Community Preservation Act needs money

The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a smart growth tool that helps communities preserve open space and historic sites, create affordable housing, and develop outdoor recreational facilities. CPA also helps strengthen the state and local economies by expanding housing opportunities and construction jobs for the Commonwealth's workforce, and by supporting the tourism industry through preservation of the Commonwealth’s historic and natural resources. (https://www.communitypreservation.org/)

Current map showing communities that have saved nearly 30,000 acres of open space.

I wrote about this in 2016 and earlier here.

Community Preservation Act in Action (CPA)

Easthampton Mass is expanding our open space by combining the funds from Commonwealth, the CPA and a local land trust to help preserve lands.  This is a perfect example of the partnerships proposed by Reagan's Presidential  Commission on Americans Outdoors (PCAO).

I wish however, that some local businesses would step up.  After all, their employees and children benefit from outdoor recreation.  And I believe it is a way to contribute to the community.

For some background on the CPA, here is an old paper I co-wrote a few years back.

Community Preservation Act in Springfield MA?

Plans are in the mix to offer the citizens of Springfield MA to join the numerous communities across the Commonwealth who have adopted the Community Preservation Act (CPA).  The Act, created in 2000, allows community to self tax by adding a small surcharge on real estate taxes. Springfield proponents recommending 1.5%, and that is estimated to add $10 to the tax bill for the average house.

Now, nobody likes taxes, but like death, it is unavoidable. That said, additional funds from the state would be added and this money could in turn be used to preserve open space, historic preservation, enhance recreation and improve community housing.

Ten bucks is worth all of that, and I hope the citizens embrace this opportunity to improve Springfield.  I wrote about the CPA and you can read the paper here.

The towns and cities shown in green on the map below have adopted the Community Preservation Act as of May 2016. Thus far, 228 Massachusetts communities have voted on CPA adoption. Of those, 161 communities (46 percent of the state's municipalities) have passed CPA. This represents a 71 percent adoption success rate.

Communities in green have adopted CPA. Communities in yellow represent upcoming CPA adoption ballots.

Westfield City Council rejects move to rescind Community Preservation Act

Good news for our Town, As reported in the media, the Community Preservation Act is safe, for now.

The measure assesses property owners one-percent of their property taxes to raise funds for preservation of historic property and buildings, open space and housing. It exempts the first $100,000 of property valuation.

For Westfield's CPA page, click here.

Since the town dissolved the BID (Business Improvement District), all citizens will bear the burden to keep our city alive, not just those who profit from it.

Community Preservation Act in Massachusetts

The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a smart growth tool that helps communities preserve open space and historic sites, create affordable housing, and develop outdoor recreational facilities. CPA also helps strengthen the state and local economies by expanding housing opportunities and construction jobs for the Commonwealth's workforce, and by supporting the tourism industry through preservation of the Commonwealth’s historic and natural resources.

For more info, visit http://www.communitypreservation.org/

Community Preservation Act interest level

The interest should be better. After all the CPA provides matching funds for Open Space and Recreation, Affordable Housing and Historic Preservation.  And these make a community a better place to live or visit.  See the news report in this morning's paper.

Wrote a paper on the CPA a few years back to compare and contrast the socio-demographic characteristics of communities accepting (or have yet to vote) the Community Preservation Act.  It is titled "The Massachusetts Community Preservation Act: factors influencing acceptance" and is available at this site.

Abstract:
In New England, urban sprawl creates a need for protecting open space. In 2002, residents of Southwick, MA, voted to accept the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act (CPA), which helps communities implement smart growth by providing funds for affordable housing, open space protection, and historic landmark preservation. This paper summarizes the findings of a survey administered before the town-wide CPA vote. Survey and demographic data from Southwick and other Massachusetts communities are compared in order to anticipate additional acceptance of the statewide initiative. The data suggest that communities that have higher median household incomes and more extensive housing stock are more likely to adopt the CPA.

Has your town adopted a Smart Growth strategy?

Massachusetts may increase CPA funding

Massachusetts Senate is considering increasing the matching funds to support the Community Preservation Act.  The CPA is designed to match local funding to support recreation and open space, protect historic resources and create affordable housing.  I blogged about the CPA on 8 May 12, 3 May 12, 23 Mar 12, 25 Mar 12, and others (you can search on the right).

This is good news and will likely stimulate the economy.

How has the Community Preservation Act helped?

The Community Preservation Coalition is dedicated to help organizations and governments improve the quality of life in Massachusetts by improving recreation and open space, historic preservation and affordable housing.

For a list of communities that have adopted the CPA, see this link.

Is your community on this list?

the Community Preservation Act in Massachusetts

This week in Recreation Geography I want to highlight the Community Preservation Act.

First the sad/bad news: Statewide CPA Trust Fund shows 11% decline.

Why? in part to the decline of home sales where the CPA gets funding. No houses sold, no money for CPA. As a result, we can expect a decline in Open Space protection, less affordable housing, and not as much historic preservation.

Incidentally, an article in the Springfield's Sunday Republican, noted a decline in lottery money as well.

But a good thing about the CPA is that it does fund those things. See the success stories for your community and a photo.

Grading exams

yeah, I know....break out the world's smallest violin for me. Well, I need a break from grading my rec geog final exams. Seems students don't recall the details of the Mass CPA (and not certified public accountants). But the topics of "Fright Tourism" or "Risk Tourism" have been well thought out. I am kinda' disappointed that the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria" wasn't researched a bit more.

But overall, the exams are good. So for the afternoon, I am going to work in the yard.

Community Preservation Act in Massachusetts

We have a great recreation planning tool here in Massachusetts, the Community Preservation Act or CPA.

The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a tool to help communities preserve open space and historic sites, and create affordable housing and recreational facilities.

The Community Preservation Act provides new funding sources which can be used to address three core community concerns:

Acquisition and preservation of open space
Creation and support of affordable housing
Acquisition and preservation of historic buildings and landscapes

What a great idea huh?