What Open Space and Recreation Mean For Business

Enhanced and well publicized open spaces and recreation facilities can be good for local businesses, too, the town planner said.

As a side bar to today's news release on the June 7, community forum on the new Open Space & Recreation Plan for Swampscott, we asked Town Planner Pete Kane how open space and recreation can strengthen the local economy.

The planner said these spaces and facilities can draw people from outside town and inside town.

Whether it is a football game, a walk in the town's Harold King Forest or seaside activities, the events and activities can spur sales at stores and restaurants.

In addition, the town must have an updated recreation plan to even be considered for a state Park grant, according to the town administrator and selectmen.

While these grant dollars typically go to larger, more urban municipalities, there are circumstances under which smaller towns can qualify for Park grants, they said.

Meanwhile, the community forum on the new open space and recreation plan will be held Tuesday, June 11, at 7 pm at Swampscott High School in the auditorium.

It will focus on explaining the purpose of a plan, describing the current state and issues of the town's open spaces and recreation areas, outlining the analysis of needs, and presenting the goals and objectives to help Swampscott improve and fully realize the potential of these key features in town.