Suggested Goals and Criteria for the
Northampton County Open Space Initiative and Parks 2010 Plan

Establish watershed/greenway conservation and stream protection as the number one priority for the current County open space initiative and County Parks planning.

• Emphasize contiguous tracts and integration of acquired areas.
• County determinations of regional priorities, rather than just local initiatives to integrate efforts and avoic piecemeal efforts.

Complete a formal, updated County comprehensive greenway plan prior to commitment of monies from the County open space fund or formal adoption of County Parks 2010 Plan.

As key criteria for the approval of open space funding requests from municipalities:

1. Require the existence of an open space plan which is in agreement with a current County comprehensive greenway plan and
2. Require that an effective stream corridor protection ordinance based on a recognized model ordinance be in place.
3. Avoid the "give us the grant or we'll clear this woods" incentives for municipalities. 
4. Reward the municipalities that have their own commitments, efforts, etc, and support the laggards by giving incentives for cooperative efforts.

Establish priority for funding of County watershed open space/greenway projects that have the following characteristics:

• Protects natural corridors for wildlife
• Connects existing municipal, county, state parks or recreation areas
• Connects existing multiple use recreation trails
• Supports and strengthens the partnership efforts and cooperation of municipal, county, state, and private conservation agencies and organizations
• Provides protection for historic and cultural resources of county, regional, and/or statewide significance
• Provides for the effective protection of County streams and watersheds which are experiencing the most immediate development pressures
• Provides or enhances public access for a wide variety of activities including hunting and fishing.
• Is centrally located within the County near major transportation links for optimum public access.
• Protects existing natural resources that have statewide significance as described in the County’s Natural Areas Inventory. 
• Meets key criteria established by DCNR’s Pennsylvania Greenways Program for the selection of county greenway pilot projects in 2007

Acquisitions should attach or coordinate with private set asides to create designated greenways and districts

All land or development rights acquisition efforts should coordinate all the purchases with county-wide planning and zoning intitiatives, as well as municipal plans and zoning maps (no sense setting aside if surrounding areas aren't compatible).

Make grants more accessible for communities that have met criteria for set asides of their own, with local efforts in zoning, stream protection, staffing for open space planning and management, etc.

Make decisions official by elected legislators choosing among alternatives proposed, evaluated and rated by staff.

County parks plan should be compatible with and supportive of land preservation efforts.
    Include role of park in county vision, especially the unique position of Jacobsburg and the Bushkill watershed.

This is a vision of future of county as a whole and not just bits of decoration on an economic development plan.

County park recreational model should complement environmental and farmland preservation coordinating three components to realize synergies

Planning in advance to avoid scenarios where left hand doesnt know what right hand is doing

Keep SC emphasis on ecology and integration and downplay recreation, especially active or facility-based recreation in favor of passive recreation like hiking, etc.

Note emphasis on nature areas in survey, but demotion of priority in LVPC report.

Both citizens' and ecologically preferred approach is natural areas; politicians  can do good and do well.
 
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