In November 2004, voters of Kennebunk adopted the Kennebunk Open Space Plan as an important component of the town’s Comprehensive Plan.

This Open Space Plan identifies each of the town’s natural, recreational and cultural resources and lays out the environmental, recreational and town character priority areas.

This plan is a comprehensive blueprint for the preservation of the town’s ecological, recreational and visual appearance. It notes the importance of the historical look of the three villages, highlights the rural view sheds and encourages the protection of our valuable water bodies. It also places an importance on the ability of members of the community to use and enjoy this land. 

Currently, 52 percent of Kennebunk’s land area is developed residentially, commercially, industrially or municipally; with more development occurring each year. The remaining undeveloped open land falls into two categories: protected and unprotected. 

Protected land amounts to about 22 percent of the town’s land area and is made up of municipal, state and federal lands as well as Kennebunk Land Trust and Nature Conservancy lands. This open space provides areas for both active and passive recreation, as well as providing for the protection of important wildlife habitats and environmentally sensitive areas. 

The second category is unprotected, undeveloped land. This land is privately owned and is most vulnerable to further development. 

How much open space is enough for the town’s future needs and desires? This is a difficult and very personal question. As we consider funding options, we need to ask ourselves how we see the future of our town. What needs to be protected to allow the village character and farmland we all currently enjoy to remain? What special areas in town can we not afford to lose? What can we do to allow responsible development and preserve these valuable resources at the same time? 

The Kennebunk Open Space Plan Implementation Committee has conducted several seminars to educate and empower residents and landowners regarding the benefits of open space protection, because they will ultimately be the ones who make the recommendations of the plan a reality. The committee has provided information and outreach to landowners as follows: 

It has sponsored several televised educational seminars over the past year aimed at informing townspeople of open space programs, funding alternatives, tax incentives, and the impact on taxes and increased municipal costs associated with development. 

These seminars have outlined the economic as well as the natural resource value of open spaces as an essential part of the town’s infrastructure just as are schools, public buildings, roads and utilities. 

The committee has been working to establish a funding mechanism for the purpose of acquiring lands (from willing sellers) that have significant environmental and visual value. 

Kennebunk’s remaining open space lands are our most threatened and dwindling resource. As a commodity it is not renewable – once it’s gone it cannot be replaced. 

Kennebunk Open Space Plan Implementation Committee