Wethersfield Open Space Inventories - Gary Moffat ('08)

In 2006 Gary Moffat, a student at Trinity College used old maps and aerial photography (available from the CT State Library) and Geographical Informations Sytems  (GIS) software to map the losss of open space in Wethersfield between 1906 and 2003. The results of his study are shown in the panels above. Open space (parcels with no visible buildings) are shown in green, built-up parcels are shown in red. White areas are present-day roads and highways, which are not included in this study.

The panel of figures shown below summarizes Gary's findings. In 1906 most of Wethersfield was open space and the first map on the left is almost entirely green. Since then, the amount of open space has steadily declined. For a larger version of these maps click on the corresponding image.

How the maps were made:

Gary started out by obtaining historical maps or aerial imagery (Fig. 1). Using GIS Gary matched these maps with a 2003 parcel map obtained from the Town of Wethersfield (Fig. 2).

Then the work started in earnest: working his way up from a 1906 map, Gary investigated every single parcel  and decided whether it was open space and color coded it accordingly (Fig. 3). Note that Gary's method does not include present day roads and highways. These areas are not included in any of the maps and are left white.

Gary’s estimate of open space includes such diverse areas as agricultural fields and farms, parks, wetlands, but also golf courses and ball fields.

Fig. 1 example of an aerial image Fig. 2 The same aerial image with the current Wethersfield parcel map superimposed. Fig. 3 classification of these parcels into open space (green) and built-up land (red)

 

What did Gary Find?

Open space has decreased continuously from 1906 to 2003 as Wethersfield changed from a mostly rural community into the town we know today.

The largest part of undivided open space today is located in the meadows, which constitute part of the Connecticut river floodplain, but open space in unprotected upland areas is becoming exceedingly rare as most parcels have been developed since 1906.

 

Fig. 4 shows the change in open space between 1906 and 2003. Because Gary’s methodology ignores the areas taken up by roads, his early maps underestimate the amount of open space, while it is pretty accurate for more recent years.

Most open space was lost between 1934 and 1970, when Wethersfield was developed at a rapid pace. Over the past decades the loss has slowed because most land suitable for development has either already been developed or is protected from future development (because of its wetland status or current use as recreational property, such as ball fields, golf courses or park land). Therefore the few remaining parcels of developable open space, such as the few remaining farms, are under intense pressure from potential developers.

 

larger version
Fig. 4: Loss of open space in Wethersfield since 1906
 

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for comments on Gary's work click here