Available Open Land in the Town of South Hadley, Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a rapidly growing state with evidence of development in many of its regions. South Hadley is an example of one such rapidly developing town in the state. Being a college community, with a low crime rate, and recently upgraded schools, South Hadley has become a desirable place to live. To the average town resident, South Hadley appears to be developing at an astronomical rate. Open agricultural lands are being taken over by developments, and because prime developable land is becoming scarce, large condominiums are being erected on lots intended for one or two houses. With these thoughts in mind, a study was conducted to analyze the extent of open space remaining in South Hadley. Further analyses were conducted to determine the ecological integrity of the available open space, and to select areas of high priority to recommend for land acquisition. The ultimate goal of the study was to provide the South Hadley Conservation Commission with a list of high value property parcels to be used in its land acquisition process. Unfortunately, due to data issues, the study could not be carried out to the fullest extent.