Greenbelt’s Open Space Conference Fosters Collaboration, Builds Community

Opportunities for land conservation practitioners, supporters, and advocates to connect, network, and learn from one another are few and far between. That’s why occasions like Greenbelt’s Open Space Conference, held this past December 7 at Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School, are so important. More than 80 people attended the event and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“These gatherings are essential because they help facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing that enable all of us to advance our goals and achieve a greater collective impact,” says Vanessa Johnson-Hall, Director of Land Conservation. In a field often defined by solitary, locally focused efforts, she adds, coming together as a group also helps build a sense of community and forge new partnerships.

The Greenbelt Open Space Conference was launched in 2016 with this very purpose in mind. Originally planned as a biennial event, the schedule was disrupted by the pandemic. To date, the conference has been held four times, including one virtual session.

This year’s program kicked off with plenary remarks by Greenbelt President Chris LaPointe, who provided an overview of the organization’s current initiatives and emphasized the critical role of collaboration in maximizing conservation efforts. Participants then had the opportunity to attend a series of workshops throughout the day, covering a number of different strategic planning and policy-related subjects.

One of the most well-attended sessions explored the intersection of land conservation and affordable housing. Led by Bob Wilber from the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs and Kathy Sferra, Conservation Director for the Town of Stow, the presentation highlighted innovative approaches and success stories.
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“This is a critical issue in Massachusetts and across the nation, as we face an urgent need for affordable housing,” says Vanessa. “The reality is that many properties offer opportunities to address both needs, and the benefits of doing so are significant.”
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In the afternoon, another popular session was led by David Alden-St.Pierre and Glen Gollrad from Northeast Trailworks, who discussed the complexities involved in trail building — from initial concept to completion — covering topics such as funding, design, permitting, construction, and ongoing maintenance.
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Our sincere thanks to all those who attended the Open Space Conference, as well as to our outstanding presenters for sharing their valuable expertise and insights.
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​​​​​​​All workshop presentations can be found on the Open Space Conference webpage.