Summary of Warwick Open Space and Recreation Planning Meeting for Teens

On June 13, 2009 OSP committee members Clare Green and Chris Duerring
hosted an informal open space and recreation planning meeting and pizza
party for Warwick teens. The meeting was organized because the open
space committee thought it was important to include this group of
Warwick residents in the planning process. The committee was interested
in learning what the teens in town thought about open space in general
and specifically what recreational activities were important to them.

A total of 10 teens attended the meeting which began with an explanation
of the concept of open space and why it was important for the town to
have an up-to-date open space and recreation plan. Most teens in
attendance had lived all of their lives in Warwick and were familiar
with and appreciated many of the special places in town such as Mt
Grace, the Indian Caves, Devils Washbowl, Stevens Swamp, Sheomet Pond,
Moores Pond, the library and bakery, and numerous unnamed trails for
hiking, biking and skiing. Some shared stories with the group of
memorable experiences they had with their families and friends at these
places.

The group enthusiastically offered many ideas for enhancing recreational
opportunities in Warwick that reflected favorite activities or
interests. At the end of the meeting the list of ideas was prioritized
by asking them each to vote for their top three choices. A prioritized
list is included below.  By a wide margin, the top three ideas were: a
teen gathering spot; a swimming place; and internet and cell phone
service.

Ranked List of Open Space and Recreation Ideas from Teen Meeting (same
rank indicates tie vote)
1)	Teen gathering spot (center of town, old jail site, Ohlson field?)
1)	Swimming place (public pool or other)
1)	Internet and cell phone service
2)	Tennis courts
2)	Basketball court
3)	Zipline
4)	Rock climbing wall 
4)	Trail map/book done using GPS noting accesses for fishing, canoeing
5)	Paintball
5)	Fix fire tower on Mt Grace for viewing
5)	Dirt bike (mountain bike) park
5)	Skateboard park
6)	Store 
6)	Trailhead  journals
6)	Zen peace garden
6)	Camping area (Ohlson field, other?)

These ideas will be incorporated into the updated list of action items
in the open space plan. Hopefully as funding and/or other resources
become available some of these ideas will become reality.  At the end of
the meeting several expressed interest to begin a project to GPS trails
in town (these individuals are noted with * below).

The meeting offered these teens a taste of what it is like to
participate in the town planning process. They left with a better
understanding of open space and a sense of accomplishment that their
contribution to this process will ultimately help to improve and
preserve the many special places in Warwick.

Thanks to the participants: Joey Albert*, Jen Albert, Amanda Cadwell-
Frost, Noah Koester*, Taylor Loubris*, Liam McRae, Devin Snell, Emily
Stephens, Cody Ross and Katie Woods.