The Open Space Program is located in the Planning Department office in Town Hall, and is staffed by Kristen Grubbs, the Open Space Program Manager , and Beth O'Connor the Open Space Stewardship Coordinator.

Telephone: 978-356-6607 Fax: 978-356-6682

In the spring of 2000, the Ipswich Annual Town Meeting authorized a $10 million Open Space Bond for the protection of land for open space, water supply protection, and recreation. Subsequently, the Board of Selectmen created and appointed members to an Open Space Bond Steering Committee to make recommendations on how the program should be administered. One of the recommendations included the hiring of aProgram Manager to oversee acquisitions to the Open Space Program. Additionally, as properties have been acquired, the Open Space Program recognized the need for additional staff to properly coordinate the stewardship of the town’s acquisitions, which led to the hiring of the Open Space Stewardship Coordinator in 2003. In 2011, the Town approved an additional $5 million authorization for the purpose of open space acquisitions and also for costs related to development of properties for recreational uses.

Presently, the Open Space Program is staffed by the Open Space Program Manager, the Open Space Stewardship Coordinator, and the Conservation Restriction Monitor Intern. In addition, the Open Space Program will continue to fund additional labor through the Parks & Cemetery Division in the form of a Seasonal Laborer position for open space property stewardship and maintenance.