Open Space & Recreation Plan

The Cherry Hill Open Space & Recreation Plan (OSRP) articulates the Township’s vision of open space and recreation.  The plan establishes a philosophical and practical justification for the protection and preservation of open space and recreational opportunities.  The purpose of this plan is to provide a framework for implementation by identifying and examining open space and recreation resources important to the community and layout ways to protect and enjoy them.

Without such planning, the appearance of a community, the quality of life enjoyed by residents, and the community’s natural resources can all be dramatically altered in a short period of time due to random changes in land use.  Open space and recreation should be considered as part of the public infrastructure, just like roads, schools and utilities. No community would build a road without establishing the need for it and planning where it should go. The same is true for open space and recreation.

An OSRP is required to be eligible for the Green Acres Planning Incentive (PI) funding category.  Advantages to having an OSRP and PI funding are:

1.   Once an OSRP has been approved by the Green Acres Program, the Township can acquire lands identified in its OSRP without making multiple individual, site-specific applications for Green Acres funding to acquire those lands.

2.   An OSRP provides a way to protect open space and recreation resources, which are so important to the Township.

3.   Open space and recreation planning is more efficient and cost effective when supported by a stable source of funding and an OSRP.

A crucial part of drafting an Open Space & Recreation Plan is to open a dialogue with the public, solidifying the importance of open space retention and identify emerging recreational needs in the Township.  Throughout this process, two public meetings will be held to gather citizen input and assess community open space and recreation needs.

Click here for the January 20th presentation.