SHELBURNE — The Open Space Committee is updating the town’s Open Space and Recreation Plan for the first time since 2014 and is seeking input from residents.

A public forum will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Hall meeting room. Residents will have an opportunity to review findings from the draft plan, review maps, and help prioritize which open space and recreation projects Shelburne should pursue.

An Open Space and Recreation Plan contains conservation and recreation goals for the town, and includes an inventory of cultural, natural and recreational resources. It also identifies open space and recreation needs, and outlines a seven-year action plan with specific recommendations.

Many of the action items outlined in the draft plan are based on information gleaned from a public survey that was distributed to residents at the end of 2022. According to Larry Flaccus, co-chair of the Open Space Committee, “the most frequent public responses to the open space and recreation survey were the public’s desire for more access to the Deerfield River and more hiking trails.”

The last Open Space and Recreation Plan was completed in 2014. Having an up-to-date plan qualifies the town to apply for state grants for land conservation and recreation facility improvements.

The Open Space Committee has been working on the update for the last year with help from the Franklin Regional Council of Governments’ Planning Department.

Feedback from Tuesday’s public forum will be incorporated into the final plan.