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5. INVENTORY OF LANDS OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION INTEREST
A. Introduction
1. What is Open Space?
"Open space" refers to the “green infrastructure” of a community: undeveloped land areas that
have important ecological functions, natural resources, or cultural resources that are worthy of
conservation and protection. Such areas may contain, but are not limited to, forests, farmland, old
fields, floodplains, wetlands, and shorelands. Open space can also encompass scenic vistas, small
parks, green buffers along roadways, corridor parks, recreational areas, and historic sites. Open
space is precious, and opportunities to obtain open space lands decrease as time goes on.
Open space provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and education. Use of open space varies
and includes both active and passive recreation. Active recreation such as tennis, baseball, golf,
and ice skating, usually require special facilities and make intensive use of land. Passive recreation
activities such as hiking, fishing, bird watching, and picnicking take place in more natural parks.
Such parks are used extensively and demand is increasing. Passive activities increase public
understanding of our relationship to the environment and the value of protecting natural resources.
Agricultural areas provide pleasant scenery and are an important component of a community’s
rural character. They are well-suited for many types of recreational activities, as well as being very
important for wildlife habitat. In addition, agricultural pursuits, such as cranberry production, are
often identified as a key component of community character, especially in communities
undergoing rapid growth. The remaining farms in such communities take on added importance in
defining community “place”.
Forested open space is a major renewable resource providing both commodities (e.g., wood
products) and non-commodity benefits (e.g., water resource protection, wildlife habitats). Forests
have a significant effect on the rate at which water will reach the ground, run off into surface
waters, and infiltrate the earth’s surface. They also act to moderate temperatures in their immediate
vicinity. They can provide nearby houses with cooling shade in the summer and can decrease the
cold winds in the winter. Hence, forests can reduce home heating and cooling costs to some degree.
In addition, forests act as filters by removing particulates and absorbing carbon dioxide from the
air.
A rich forest wildlife habitat has a variety of vegetative cover types for browsing, resting, nesting
and hiding. Most animals inhabit several different landscape types, including meadows, dense
underbrush, and open woods, which provide food and shelter. The greater the number of interfaces
between landscape types, the greater abundance of wildlife habitat. Throughout much of Cape
Cod, patterns of forested land alternate with developed land, and give the overall region its rural
character.
2. What is “Protected” Property?
The Town of Brewster has taken great effort to help preserve and enhance the quantity and quality of
open space and recreational holdings throughout the town. Protected open space or permanently
restricted lands include those acquired by conservation restrictions, trust and gifts, town purchases,
landings and parks, and tax takings. The town includes within its boundaries over 2,200 acres of large
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State and non-profit open space and recreational holdings, such as Nickerson State Park, State
acquired Camp Monomoy land, Brewster Conservation Trust lands, Orenda Wildlife Trust and the
Rail Trail. In addition, about 80 freshwater ponds cover some 1,700 acres. Other lands which
enhance the open space in the town include those which are associated with public buildings, e.g.,
Elementary Schools, Old Town Hall, Fire/Police Station, Town Hall, Agricultural and Chapter 61B
land.
3. Importance of Protecting Open Space
There has always been a strong sentiment among Brewster’s residents to protect the rural small
coastal community atmosphere, the scenic and historic character. Preservation of open space has
consistently been a top priority since the 1970s. As land disappears, the town loses a portion of its
character, history and main tourism draw: open space and recreation areas. The preservation of
agricultural and woodland resources, historic sites and structures, and other remaining open spaces
is a top priority, both as a reminder of Brewster’s history and earlier character, and for protection
of natural and scenic resources.
The value of open space can also be quantified in monetary terms. Aside from the obvious
environmental considerations, there are important economic benefits to open space such as the
reduction of costs for maintenance of additional infrastructure and services required by residential
development; the cost avoidance of the contamination of natural resources; property enhancements
due to additional property value adjacent to open space or permanently protected properties as well
as retention of community character. It is not uncommon for the value of building sites to be
enhanced by 15 to 20%+ in the vicinity of park and recreation areas (BNHM, 1998). The increased
value to the landowner is also shared by the municipality, because as relative property values are
higher, then assessed valuations and tax revenues will also be higher.
In addition, communities on Cape Cod increasingly consider the “opportunity cost” of losing Open
Space to development, especially residential development. An acre of open space can generate
much more revenue to the town than it “consumes” in town services, while an acre of residential
development consumes at least 15% more in services than it generates in taxes.
B. Private Parcels
Privately owned parcels include all land that is not owned by a municipal, state or federal agency.
These parcels represent a large proportion of land in Brewster. This land may be used for
commercial or residential purposes. Private lands that have specific open space and/or recreation
values are widely considered the most valuable properties in town – financially, ecologically and
socially – and are therefore coveted for both development and preservation. In Brewster, and
across the entire region, where vacant developable land is relatively scarce and the competition for
this land is intense, land values have skyrocketed. Recognizing the need to prioritize land
protection efforts, various initiatives and lists have been developed over the years by conservation
groups to help focus their efforts and money. Some of these land protection initiatives are
facilitated by local and state governments, such as the state’s Wetlands Protection Act, Chapter 61
programs, the Cape Cod Commission and the town's Open Space Committee. Others are run by
regional private non-profit groups such as The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts and its
consortium of land trusts, including the Brewster Conservation Trust. For each of these groups,
land has been either loosely or systematically prioritized for protection based on predetermined
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criteria. Most of these privately generated lists are confidential and kept behind closed doors, used
only for preservation purposes, in an attempt to avoid their potential misuse. Therefore, they are
not included in this Plan. Table 5-1 summarizes the private parcels that are considered significant
for open space and recreation.
Table 5-1. Significant Privately Owned Parcels as of 6-2020
Address Acres Zoning Condition
Recreation
Potential
Public
Access Protection
Golf Courses (195.06 acres)
South Orleans Road-Cape
Cod National 66.16 RM Good Yes Yes - fee No
Villages Drive-Ocean Edge 128.9 RL Good Yes Yes - fee No
Tennis Courts (0.94 acres)
Center Street 0.94 RM Good Yes Private No
Riding Stables (18.79 acres) Non-Chapter 61B
Commercial Street 3.01 CH Good Yes Private-fee No
Freemans Way 15.78 RR Good Yes Private-fee No
Youth Camps (201.96 acres)
Crowells Bog Road-Camp
Favorite-Girl Scouts 47 Good Yes Private - fee
Partial-
Temporary
Featherbed Lane-Camp
Mitton- Crossroads 30 Good Yes Private-fee No
Long Pond Road-Camp
Wono 70.04 RM Good Yes Private-fee No
Main Street-Cape Cod Sea
Camps 54.92 RM Good Yes Private - fee No
Mini-Golf (0.77 acres)
Underpass Road 0.77 CH Good Yes Private - fee No
Chapter 61 Forest Land (22.351 acres)
South Orleans Road Rear-
Private tree farm (Grover) 22.351 RR/I Good No Private
Partial -
Temporary
Chapter 61A Farm Land (129.99 acres)
Blue Jacket Way
(Ahlstrom) 7.412 RM Good No Private
Partial -
Temporary
Cranview Road (Casey) 5.45 RR Good No Private
Partial -
Temporary
Cranview Road –
(Davenport) 22.67 RR Good No Private
Partial -
Temporary
Eldridge Road & Western
Eagle Cartway (Allard) 14.893 VB/RM Good No Patrons
Partial -
Temporary
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Jackson Road (Caritas) 7.06 RR Good No Private
Partial -
Temporary
Main Street (Brown) 8.53 CH Good No Patrons
Partial -
Temporary
Main Street (CBI) 6.804 RM Good No Patrons
Partial -
Temporary
Long Pond Road/Cape
Lane (Crocker)
Commercial Greenhouse 5.108 CH/RM Good No Patrons
Partial -
Temporary
Long Pond Road
(Mangelinkx) 5.0 RM Good No Private
Partial -
Temporary
Main Street (Merchant) 5.0 RR Good No Private
Partial -
Temporary
Point-of-Rocks Road
/Cathedral Road (Latham) 19.44 Good No Private
Partial -
Temporary
Serenity Lane
(Jenkins)Namskaket Farm 21.123 RR Good No Patrons
Partial -
Temporary
WH Besse Cartway (Eten) 1.5 RR Good No Private
Partial -
Temporary
Chapter 61B Recreational Land ( 74.072 acres)
Hamilton Cartway
(Malkus) 5.923 RR Good No
Open Space
Private No
Lund Farm Way (Avery) 5.56 RM Good Yes Riding No
Main Street (Shady Knoll) 6.745 RM Good Yes Campground No
Harwich Road (Woodfield
LLC/Sweetwater Forest) 45.701 RM Good Yes Campground No
Run Hill Road (Sheridan) 5.0 RR Good Yes Riding No
WH Besse Cartway (Eten) 5.143 RR Good No
Open Space
Private No
1. Agricultural Lands
As identified in Table 5-1, there are several farm properties in Brewster, which are partially
protected under Chapter 61A. These farm properties include field crops, truck crops, cranberry
bogs, and others. The agricultural and horticultural land classification program under
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 61A is designed to encourage the preservation of the state’s
valuable farmland and promote active agricultural and horticultural land use. It offers significant
local tax benefits to property owners willing to make a long term commitment to farming. In
exchange for these benefits, the city or town in which the land is located is given the right to
recover some of the tax benefits afforded the owner when the land is removed from classification
and an option to purchase the property should the land be sold or used for any purpose other than
to continue raising farm products.
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As of 2013, there were 61.52 acres under Chapter 61A Farm Land. As of June, 2020, there are
129.99 acres, more than double. The Agricultural Commission is glad to see an increased and
active interest in farming and farmland preservation.
2. Forested Lands
As noted in Section 4, there are large areas of unbroken woodland in Brewster. Much of this is
protected within public conservation areas while other pockets are privately owned. As identified
in Table 5-1, there are about 22.351 acres of forested land in Brewster protected under Chapter 61.
The forest land classification program under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 61 is designed
to encourage the preservation and enhancement of the state’s forests. It offers significant local tax
benefits to property owners willing to make a long term commitment to forestry. In exchange for
these benefits, the city or town in which the land is located is given the right to recover some of
the tax benefits afforded the owner when the land is removed from classification and an option to
purchase the property should the land be sold or used for non-forestry uses.
3. Private Lands Significant for Water Resource Protection
The entire Cape is significant for water resource protection due to the presence of a single
underground sole source aquifer and the abundance of surface water resources. Surface water
resources include salt and freshwater bodies and wetland habitats of all kinds. Figure 4-4 identifies
lands that contribute to the town’s drinking water supply and are therefore significant for
protection. Much of the land within these contribution areas is privately-owned.
4. Priority Areas for Protection of Rare Species
As described in Sections 4D and 4E, Brewster is home to a number of rare and endangered plant
and wildlife species. The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) has mapped
areas that are considered priority and/or estimated habitat for these species. These areas are of
critical importance to the protection of rare and endangered species. Figure 4-7 shows where these
habitat areas exist in Brewster.
5. Conservation Restrictions and other Less than Fee Interests
It is not commonly known that land purchased or designated and used for conservation purposes
is not always protected from development in perpetuity. The best way to ensure a parcel’s
perpetual protection is to place language in the deed to that effect. Such language is known as a
“conservation restriction,” and is one of the major land protection tools being used today. This
conservation restriction may be owned by a non-profit land trust or another non-profit organization
including the town itself; it does not necessarily have to be held by the owner of the land. In many
cases, a land trust may hold a conservation restriction on land that is owned by a private landowner
or even on land that is owned by a town or state. Conservation restrictions may vary in duration;
to ensure perpetual protection, a permanent conservation restriction is necessary.
Most of Brewster's conservation restrictions are held by the Brewster Conservation Trust (BCT),
discussed later in Section 5C. The State holds a Conservation Restriction on the Town-owned
Quivett Marsh. Conservation restrictions are the easiest and most reliable means of ensuring the
perpetual protection of land. As it has in the past, the town should work in conjunction with the
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BCT to acquire conservation restrictions on all unprotected municipal lands even if they are
currently designated as conservation and recreation land and on any privately owned land that
exhibits conservation values including wetland resource areas.
6. Private Recreation Lands
In 2013, there were 93.78 acres under Chapter 61B Recreational Land. As of June, 2020, there are
74.072 acres. The reduction is due to two town purchases. One, 6.53 acres on the Robinson
property, was part of the Town’s 43 acre Long Pond Woodlands open space acquisition. The
second change was the Town’s purchase of 22.74 acres on Tubman Road, which had been the
Basset Wild Animal Farm. This land was offered to Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod to produce
affordable housing. Six homes were built on Paul Hush Way in 2018, with eight more being built
in 2020.
Much of the listed recreational land is comprised of campgrounds. The recreational land
classification program under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 61B is designed to encourage
the preservation of the Commonwealth’s valuable open space and promote recreational land uses.
It offers significant local tax benefits to property owners willing to make a long term commitment
to preserving land in an undeveloped condition or for use for outdoor activities. In exchange for
these benefits, the city or town in which the land is located is given the right to recover some of
the tax benefits afforded the owner and an option to purchase the property should the land be sold
or used for any purpose other than to maintain it as open space or for recreational use.
7. Other Resources, Estates, Major Institutional holdings.
Other private properties that offer recreational amenities include a variety of youth camps,
horseback riding stables and other resources (See Table 5-1). There are also 18 church-owned
parcels in Brewster with a combined total of 72.54 acres. These churches represent historic, scenic
and in some cases open space resources. Where appropriate, the town should seek conservation
restrictions on the undeveloped green areas of these church parcels.
In addition, the Ocean Edge Conference Center, housed in the former Nickerson Estate, more
recently La Salette Seminary, is a private resort facility that provides an excellent resource for
community activities including weddings, lawn parties, and other events. Its importance as a
culturally scenic and historic property cannot be overlooked and its continued protection and
operation as such should be encouraged.
8. Developable Land
The Town of Brewster commissioned a buildout analysis in 2012 in order to allow the community
to test existing regulations and envision its possible future when land is developed to the maximum
extent allowable. This analysis also identified lands that are most vulnerable to development. The
buildout analysis included two scenarios: a “baseline scenario”, remised on utilization of existing
zoning, with no consideration for environmental impacts beyond existing regulations, and a “smart
growth” scenario, also premised on utilization of existing zoning, but incorporating an innovative,
environmentally-based approach that promotes conservation and utilizes Cluster Residential
Development. Both scenarios identified about 15.23 acres of commercial development and 64.43
acres of industrial development under buildout conditions. The baseline scenario yielded 718 new
residential units, whereas the smart growth scenario yielded 797 new residential units. However,
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the smart growth scenario identified 455 acres of permanently preserved open space utilizing
Cluster Residential Development regulations, which is over 100 more acres than that proposed
under the baseline scenario.
The town does not have updated buildout numbers. The Local Comprehensive Plan process is
tasked with developing that data and it is in the initial stages.
C. Public and Nonprofit Parcels
The Town of Brewster has cooperated with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Brewster
Conservation Trust, The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts, Inc., Orenda Wildlife Trust
and adjacent town governments and non-profits in establishing thousands of acres of land
dedicated to conservation in their natural state. A matrix of municipally owned conservation and
recreation facilities and programs is provided in Appendix D. These facilities are also mapped in
Figure 5-1.
1. Town Conservation Commission Land and Facilities
According to the Town Assessor’s Database, The Brewster Conservation Commission owns and
manages about 822 acres of conservation land within the Town of Brewster. Properties owned
and managed by the Brewster Conservation Commission are summarized in Appendix D and
depicted visually in Figure 5-1. The Town of Brewster also maintains at least 1,000 acres of “other
municipally-owned and managed conservation lands,” which are owned and managed by other
town agencies, such as the Board of Selectmen. Many of these lands have been managed and
maintained by the Conservation Commission/Department of Natural Resources for years, even
though they were not under their custody and control. The Town reviewed the deeds and town
meeting articles for all of these lands and many parcels were transferred to the custody and control
of the Conservation Commission. The Brewster Conservation Trust now holds a Conservation
Restriction on all the parcels that were transferred to the Conservation Commission. This process
is not quite finished yet. It is anticipated to be completed over the next several years, after which
until all town lands will be under the custody and control of the correct department.
2. Town Recreation Department Land and Facilities
The Brewster Recreation Department owns and manages two properties within the Town of
Brewster: a recreation area including a new outdoor tennis facility at Underpass Road
(approximately 5.8 acres) and athletic fields at Recreation Drive (approximately 26 acres). These
Recreation Department properties are summarized in Appendix D and depicted visually in Figure
5-1. The Recreation Department also provides recreation services and programs on a number of
other properties, including but not limited to:
• Breakwater Beach;
• Upper Mill Pond
• Long Pond
• Programs at the Orleans Ice Skating Rink
• Drummer Boy Park;
• Eddy Elementary School;
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• Stony Brook Elementary School/White Caps Baseball Field
• Nauset Regional High School (in North Eastham);
• Nauset Regional Middle School
• Nickerson State Park; and
• Town Hall Fields.
• Freeman’s Way Fields
• Gage’s Fields
• Finch Skate Park Orleans-Run by Brewster, Orleans & Eastham (Town pays $1,400/year
to use) Nauset Together We Can also facilitates a lot of fundraising and improvements
• COA
• Tennis Courts
• Captain’s Golf Course
• Driving Range
The Recreation Department is made up of two full time staff members, the director and assistant
director, as well as year-round part-time staff and program instructors. During the summer, the
department employs an additional 30-40 seasonal employees. They host a website for information
and registrations at www.brewsterrecreation.com.
The Recreation Department offers a variety of recreation programs and activities for all ages, from
toddlers to seniors. Programming examples are provided as follows; however actual programs
offered may vary from this list.
Spring: Senior Fitness, Senior Striders, Senior Tennis, Adult Cardio Tennis, Pickup Basketball,
Youth Baseball & Softball, Youth Tennis, Farm League Baseball, Baseball Clinics, Lacrosse
Clinics, Softball Clinics, Soccer Clinics, Archery Classes, Track & Field, Kids Fitness, Ultimate
Frisbee Program-grades 3-5, Family Fishing Clinic, Tee Ball, Toddler Games, Brewster in Bloom
5K Run, Pickleball Clinics and drop-in, DIY Projects, Men’s Basketball, Senior Games,
Summer: Summer Rec Program, Adult Tennis, Adult Fitness Boot Camp, Senior Tennis, Stand
Up Paddle-boarding (Youth & Adult), Yoga classes on the beach, Soccer clinics, Swimming,
Youth Tennis, Basketball, Archery classes, Baseball, Golf instruction, Kayak Rentals, Science
programs, Playground Program, Sailing (Youth and adult), Skippers-jump rope instruction,
Baseball, Pickleball Clinics, Men’s Basketball, Tennis, Swimming and Sailing Lessons, Mad
Science Classes, Dance Instruction, Turbo Tennis for Adults, Pickup Basketball, DIY Projects,
SUP Classes, Track Program, Senior Tennis, Field Trips to Orleans Skating Rink
Fall: Senior Tennis, Adult Tennis, Soccer, Youth Tennis lessons, Baseball, Skippers, Flag
Football, Field Hockey clinic, Golf driving range, Science programs, Adult & Youth Yoga, Senior
Fitness, Senior Striders, Pickleball clinics and drop-in,, Archery Classes, Run Club, Pickup
Basketball, DIY Projects, Men’s Basketball, Run, Pass and Kick Contest, Stony Brook Sports
Month, Senior Games
Winter: Men’s Basketball, Senior Striders, Dodgeball, Floor Hockey, Youth Basketball, DIY
Projects, Handball, Pillow (grades1-2) and Floor (grades 3-5) Hockey, Bayside Skippers,
Pickleball Drop-in Program, Adult Basketball Drop-in Program, Pickup Basketball, Snow Shoe
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Excursion and Rentals, Indoor Soccer and Futsal Programs, Breakfast with Santa, HotShots
Competition, Yoga
Community Events: Breakfast with Santa, Ice Rink, Brewster in Bloom Events: Bloom 5K Run,
Easter Egg Hunt, Summer Kick Off Party, Movie Night by the Bay, Parents’ Night Out, HotShot
Basketball Shootout, Senior Games
3. Other Municipal Open Space and Recreation Land and Facilities
In addition to the lands and facilities owned and managed by the Conservation Commission and
Recreation Department, there are lands and facilities owned by other municipal departments that
serve open space and recreation needs, such as:
• Cemeteries;
• Brewster Water Department properties;
• Council on Aging property;
• Public beaches and landings;
• Drummer Boy Park;
• The Herring Run;
• The Mill Site;
• Captain’s Golf Course; and
• Public athletic fields and other recreation facilities.
a) Cemeteries
Brewster has seven cemeteries: Pine Grove, Brewster Memorial, Sears, First Parish/Breakwater,
Dillingham, Red Top, and Lincoln/Foster. Plots are sold through the Department of Public Works
for Brewster Memorial Cemetery, which contains an area for green burial as well as one for vaulted
burials. Four cremations may be placed in each plot, but only one headstone may be used or in the
case of a green burial site, a flat stone is used.
The Brewster Cemetery Commission is actively involved with restoration work in First
Parish/Breakwater, Sears, and Lincoln/Foster. There are no more plots to be sold in Pine Grove
and returned plots will be used as open space and not placed on the market.
b) Brewster Water Department Properties
The Brewster Water Department owns and manages approximately 363 acres of land in Brewster.
Most of this land has been acquired for protection of drinking water.
c) Council on Aging Building
The Council on Aging building, built in 1893 as the Town Hall, is situated on a 1.83 acre parcel.
The Council on Aging is housed in this building and it also serves as a recreational resource for
seniors in Brewster, offering social events, such as regular luncheons and educational courses and
activities, such as computer classes and gardening sessions. A Bocce court has been added on one
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side of the building. The Council on Aging staff help link Brewster’s seniors to services and give
support (Town of Brewster, 2013b).
d) Public Beaches and Landings.
Access to the Cape Cod Bay exists along Brewster's shoreline, with several roads leading north of
Route 6A to the beaches. There are ten (10) saltwater public beach/landing points, none of which
have lifeguards. The majority of these are less than one hundred (100) feet wide and are maintained
by the Brewster Department of Public Works under the direction of the Town Manager, Board of
Selectmen, Conservation Commission and the Natural Resources Department.
The public beach/land points all afford spectacular vistas of the flats and Cape Cod Bay, and include:
• Crosby Landing (Crosby Lane);
• Linnell Landing (Linnell Landing Road);
• Spruce Hill Beach (Main Street);
• Ellis Landing (Ellis Landing Road);
• Point of Rocks Landing (Point of Rocks Road);
• Breakwater Beach (Breakwater Road);
• Breakwater Landing end of Breakwater Road)
• Saints Landing (Robbins Hill Road);
• Mant’s Landing (Robbins Hill Road);
• Paines Creek Beach (Paines Creek Road); and
• Wing Island Beach (Behind the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, off Main Street).
Brewster's shoreline is a six (6) mile stretch of sandy/pebble beach. At low tide, the mud flats extend
out more than ¾ of a mile. Cape Cod Bay waters and beaches tend to be calmer than beaches on the
south side of the Cape. Recreational activity along Brewster's shoreline consists of boating,
swimming, fishing, shellfishing and other aquatic recreational activities. Town beaches require
parking stickers from mid-June through Labor Day.
The Town also has a number of freshwater beaches/access points:
• Long Pond (Crowells Bog Road) – beach, lifeguard on duty from July 4 through Labor
Day Weekend, daily from 9-4 PM.
• Sheep Pond (Fisherman’s Landing) – beach and viewing platform
• Upper Mill Pond (Run Hill Road) – no beach, boat ramp and viewing platform
• Slough Pond (Slough Road) – access, no beach
• Walkers Pond (Slough Road ) – access, no beach
• Schoolhouse Pond (Main Street) – access, viewing/fishing platform, no beach
e) Drummer Boy Park
According to the Assessor’s database, Drummer Boy Park is about 17 acres in size. As discussed
throughout this Plan, particularly in Section 4.E., Drummer Boy Park is a valuable conservation
and recreation resource for the town, providing opportunities for active and passive recreation. It
is also the site for regular public events, such as the annual Brewster Conservation Day, Brewster
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in Bloom, Fairs and Farmers Market (on adjacent Historical Society property). The town is
undertaking the process to update the Master Plan for the Park, and evaluating improved access to
Wing Island.
f) Herring Run
According to the Assessor’s database, the Herring Run property is about 1.8 acres in size. The
town acquired the site in 1940 in conjunction with the Gristmill, and the remains of Factory Village
on Stony Brook Road. The Millsites Committee oversees the preservation of Brewster's historic
Gristmill, and the town-owned land and scenic footpaths along Stony Brook. The herring run is a
popular destination for both residents and visitors. The Alewife Committee oversees the Herring
Run, with the assistance of the Natural Resources Department.
g) Captain’s Golf Course
According to the Assessor’s database, Captain’s Golf Course is about 305 acres in size. The
property contains two 18-hole courses: the par-72 Port Course and the par-72 Starboard Course.
h) Public Athletic Fields and Other Recreation Facilities
There are two public elementary schools in the Town of Brewster:
• Eddy Elementary School (approximately 29 acres) and
• Stony Brook Elementary School (approximately 23 acres).
The town is part of the Nauset regional school system for Middle School and High School, both
of which are located in towns other than Brewster.
The Eddy and Stony Brook schools provide large field areas for public use during non-school
hours. The Whitecaps Baseball Team plays at a Stony Brook field. There is also a walking/
running path that surrounds this field.
There are also the following fields:
• Behind the Council on Aging/Fire Department
• In front of Town Hall
• Large playing fields off of Freeman's Way:
o Three (3) baseball fields –Two Little League field, one Babe Ruth
o One soccer field, which opened in 1993.
i) Town of Brewster Cape Cod Pathways
The Cape Cod Pathways Project, sponsored by Barnstable County, encourages landowners to
participate in the creation of a linked system of walking trails throughout the Cape. This network
relies on land donations, easements, licenses and purchases. Its implementation requires the use
of access easements over some privately owned parcels and the acquisition of other parcels for
their conservation values as well as access to the Trail.
The town has been supportive of the effort of the Cape Cod Commission’s Cape Cod Pathways
project to link trails to form a Cape-wide network and the town has completed most of a contiguous
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trans-town path as part of the regional Pathways system. The town's Cape Cod Pathways
Committee had worked consistently over the last two decades to implement the Brewster Pathways
Plan and Brewster Department of Natural Resources has taken over the planning and maintenance
of this important through trail. Any privately owned parcels that are necessary to cross as part of
the Cape Cod Pathways Plan should continue to be considered a high land protection priority for
their recreational value, as well as their conservation value.
4. State Conservation and Recreation Land
State-owned land in Brewster includes the Cape Cod Rail Trail and Nickerson State Park. Nickerson
State Park in the eastern sector of the town provides a passive and active recreational facility of over
1,960 acres and is a favorite Mid-Cape destination spot. The park provides over 400 camp sites, eight
miles of hiking and bicycle trails, freshwater and saltwater swimming, interpretive programs, fishing
and boating. The park is owned and managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and
Recreation. Nickerson State Park offers family outings, camping, hiking, swimming, or boating.
There is a stocked year round pond for freshwater fishing.
Roland C. Nickerson State Park was the first state park, or “state forest park” as it was originally
called, in the Commonwealth. The park was established in 1934 when members of the Nickerson
family donated approximately 1,727 acres to the state in memory of Roland C. Nickerson, Junior
and Senior. All lands were located south of Route 6A. Prior to the donation, the property had been
used as the Nickerson’s private game preserve (Edmonds 1988).
Development of recreation infrastructure began almost immediately after the park’s establishment;
it continued through the 1970s. In 1983, the park expanded northward to the shores of Cape Cod
Bay. It now included coastal resources and recreational opportunities. Also acquired in the
expansion were dozens of buildings, including the historic Crosby Mansion and Crosby House.
Today, Nickerson is perhaps best known for its campground, the largest in the Complex;
waterbased recreation, and for its connection to the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Coastal access is provided
along the park’s approximately 4,200 feet of shoreline on Cape Cod Bay. The sandy beach and
shallow, warm waters of the Bay make it popular with beachgoers. Hundreds of acres of flats are
exposed. Sections of the beach are closed seasonally to protect state-listed beachnesting birds. The
beach is unguarded and there are no bathroom facilities. Portable toilets are available seasonally
at two adjacent municipal beaches; Linnell Landing Beach and Crosby Landing Beach. There are
no signs identifying the DCR-owned portions of the beach; they appear to be extensions of Town
of Brewster beaches.
The NSP Namskaket Sea Path, the first intertidal hiking trail in Massachusetts, extends from
Nickerson’s bayside beach in Brewster to the town-owned Skaket Beach in Orleans. It is passable
only at low tide, and requires wading across Skaket Creek and walking across at least 1,000 feet
of flats. It lacks suitable markers.
The Stephen L. French Youth Forestry Camp is also located here. It is a Department of Youth
Services facility that contains a ropes course, administrative buildings, cabins, workshops, and
sheds. The Homeward Bound Wilderness Program is one of the oldest wilderness therapy
programs in the country, it is a highly structured 27-day outdoor experiential education program
for court-acquainted adolescents and is home based at the 26 acre Forestry Camp. The program is
funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Youth Services and operated by
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June 8, 2020
the contracted vender, Accept Inc. Approximately 216 youths participate each year. In operation
year-round since 1970, Homeward Bound continues to evolve and expand experiences for each
participant. During the course of the program youth learn to value their health, cook meals for
themselves, take responsibility for their actions, practice household chores, run a 10K marathon,
team building skills, conflict resolution, and much more. Instructors do everything with the youth
and are present the entire time.
DCR leases the Crosby Estate to the town. The 1888 eclectic 35-room Crosby Mansion is the
centerpiece of Albert Crosby’s seaside estate. The mansion, named “Tawasentha” was built around
Crosby’s childhood home, an early 19th century Cape Cod-style house. It is managed through the
DCR’s Historic Curatorship Program. The lessees, the town/Friends of Crosby Mansion, rent the
Mansion and three seaside cottages, using revenues generated to rehabilitate the mansion. (Foley
2015). The Friends have restored and rehabilitated the mansion over the years, with the help of
donations, grants and town funds.
DCR also leases the Former Camp Monomoy to the Cape Repertory Theatre. Camp Monomoy
started as Camp Mon-O-Moy in 1922, boys’ camp, Camp Wono for Girls was added in 1939.
forming the Cape Cod Sea Camps. The camp was purchased in 1983 and added to Nickerson. In
1991, the Cape Rep was named lessee of some of the camp buildings as well as the Cape House
and Barn through special legislation. Under the 25-year lease agreement, the non-profit theater
uses the properties for theatrical programs and performances. The Cape Rep has restored and
rehabilitated a number of the buildings over the years, with the help of donations, grants and town
funds. The Cape Rep maintains buildings and grounds within their control and offers six to eight
plays per year.
There is also a 1.5 acre wetland parcel on Thad Ellis Road, purchased in 1993 by the MA Division of
Fish & Wildlife for permanent protection and the Brewster State Forest, 26 forested acres, located
just west of the Sheep Pond Woodlands Conservation Area. The Forest is bisected by the Cape Cod
Rail Trail and extends south to Sheep Pond.
The Cape Cod Rail Trail, which is over five miles long in Brewster, covers about 60 acres. This route,
once taken by the railroad, is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and
Recreation, and also runs through the Towns of Dennis, Harwich, Orleans, Eastham, and Wellfleet
5. Brewster Conservation Trust Land
The Brewster Conservation Trust was formed by citizens greatly concerned with the impacts of
development on the town’s natural resources. Although privately chartered (granted in 1983 by the
Mass. Legislature), it is a public organization with several hundred members. The Trust Charter states
that its purpose is to promote preservation of the natural and rural character of the Town of Brewster,
the establishment of sound conservation practices, and acquisition by gift, purchase or otherwise of
real estate of every sort and description.
Because of the nature of its formative charter and private financing (independent of tax dollar
funding), the Trust is able to offer methods of land protection and acquisition which extend beyond
limits governing town agencies. There is a sliding scale of tax effects on Conservation Restrictions
established by the Town of Brewster Assessors, based on time length of the Restrictions. A summary
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June 8, 2020
of the land parcels owned and managed by the Brewster Conservation Trust is provided in Appendix
E.
6. Orenda Wildlife Land Trust
Formed in 1986, Orenda has acquired over 300 acres that are preserved as sanctuaries on Cape
Cod and in western Massachusetts. Orenda also protects hundreds more acres by holding
conservation restrictions on some parcels or charitable trust agreements with other land trusts on
their land. Orenda owns one parcel (27.46 acres) in Brewster. The Brewster Conservation Trust holds
a conservation restriction on this parcel.
7. The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts
Though The Compact does not own any lands in Brewster except for those it holds temporarily
during land acquisition proceedings, it contributes much in the way of land protection planning,
including planning, land management and land protection work. The Compact provides technical
expertise to the town and the Brewster Conservation Trust and also shares a staff person with the
BCT. They maintain an office in Brewster at the headquarters of the Brewster Conservation Trust.
8. Camps and Sporting Clubs
There are several private non-profit camps and sporting clubs in Brewster that provide important
recreational facilities for kids and adults including:
• Camp Mitton-Crossroads;
• Camp Favorite - Girl Scouts;
• Cape Cod Fish and Game;
• Brewster Sportsman's Club;
• Cape Cod Sea Camps;
• Dream Day Cape Cod
9. Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
Brewster has some important museum sites that provide open space and recreation resources
including the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in west Brewster which offers indoor and
outdoor programs and activities including several miles of walking trails and extensive wetland
resource areas. The John Wing Trail (1.3 miles) leads across the saltmarsh, north to Wing’s Island
and finally descends to the barrier beach and Cape Cod Bay. To the south, across Route 6A, is the
Lee Baldwin Trail (1 mile) which runs through the salt marsh, across Stony Brook to a large Beech
forest. The Stony Brook Herring Run starts at this marsh and runs all the way to the Upper and
Lower Mill Ponds and the Millsites on Stony Brook Road. The Museum owns a total of 73.24 acres.