Planning
In 2019 the Planning Board prepared an Open Space and Recreation Plan that was approved by the State Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The Plan established 5 goals, with objectives, and specific actions that were laid out over a seven-year timeline. (Click here to read the full plan.)
Following the completion of the plan, and at the request of the Planning Board, the Select Board established an Open Space and Recreation Committee in 2020. The Committee serves in an advisory role to the Select Board and in partnership with the Tisbury Department of Public Works to carry out the Towns state approved Open Space and Recreation Plan.
The committee holds two public meetings a month (see Agendas on Town Website) and further works with community residents through surveys and workshop (watch “Happenings” for announcements). They have developed working partnerships with nonprofit conservation organizations maintaining open space properties in Tisbury and secured funding to help maintain and enhance town parks. Their work is documented in their annual reports and current work is outlined in our 2024 -25 project chart .
2020 report | 2021 report | 2022 report | 2023 report
The following summary reports provide an overview of current planning activity. We encourage the public to follow this ongoing work, by attending posted meetings, and reaching out to our committee by email.
Veteran’s Park
Veterans Memorial Park sits on a 10.62 acre parcel owned by the Town of Tisbury between Beach Street, State Road, Causeway Road, and Lagoon Pond Road. The area was once a marsh, connected to the former Bass Creek. In the mid-20th century a massive volunteer effort was made to bring in 60,000 cubic yards of fill to transform the marsh into athletic fields. Public amenities in the Park now include soccer fields, two baseball/softball fields, a basketball court, a volleyball court, and a playground.
Today, increased rainfall has resulted in a battle with nature, in effect returning the park to its marshy past. Stormwater naturally accumulates in Veterans Memorial Park from rainfall within the park and from stormwater runoff from the surrounding impervious surfaces, leading to standing water and “swampy” areas long after a rainfall event has completed. A shallow depth to groundwater exists across the park, contributing to persistent wet areas, particularly around the playground area and swings. Stormwater also contributes significantly to the nitrogen load to nearby Mud Creek and subsequently to Lagoon Pond, an estuary system found by the Massachusetts Estuary Project to show nitrogen-related habitat impairment.
In 2022 The Tisbury Open Space and Recreation Committee secured funds from the Community Preservation Act to carry out a study by the Horsley-Witten Group to examine stormwater management at Veteran’s Park and investigate the relocation of recreational facilities. While the basketball court, volleyball court, and the playground are used by the community, interviews revealed that the use of these amenities is currently not what it could be potentially due to the “swampy” nature of that corner of the Park.
Lagoon Harbor Park
Off of Beach Road between Winds UP and Tisbury Beach Road Town Landing, this new park will feature an off-road bike and walking path, picnic area and Lagoon Pond viewing. A new walkway along the beach and attractive natural landscaping and shrubbery will be added. Funding is being partially provided by Vineyard Wind.
Lake Street Park and Dock
In addition to the Upper Park tennis and pickleball courts, plans are being developed for a covered picnic pavilion and a children’s play area and restrooms.
Owen Park
In 2017 the Owen Park Master Plan was completed to guide ongoing phased park improvements. The plan addressed the pedestrian, and vehicular access, improved ADA accessibility, and the location of key structures (link to the master plan). After completing the upper terrace seating area we have been focused on improving ADA access at the upper entrance and to the beach. The DPW is currently making initial repairs to the Bandstand and will continue to renovate and upgrade that structure. Plans are also underway by the Harbormaster to improve the pier and Harbormaster’s building.
Tashmoo Spring Building Park
In the last year new walking trails have been created in the upper field and this year benches will be added along this trail. Last year the exiting trail from the Spring building along the pond to lake Tashmoo was closed off due to wet conditions and was replaced by new woodland trail. A new kayak landing and seating area to be located at the edge of Lake Tashmoo has been approved by the Tisbury Con Com and will be constructed during 2024. This landing will provide water access to the Spring Building Park (link to plan).