Weston Open Space Committee extends survey to September, plots October forums

WESTON — July 28, 2025 — Weston's Open Space and Recreation Committee voted to extend its public planning survey through mid-September and began organizing fall public forums. Barrett Planning Group consultant Laurel Mere reported 108 responses collected so far — well below the 420 gathered in the 2017 planning cycle — with a 64 percent completion rate. New committee member Emily volunteered to produce a Chinese-language version of the survey after noting that Chinese-speaking residents encountered the English-only form through WeChat and abandoned it. Recreation Director Chris said the department can push the survey directly to pool and camp registrants by email. David Banks of Western Forest and Trails, also attending his first meeting, offered to set up survey access at the organization's September 12 annual event, which draws roughly 250 attendees. The committee set October as the target window for at least two public forums — one weekend and one weeknight — with a scheduling poll to go out before the next meeting, tentatively August 18 or 25.