencies across the country and abroad.

Evolution of the Program MethodologySince its inception, the Heritage LandscapeInventory Program has continually evolved, look-ing for ways to meet the needs of participants andpartners, address regional issues, and improve theproducts. During the course of the pilot project,participants continually asked for technical plan-ning assistance, and it became clear that intensivelevel documentation of heritage landscapes throughMHC inventory forms was just one piece of the puzzle. Two key aspects of the pilot project

however have remained unchanged throughout andare the hallmarks of the program: establishing part-nerships with regional entities to bring the programto different areas of the Commonwealth, andapplying a methodology that draws extensivelyupon community participation and input. DCR hasreinforced the basic goals of the pilot, while alsodemonstrating a high level of flexibility to respondto regional needs.

Essex County Reconnaissance Survey2004 to 2005

Recognizing the challenges of completing MHCinventory forms for all heritage landscapes, DCRreadjusted the program to provide reconnaissancelevel survey of heritage landscapes, coupled withtechnical planning assistance. Working with 24communities to identify a wide range of heritagelandscapes, DCR, the Essex National HeritageCommission (ENHC), and the consulting teamhelped communities identify, prioritize and assesstheir heritage landscapes. The primary product ofthe inventory work was a series of community-spe-cific Heritage Landscape Inventory Reconnaissance

1929Working with the Governor’sCommittee on Needs and Uses ofOpen Space, Charles W. Eliot, IIidentifies key areas for open spaceacquisition throughout the state.

1933The Trustees of Reservations (TTOR), then known asthe Trustees of Public Reservations, joins the AmericanSociety of Landscape Architects in sponsoring astatewide Landscape Survey. For the purposes of thissurvey, a set of categorical landscape types are chosenas “…kinds of Massachusetts scenery that are believedto have special character of outstanding value…”.

The 1933 Massachusetts Landscape Survey is used byTTOR, municipalities and state agencies to acquireopen space for public enjoyment.

The Legacy of Landscape Inventory in Massachusetts

Capron Park in Attleboro, inventoried duringthe pilot project, was featured on the coverof 2004 APA Awards issue of Planningmagazine.

Heritage landscapes are identified through community input.

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Reports with descriptive and historical informationabout priority landscapes, along with planning rec-ommendations. Under the third phase of theproject, consultants prepared a select number ofMHC inventory forms as a stepping stone towardenhanced protection. This partnership culminatedin a day-long symposium entitled The Landscape ofOpportunity that looked at a range of heritage land-scape types, associated preservation issues, andcommon tools for their protection. Supported byfunding from ENHC, the symposium resulted inan Action Agenda for addressing priority heritagelandscape concerns in the region. Heritage com-mission staff actively utilize the Action Agenda – aswell as the Reconnaissance Reports – to guide theirregional programming and technical assistanceefforts.

Taunton River and Freedom’s Way 2005 to 2006

Partnering with two more regional entities – theTaunton River Wild & Scenic Study Committeeand the Freedom’s Way Heritage Association –

1980–1982The Department of EnvironmentalManagement (DEM) undertakes theMassachusetts Landscape Inventory:A Survey of the Commonwealth’sScenic Areas. Adapting assessmentsutilized by the US Forest Service,which took a visual assessmentapproach, and the CountrysideCommission of Scotland, whichemphasized cultural features, theconsulting team creates a methodolo-gy that relies on three classificationsof scenic quality: “distinctive,”“noteworthy,” and “common.”

1992–1994Senator Robert Durand chairsthe Massachusetts SpecialCommission on the Future ofHistoric Preservation.

1995Senator Durand files HistoricMassachusetts Act to implementrecommendations of the SpecialCommission on HistoricPreservation. Commission rec-ommends development of astatewide inventory program.

1997–2001The DEM Historic LandscapePreservation Grant Programprovides $4.5 million for thepreservation of historic land-scapes in 71 municipalities.

2001 Secretary of EnvironmentalAffairs Robert Durandannounces the launch of theHeritage LandscapeInventory Program.

Family farms are not just rural resources.

Agricultural landscapes still exist

in cities such as Lawrence,

Methuen, Fitchburg

and Fall River.

DCR further refined the program methodology fora 28-community survey. In addition to reconnais-sance reports, the project resulted in several smallplanning projects including a scenic roads invento-ry in Harvard, a preservation plan for the FirstParish Cemetery in Ashby, and an archaeologicalassessment of the Peace Haven site in Freetown &Fall River. These products provided models for spe-cific resources and gave communities the tools theyneeded to take the next step toward protection oftheir most cherished landscapes. Funding supportfrom the Wild & Scenic Study Committee provid-ed for some additional intensive level survey, andFreedom’s Way opened the doors to the involve-ment of local and regional chambers of commercein the process.

The program refers communities to DCR’sPreservation Guidelines as a key resource forcemetery preservation advocates andcemetery stewards.

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National Heritage Corridors 2006 to 2008

Moving to 14 communities in south-centralMassachusetts, DCR teamed up with the John H.Chafee Blackstone River Valley National HeritageCorridor Commission and the adjoiningQuinebaug & Shetucket Heritage Corridor Inc.

The consulting team broughtsome new direction to thereports, developing a stan-dard toolkit for communitiesto consult in heritage land-scape preservation efforts.Phase 3 of the project tackleda prevalent regional issuethrough the preparation of aMill Complex Reuse Plan thatcould serve as a model for

communities. DCR’s partners provided fundingand staff for the development of a workshop seriesfor communities, training citizens and town offi-cials on how to utilize recommended tools.

Upper Quaboag and North Quabbin2007 to 2008

Bolstered by the support of legislators, DCRpartnered with the Central Massachusetts RegionalPlanning Commission and the North QuabbinRegional Landscape Partnership to work with 15communities in central and north-centralMassachusetts. Project partners brought a highlevel of regional understanding of this large geo-graphic area and are committed to assistingcommunities implement recommendations. Thisregion also served as the pilot area for developing aprototype for an online interactive HeritageLandscape Atlas. The Atlas will be used by preser-vation, conservation and land use plannersstatewide to integrate heritage landscapes into com-munity and regional planning.

The Heritage Landscape Atlas is an exciting addition to the program methodology with

great potential to expand the program’s reach. The goals of the online interactive Atlas are to visually

link landscape preservation needs with other conservation and land use analyses and to provide a

framework for priority setting by state and municipal agencies and non-profit organizations,

contributing to more effective land protection strategies.

First Parish Cemetery in Ashby contains burials from 1773 into theearly 20th century.

Communities have dedicated their

own finances to implement program

recommendations and to protect the

landscapes that are most important to

their heritage, spending over 24 million

dollars in the process.

College campuses, such as the former Bradford College in Haverhill, represent a type of designed landscape.

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Reconnaissance survey work and reports

Intensive survey work and MHC inventory forms

Project preparation work and development of other technical assistance products

12%

57% 31%

BR E A K D O W N O F EX P E N S E S F O R T H E HE R I TA G E LA N D S C A P E IN V E N T O RY PR O G R A M 2001–2008

DCR’s reliance on regional collaboration hascontributed heavily to the success of the HeritageLandscape Inventory Program. Regional partnershave served a critical role, providing regional per-spective and insight, and serving as a conduit to thelocal and regional network of preservation and con-servation organizations. Partner organizations havealso provided a considerable amount of staff timeand $40,000 toward the implementation of the pro-gram in their regions.

The Heritage Landscape Inventory Program hasbenefited from steady funding over the past sevenyears. The initial investment of $210,000 funded the

Industrial remnants have been the most common type of archaeological landscape identified by communities.

pilot project, development of the program method-ology, and the writing, design and printing ofReading the Land. Each year, the program hasreceived between $90,000 and $100,000, fundingregional reconnaissance survey projects; the pro-duction of MHC inventory forms; development ofproducts in response to local and regional resourceprotection planning needs; provision of trainingopportunities and technical assistance for commu-nities, program development and public education.Since 2005, the program budget has also been used to support the publication of the Terra Firmabulletins.

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State of the LandscapeThe Massachusetts historic landscape is rich andvaried, encompassing remnants of industry, trans-portation, settlement and everyday life, and rangingfrom single objects to broad river corridors.

In Reading the Land, DCR laid out a methodol-ogy for identifying heritage landscapes through alocal process, allowing residents to self-identifythose places that make their community special.This flexible process has found some one-of-a-kindlandscapes, and it has also revealed some strongcommon themes among communities in differentregions of the Commonwealth.

Communities often called out their most uniqueresources in identification meetings, resulting in adelightful array of objects and places. Ben Butler’sToothpick in Salisbury reflects historic coastal nav-igation, while horse troughs provide a specialcharacter to Lincoln, Littleton, Harvard, Boltonand Acton. Landscapes also range in size from a

single planter to entire river corridors or expansiveagricultural lands like the Common Pasture inNewburyport and Newbury.

In addition to expanding the definition of theheritage landscape, the program has also seen arecurrence of the common landscape types firstidentified in the program pilot – farms, scenic roads,village centers, industrial site ruins, and water. The reconnaissance work has inspired local actionsthat serve as models for enhancing protection andintegrating heritage landscape preservation intocommunity planning and decision-making.

The Council Oak in Dighton was one of only40 ethnographic landscapes identified.Today, the oak has been lost, but the placecontinues to hold significance for thecommunity. Residents are working to protectadjacent land from development.

Communities are rapidly losing even 20th century landscapes such as Sisson’s Diner in Middleborough, tangiblereminders of a more recent history.

0 5% 10% 15% 20%

MilitaryArchaeological

CivicCommercial

Recreation/Open SpaceInstitutional

IndustrialBurial

TransportationResidential Agricultural

Natural

PR I O R I T Y

LA N D S C A P E

TY P E S

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In 2000, the statewide non-profit preservation advocacy organization Preservation Massachusetts

named the Dairy Farms of Massachusetts one of the top ten most endangered historic resources.

In 2003, the Preservation Massachusetts Barn Task Force was formed

to address the loss of historic agricultural outbuildings.

Views of agricultural lands are frequently identified as part of a community’s character and can be protected through specialresource overlay districts.

The Town of Westport adopted a Right-to-Farm bylaw and formed a local Agricultural Commission followinginventory work.

Agricultural preservation restrictions - like the one inplace at the Anderson Farm in West Bridgewater –are one of the program’s top recommendations forthe protection of agricultural landscapes.

Agricultural propertiesThe program has identified a gap between the

preservation community’s focus on the architec-tural remains of our agricultural past and theconservation community’s interest in the protectionof open space, revealing a compelling need to definethe historic agricultural landscape as one that com-bines both field and farm complexes. Massachusettsresidents in all of the 96 participating municipalitiesidentified agricultural properties, or remnants of them, as significant to the character of their community.

Despite the recent interests in local food, agricul-tural landscapes in Massachusetts still face manythreats, including challenges of small farm viability,economic pressures, and development pressuresfrom increasing suburbanization. Former farmsthat are no longer in active agricultural use sufferfrom a lack of maintenance, causing fields to revertto woodland, diminishing the tangible reminders ofthe history of this landscape.

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Scenic RoadsOf the over 5,000 landscapes identified through

the inventory process, 12% are transportationrelated resources. Specifically, scenic roads havebeen identified as character-defining places in everyregion since the inception of the program.Residents express a need for preserving the overallfeel of a road, maintaining views, and counteringthreats to maturing trees and fragile historic stonewalls. Scenic roads are often threatened by a lack ofunderstanding. There is a clear need to inform localpublic works departments about scenic road desig-nations and to train staff on maintenance practicesthat avoid impacts to the roadway character. Privateproperty owners can also become preservationpartners through education.

Scenic roads are often defined by mature trees which can beprotected through Scenic Road bylaws.

The Town of Sutton has played a veryactive role in the designation and publicawareness of their scenic roads, inventoryingall of the trees in the public right of way andmarking each scenic road with specialsignage.

Bridges are significant features of historic and scenic roads such asthe Highland Street bridge in Hamilton.

Rail road corridors are often identified as heritage landscapes withgreat potential for recreational use.

Following inventory work,

the Town of Harvard

amended their scenic road

bylaw to better protect their

resources as recommended

by the program.

To address the recurring

concerns identified through

the Heritage Landscape

Inventory Program, DCR

published Terra Firma #3:

Identifying and Protecting

Historic Roads, and

sponsored the 2006 Historic

Roads Conference.

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Neighborhoods, Village Centers and Downtowns

Nearly all of the inventoried communities iden-tified a landscape where clusters of buildings, openspace and significant transportation corridors con-verged to create a unique place. Of the high prioritylandscapes, 16% were residential, primarily neigh-borhoods. In rural communities, this may be aneighborhood of small farms developed around amajor crossroads, while in industrial areas, residen-tial neighborhoods may be found grouped arounda former mill site along a river. Commercial centerscombined with civic institutions and a common orpark create downtown streetscapes in more popu-lous cities and towns. These heritage landscapespresent challenges of protecting a vast array of fea-tures – roads, parks, buildings, monuments andornamental objects – in both private and publicownership.

Although town centers are the areas most likelyto be recognized by residents as historically signif-icant and likely to have some form of protection –such as a Local Historic District designation – theyare still subject to a wide variety of threats, includ-ing inappropriate alterations to buildings, changesin traffic patterns, changes to accommodate park-

ing, inappropriate infill (following loss of historicbuildings), and a lack of maintenance of publicspaces. Neighborhoods of small-scale, historichouses are regularly threatened by tear-downs aswell as loss of overall character from alterationsover time. These areas can be protected by desig-nating a local historic district, but establishingregulations on private property can prove challeng-ing. Educating the public about the value of theseareas, and clearly communicating facts about his-toric district designation, is an important part of theprocess.

Following inventory work in their community, North Andover residents passed a Neighborhood Conservation Districtfor Machine Shop Village.

Since 1982, the Washington Street Shoe District has been protectedby local historic district designation. The local designation is astrong regulatory tool, while National Register listing does notprovide a high level of protection from actions not funded throughstate or federal programs.

Methuen received a 2008 Survey andPlanning Grant from the MassachusettsHistorical Commission to develop a brochurefor a walking tour of their local historicdistrict, a simple way to promote awarenessand foster a sense of public pride.

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Mills and other White ElephantsThe histories of the communities that have par-

ticipated in the program reflect the history of theCommonwealth, with many cities and towns wereonce defined by large industrial complexes. Fromcontained 19th century mills to sprawling 20th cen-tury manufacturing complexes, these resources arenow unused or underutilized, yet continue to phys-ically, and emotionally, define communities.Prominently located along river corridors androads, these resources present opportunities toregain public access to a natural resource and show-case adaptive reuse.

While many old mills have been rehabilitated intoexciting new live and/or work spaces, others stillface a wide variety of challenges, including the fea-sibility of reuse of large buildings (physical

constraints, market factors), contamination fromhazardous materials, the negative structural impactscaused by years of neglect, and prohibitive zoning.

Natural Resources – WaterPonds, rivers, streams and coastal access unify

communities in a variety of ways. Over 350 naturalareas, including rivers, lakes, beaches and ponds,were named in the reconnaissance work, and natu-ral resources top the high priority landscape list at17%. Water resources, and the associated built envi-ronment, from mill villages to seasonal cottagecommunities, were frequently named by cities andtowns participating in the program. Views towards

During the reconnaissance work with the Town of Dudley,

DCR and the consultant team developed a planning study

providing guidelines for mill rehabilitation, using the Chase Mill

in Dudley as a case study. The study will be made available as a

“Best Management Practice” on the DCR website.

Creating a Mill Conversion Overlay district for the Chase Mill inDudley has expanded the range of options for rehabilitation andallows for mixed use.

Hopedale established a Draper Complex Reuse Committee, which is now working with a planning firm to examineoptions for the reuse of this historic complex.

Special Resource Overlay Districts can protect the views andcharacter of water resources. Salisbury adopted a Salisbury BeachOverlay District to protect their coastal resource.

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and within the landscapes are particularly treasured.While water resources are often valued in terms ofprivate real estate and public recreation, the pro-gram has determined that residents consider themto be significant features of their communities’

Community Preservation – Selling the Act Signed into law on September 14, 2000, the Community Preservation Act (CPA) is one ofthe most powerful tools for the protection of heritage landscapes, allowing communities touse local funds in three categories – historic preservation, open space and affordablehousing. The Heritage Landscape Inventory Program urges all participating cities and townsto adopt the CPA as a tool for heritage landscape preservation, and many have takenaction, using information from their reconnaissance reports to advocate for CPA adoption.Of the ninety-six communities participating in the program, fifty-one, or 53%, have placedthe CPA on the ballot.

Participation in the program creates a network of residents with interests in bothconservation (open space) and preservation who can together advocate for the CPA.Heritage Landscape Inventory Reconnaissance Reports have also proven to be excellenttools for the local administration of the CPA. Reports have been utilized by the CommunityPreservation Committees in many communities:

Maynard utilized their report as a guide when drafting their Community Preservation Plan.

Wenham is using their report to assist with CPA funding decisions.

Wareham used CPA funds to implement one of the recommended actions provided tothem – undertaking a communitywide historic resources survey.

Newton is funding their own Heritage Landscape Inventory reconnaissance work using CPAfunds.

For income-producing properties, listing on the National Register of Historic Places makes owners eligible for federal and state tax creditsthat can help finance preservation work.

The protection of river corridors relies on cooperation among localgovernments with support from regional land trusts and planningagencies.

character in the broader sense. It is also clear thatthese resources are subject to threats from manysides – lack of physical and visual access, privatedevelopment, impacts from nearby activities, andchemical and invasive plant intrusions.

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Lessons Learned The Heritage Landscape Inventory Program hasevolved with each new partnership, working toenhance the services provided to communitiesalong the way. Initial changes to the programincluded a shift away from the emphasis on thepreparation of inventory forms towards the provi-sion of planning guidance, and has since moved onto fine tuning the reports with each successive yearto provide enhanced technical information. Withthe addition of the online Heritage LandscapeAtlas, the program will expand its reach.

Throughout this process, DCR has learned a fewimportant lessons.

• The challenge of documenting large scale land-scapes through traditional intensive level surveymethods has led to the development of new waysto record them. This process has opened the eyesof many cultural resource professionals to anexpanded way of thinking about landscapes withlargely natural features as having high culturalresource value as well.

• The Heritage Landscape Inventory Programbroadens people’s view of the world aroundthem, expanding their perception of what natu-ral and cultural elements help to tell the story oftheir community. This has led to the identifica-tion of a wide range of unique landscapes, fromdrive-in theaters to archaeological remnants ofindustrial sites to significant trees and undiscov-ered gardens.

• Protection of active agriculture is a concern thatis pervasive throughout the Commonwealth, andhas been identified as an issue by rural, suburbanand urban communities alike.

• Identification of landscapes that cross politicalboundaries introduce the challenge of inter-com-munity communication – a challenge that can bedifficult to overcome. DCR’s work with region-al partners has started to build the bridges neededto cross that divide.

• There is an absolute need to constantly educatecommunities about the wide range of tools thatare available for the protection of their heritagelandscape resources.

• Preservation can sometimes be accomplishedthrough conservation. Regulations protectingrivers, wetlands and open space may also protectviews, archaeological sites and agricultural fields.This cross-pollination between natural and cul-tural resource protection is at the heart of theHeritage Landscape Inventory Program.

First Steps to Preserve Heritage Landscapes Now1. Build a broad constituency around heritage landscapes, harnessing the energy of historic

preservation and conservation advocates alike. Be prepared to give a one-minutejustification to anyone and everyone as to why they should care about heritagelandscapes.

2. Adopt the Community Preservation Act (CPA).3. Plan a response for possible sale of Ch. 61 lands (right of first refusal).4. Think beyond the National Register. Do not assume National Register listing will protect

a heritage landscape from the wrecking ball. Explore Local Historic District designationand Demolition Delay ordinances which provide a higher level of local, regulatorycontrol.

5. Build the community tool box. Add tools that expand options for heritage landscapes(OSRD, Adaptive Reuse Bylaw) and integrate heritage landscape protection into all localplanning.

6. Be open to compromise. Total protection of a landscape may not be possible, butnegotiation may lead to the preservation of the most significant features. Use inventoryto clearly define the heritage landscape’s core values.

Views of Mount Wachusett are treasured by the surrounding towns.

APRs do not always protect the built features of the landscape,separating the farm complex from the field.

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Expand program participationProvide communities in new regions with anopportunity to participate in the program, identifyoutside sources of funding to leverage state fundingsources and promote individual communityHeritage Landscape Inventory efforts.

Expand program marketing to increaseparticipation Increase the amount of press coverage for the proj-ect and encourage participation by elected officialsand other underrepresented groups.

Enhance online servicesStrive to keep the Heritage Landscape Inventoryonline presence current and usable. Inclusion ofBest Management Practices and Case Studies wasrequested by over 50% of survey respondents.

Launch the statewide HeritageLandscape AtlasLaunch and evaluate the prototype HeritageLandscape Atlas, and expand to incorporate datafrom other regions already inventoried. IntegrateAtlas into future partnerships.

Increase coordination with otherprograms and organizationsEstablish formal partnerships with other state agen-cies – especially the Department of AgriculturalResources – and non-profit partners to coordinatelocal, regional and statewide programming efforts.Enhance coordination with land trusts.

Strengthen the capacity of local partnersto implement recommendations andensure results Establish performance standards for communities.Promote the establishment of Heritage LandscapeCommittees and develop a process for long termfollow up. Expand the distribution of final recon-naissance reports, both locally and regionally.

Streamline and standardize theproduction of reportsDevelop a template that can be utilized both byprofessional consultants and local communities inthe development of heritage landscape reconnais-sance reports.

Develop new strategies for statewidepreservation issuesWork with other entities and programs to jointlyaddress the preservation of agricultural landscapes,scenic roads, village centers, mills and waterresources.

Improve training opportunities forcitizens and local officialsSurvey results showed a clear need for training,with 58% of respondents showing interest. Thepartnership in the Blackstone and Quinebaug-Shetucket regions may serve as a model forfollow-up training initiatives.

Continue the successful Terra Firma seriesDCR’s technical bulletins are recognized as impor-tant resources by 58% of survey respondents, withinformation on cemetery preservation and fundingmost requested.

A significant amount has been achieved during the

short history of the Heritage Landscape

Inventory Program – but there is still a long way to go

before the Commonwealth’s heritage landscapes are

fully identified. With a clear course charted for the near

future, DCR looks forward to continuing to serve com-

munities in protecting the heritage landscapes that

define the places that they call home.

Looking AheadWhile the Heritage Landscape Inventory program has had the opportunity to provide technical assistanceto over a quarter of the municipalities in Massachusetts, there is still a long way to go. As part of this effort,DCR undertook a survey of past participants, and sought input from prior partners and consultants.Through this assessment, DCR has identified some key opportunities to broaden the impact of the pro-gram in the near future.

DCR and its regional

partners have been

successful in providing

technical assistance after

inventory is complete,

with a 65% satisfaction

rate among participants

surveyed.

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Acton, Mary Ann Ashton, Resident Amesbury,Orlando Pacheco, Mayor’s Aide Arlington,Kevin O’Brien and Laura Weiner, Planning &Community Development Ashby, AndrewLeonard, Land Use Coordinator Athol,Susannah Whipps, Selectman Attleboro,Edward Tanner, Environmental Planner Ayer,Julia Alekman, Ayer Historical CommissionBarre, Philip Hubbard, Barre Planning BoardBerkley, Marge Ghilarducci, Berkley HistoricalCommission Beverly, Leah Zambernadi,Assistant Planning Director Bolton, MarthaRemington, Bolton Historical CommissionBoxborough, Elizabeth Hughes, Town PlannerBoxford, Wendy Perkins, Boxford HistoricalCommission Bridgewater, Christine Stickney,Community Development Director Brimfield,Judith Sessler, Open Space CommitteeBrookfield, Patti White, Brookfield HistoricalCommission Concord, Marcia Rasmussen,Planning & Land Management Danvers, SusanFletcher, Town Planner Dighton, LisaCaledonia, Consultant, Open Space Sub-Committee Douglas, Susan Perkins, OpenSpace Committee Dudley, Nancy Runkle, TownPlanner Dunstable, Susan Tully, DunstableHistorical Commission East Bridgewater, JohnHaines, Tree Warden East Brookfield, GeorgeMiller, Master Plan Committee Easton, MarthaWhite, Assistant Town Administrator Essex,Helen Bethell, Manchester-Essex Conservation

Trust Fall River, Nancy Durfee, SRPEDDFitchburg, Mary Ann McCaffrey, PlannerFreetown, Althea Brady, Freetown HistoricalSociety Gloucester, David Gilmour, PlanningDirector and Maggie Rosa, GloucesterHistorical Commission Grafton, John Stephens,Grafton Historical Commission Hamilton, JeanNelson, Planning Coordinator Hardwick,Sherry Patch, Selectboard Assistant Harvard,Laura Andrews, Harvard Conservation TrustHaverhill, Lisa Demeo, Haverhill HistoricalCommission Hopedale, Daniel & ElaineMalloy, Red Shop Museum Curators Hudson,Michelle Ciccolo, Community DevelopmentIpswich, Kate Day, Planner Lakeville, JoanneMichaud, Open Space and RecreationSubcommittee Lawrence, William Maloney,Land Use Planner, and Charles Boddy, CityAttorney Leicester, Michelle Buck, TownPlanner Lexington, Richard Canale, LexingtonPlanning Board Lincoln, Mark Whitehead,Town Planner Littleton, Walter Higgins,Littleton Historical Commission Lynn, KathyWrynn, Lynn Museum & Historical SocietyMarblehead, Rebecca Curran, Town PlannerMarion, Barbara Mauro, Planning AssistantMaynard, David Owen, Town AdministratorMendon, Anne Mazar, Land Use Committee;Community Preservation Committee Methuen,Curt Bellavance, Planning DirectorMiddleborough, Ruth Geoffroy, Town Planner

Millbury, Laurie Connors, Town PlannerMillville, Susan Gray-McNamara, AssistantAssessor and Town Clerk Nahant, LindaPivacek, Open Space and Land AcquisitionCommittee Newbury, Elizabeth Armstrong,Newbury Historic Commission Newburyport,Mary Harbaugh, Open Space Committee NorthAndover, Heidi Griffin, CommunityDevelopment Director, and Alison McKay,Conservation Agent North Brookfield, BrandonAvery, North Brookfield Historical CommissionNorthbridge, R. Gary Bechtholdt II, TownPlanner Norton, Jennifer Carlino, ConservationAgent Orange, Alec MacLeod, OrangeConservation Commission Oxford, ChristineGrimando, Planning Assistant Petersham, BobClark, Conservation Commission and LocalHistoric District Commission Phillipston, KevinFlynn, resident Princeton, Jeff Richards,Princeton Open Space Committee and JoyceAnderson, Princeton Historical CommissionRaynham, Patricia Riley, Raynham HistoricalCommission Rehoboth, David Pemmerl, ParkCommissioner Rochester, Laurell Farinon,Environmental Planner/Conservation AgentRockport, Julie McMahon, Rockport PlanningBoard Rowley, Sue Moses, resident Royalston,Aaron Ellison, Open Space Committee Salem,Denise McClure, Planning & Comm.Development Salisbury, Lisa Pearson, PlanningDirector Shirley, Debbie Smith, resident

Program StatisticsNumber of outside partners: 7

Number of communities served: 96

Number of community participants: over 800

Age range of community participants: 11 to 90

Total # of landscapes identified: 5328

17% open space, parks, recreation

13% agricultural areas

13% residential landscapes

12% transportation related landscapes

Heritage Landscape Inventory ProgramParticipating Communities 2001–2008

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Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission and North Quabbin Regional Landscape Partnership

Freedom’s Way Heritage Association

Essex National Heritage Commission

Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Watershed Initiative and Taunton River Wild and Scenic Study Committee

John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission and Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor, Inc.

Somerset, Christina Wordell, ConservationAgent Spencer, Jennifer Grybowski, Office ofDevelopment & Inspectional ServicesStoughton, Paul Andruchow, ProjectCoordinator Stow, Karen Gray, Stow HistoricalCommission Sturbridge, Ted Goodwin,Selectman Sudbury, Jody Kablack, TownPlanner Sutton, Jennifer Hager, PlanningCoordinator Swampscott, Angela WarrenIppolito, Swampscott Historical CommissionTaunton, Maryan Nowak, Old ColonyHistorical Society Templeton, Chantell Wead,Planning Agent Topsfield, ElizabethMulholland, Topsfield Historical CommissionUxbridge, Gretchen Duffield, UxbridgeConservation Commission Wareham, JoannaRuthwicz, Project Coordinator Warren, GeorgeShields, resident Warwick, Jim Toth, SelectmanWenham, Alton Klebe, Wenham HistoricalCommission West Bridgewater, ChristopherIannitelli, Forestry and Park SuperintendentWest Brookfield, William Leslie, WestBrookfield Historical Commission Westford,Patricia Savage, Parks, Recreation &Cemeteries Westminster, Alicia Altieri, TownPlanner Westport, Gale Nigrelli, WestportPlanning Board Winchendon, Ruth DeAmicis,Winchendon Historical Commission

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