By Marshall Collins

The City of Somerville has been focused on increasing open space for years, but the issue is coming into focus now more than ever before: The city council and planning board meet regularly to discuss the matter, and the city is more broadly looking at the future of open space as it reevaluates its goals in SomerVision 2040.

According to “The Path Since 2010,” which was put out this year by the city, Somerville has the least open space per capita in Massachusetts. As a result, in 2010, SomerVision’s steering committee set an ambitious goal: creating 125 new acres of publicly-accessible open space.

The report acknowledges the challenges associated with setting such a goal. For one thing, it estimates that creating open space costs about $6.2 million per acre (including acquisition, design and construction). Using those metrics, the report estimates the total cost of meeting SomerVision’s open space goal at $629 million: Four times the cost of the Somerville High School renovation.

But even in the context of a straining financial reality, Somerville has created 15 acres of open space since the goal was created in 2011. The North Street Veterans Playground, Maxwell’s Green Park and Dog Park, Quincy Street Park, Sylvester Baxter Riverfront Park, Assembly Square Black 2A Plaza, Chuckie Harris Park, Symphony Park, 50 Middlesex Park and Zero New Washington Street Dog Park have all created more open pace for Somerville residents and visitors to relax, exercise, spend time with loved one and engage with the community.

But, of course, 15 acres is a small fraction of the 125 acres the city set out to create. To further help meet the goal, the city’s 2016-2023 Open Space and Recreation Plan was created, in part to qualify Somerville for state funding for city parks. It also helped to accurately quantify and inventory existing open space, in part because plan goals include not only acquiring more land, but also renovating existing parks and open spaces.

SomerVision’s updated open space goals are a little more broad, and perhaps more attainable: creating and programming a network of vibrant public open spaces and shared use paths throughout the city. The goal here is to create multi-purpose spaces that promote healthy living and “reflect changing recreational interests and cultural opportunities.”

And more increased open space acreage is underway: As the initial phase of the renovation of Somerville’s historic library kicks off, improved landscaping to create ample green and open space is a key feature of the design. Plus, residents themselves are kicking in with events like the Mystic River Watershed Association’s annual return of the herring fun run and paddle – an event that not only raises awareness of the returning of herring to the river, but also promotes stewardship of the watershed and provides access to open space and recreation for residents.

And of course there are the proposed increases in open space from Somerville developments in progress – Xmbly at Assembly Row is creating over an acre of new open space. And, 3.5 acres of open space and public realm improvements have been proposed by Union Square master developer US2, including landscaped pedestrian plazas, pocket parks, community gardens and a new 27,000 square foot neighborhood park.

As the city continues to work to meet its ambitious goals, partnering both with the community, as well as developers with the means to hit the city’s targets, will be a key factor to their success.