Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources

The Town's updated Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) is currently being finalized and on March 3, 2025 was presented to the Select Board.   As currently drafted, the Plan perpetuates the work of the prior Plan in terms of prioritizing acquiring and protecting strategically important open space parcels of land.  The Plan currently contains the following objective: Work with local, regional, and state partners, as well as private landowners, to permanently protect significant natural resources, particularly land within the Lake Cochichewick watershed, important scenic and historic landscapes, and farmland, among others.  - Updated 3/3/2025

2023 Annual Town Meeting voted to approve the use of $515,000 in Community Preservation Act funds to acquire 0 Bradford Street - a 6.9 acre parcel that lies within the Town's Watershed Protection Overlay District and is sandwiched between Town-owned Carter Hill and Mazurenko Farm, which both have publicly accessible trails.  Trail linkages on the 0 Bradford Street parcel are anticipated.  The Town will seek to place a permanent conservation restriction on the property. - Updated 5/17/2023

• As of now, the Town has not been able to successfully negotiate purchase of this parcel from the current owner.

In May of 2022, Annual Town Meeting approved an appropriation of $1.7 million from the Town's Water Enterprise Fund to purchase 400 Great Pond Road.  The 7.8 acre property abuts Lake Cochichewick and includes a home that juts into the Lake.   Acquisition of the property is strategically advantageous to the Town, because it protects this area of the Lake as open space and it enables the Town's Water Department to accommodate higher water levels for the Lake without inconveniencing the owner of the property. - Updated July 14, 2022

• In September of 2022, the Town officially acquired this parcel of land and soon after, formed a committee that will make recommendations on how to utilize it and what to do with the existing residential structure. - Updated September 26, 2022

• In December of 2023, the Committee made a recommendation to the Select Board that the Town demolish the existing structure on the property. - Updated 12/2023

In 2020, the Town allocated $200,000 in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding toward the acquisition of the Glennie Woodlot property - a 9.25 acre open space parcel located on Dale Street, near the intersection of Ironwood Road - for open space preservation and passive recreation uses.  To learn more about the property, click here.

In February of 2023, the Town Manager's office sponsored an application for Community Preservation Act Funding (CPA) to support needed repairs to the property's Carriage House (Stables), which will stabilize the building.  The need for this project is based on an assessment of the building performed by Windover Construction.   The Town is seeking $150,000 from the CPA. - Updated 2/6/2023

• 2023 Annual Town Meeting approved a CPA appropriation of $150,000 for stabilization of the Stables (Carriage House). - Updated 5/17/2023

• 2024 Annual Town Meeting approved an additional $150,000 for stabilization of the Stables (Carriage House) - Updated 5/15/2024

• 2025 Annual Town Meeting approved an additional $450,000 for continued stabilization of the Stables (Carriage House) - Updated 5/14/2025

In May 2021, the Town entered a 10 year agreement (with two potential five year extensions) with Fireside Catering and Mass Audubon for management of the Stevens Estate and its grounds/trails, effective October 15, 2021.

Reports evaluating the conditions of Stevens Estate buildings on the Osgood Hill property can be accessed by clicking here.

In March of 2025, the North Andover Historical Society announced that it and several former North Andover Middle School students, under the leadership of teacher Mr. Pat McGravey, teamed up to create a new exhibit focusing on William Symmes Jr., an Andover (now North Andover) resident and Massachusetts representative, who provided a pivotal vote in favor of the ratification of the Constitution. The exhibit opened to the public on Saturday, April 5, at the Parson Barnard House. The Parson Barnard House Museum is located at 179 Osgood Street in North Andover. - Updated 3/31/2025

In 2018, the Essex County Community Foundation launched its Creative County Initiative – a partnership with the Barr Foundation to elevate arts and culture in Essex County.  The goal has been to work with local communities to learn how to infuse cultural development into community development. The belief is that a cultural action plan enriches the cultural life of a city or town while helping to fuel economic growth and enhance the safety, health and connectivity of our communities.

• The project includes an Expression Book that can be found as part of a larger "story map" that details cultural assets around the region.  The book includes a chapter (Chapter 5) that details cultural expressions from North Andover.

In June of 2023, the North Andover Poet Laureate Committee held its annual awards ceremony for the Anne Bradstreet Poetry Contest on the Town Common. - Updated 6/16/23

In summer of 2022, the Town's Youth and Recreation Services Department hosted a series of children's shows and concerts on the Common.

In May 2021, the Town entered a 10 year agreement (with two potential five year extensions) with Fireside Catering and Mass Audubon for management of the historic Stevens Estate and its grounds/trails, effective October 15, 2021.

• As part of this agreement, Mass Audubon provides educational programming such as bird and nature walks.

• Fireside is collaborating with the North Andover Public Schools, the Youth Center, Stevens Memorial Library and the Senior Center to offer 12 Educational programs per year.

• Fireside hosts an annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the Senior Center, the first of which was held in 2022.

The North Andover Summer Fitness Series is held on the Town Common on an annual basis.

Each spring, The North Andover Festival Committee hosts the Sheep Shearing Festival on the Town Common, which features several free events including a shearing demonstration, music, blacksmithing demonstration, and much more.  It also features crafter booths, food vendors, pony rides, and cow-pie bingo.

The North Andover Merchants Association hosts an annual Fall Festival on the Town Common, which includes businesses, crafters, food trucks, games, pumpkin decorating, pony rides, and more.

The North Andover Historical Society regularly hosts a variety of events at its Stevens Center facility, such as lectures/discussions, movie screenings, tours, markets, and more.

• • Beginning in April 2024, the Historical Society began hosting monthly theatrical events in partnership with the Acting Out! Theater Company of Lawrence, MA. - Updated 4/10/2024

The Artisan Market at the Mills began in the summer of 2018 and is an annual collaboration of the North Andover Farmers Market and the East and West Mills (which are properties of historic significance). The markets are handmade only events with artisans from all over New England.  It also offers live music, children's activities and food trucks.  The markets take place in the lots behind the West Mill on High St. 

The Trustees owns and maintains the historic Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, at which it hosts several events and activities for its members or those who wish to pay for admission.  Events include nature-based walks and hikes, children's activities, art workshops, and a winter/holiday lights festival.

Youth and Recreation Services sponsors both an annual Summer Sunday Concert Series and Summer Children's Shows on the North Andover Town Common.

The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) provides numerous opportunities for the general public to visit and experience their properties, while making continual efforts to enhance visitors' experience.

• The Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens regularly hosts events that the public can access, such as Spring Blooms, Yoga in the Gardens, Wee Explorers, Garden Tours, Winter Lights, and more.

• In 2021, The Trustees completed several upgrades to the Stevens Coolidge property, which included a new entrance and parking lot off Rte. 125 (Chickering Road).  Guests no longer have to cross busy Andover Street to access the property.  This new entrance allows full use of the site’s 91 acres, and visitors will park overlooking Helen’s Meadow, named after the property’s namesake Helen Stevens Coolidge.  The property also now has a new Garden Gateway building—crafted out of a former maintenance shed that features classroom space, a gift shop, and snack counter.  A new boardwalk through the naturalistic wetlands leads to the more formal legacy gardens that encircle the house.

The North Andover Historical Society holds "First Saturdays" - each first Saturday, May through October, it provides free admission to the historic Parson Barnard House. The Parson Barnard House, located at 179 Osgood Street, was built in 1715 and retains much of its original character.  In the open rooms, visitors can see the lifestyle of early settlers in the area.

In February 2022 and 2023, in recognition of Black History Month, the Town partnered with the North Parish Racial Justice Team and the North Andover Historical Society on a project to educate residents and celebrate the diversity in our past.  Artwork for a series of banners was commissioned from Elevated Thought, with each banner acknowledging and celebrating the contribution of an African American with local, regional or state connection.  Some of these banners were placed at Town buildings, such as the Senior Center, Town Hall, and the Youth Center.

Windrush Farm offers numerous programs, such as riding lessons and hippotherapy, and it offers opportunities for scholarships, in order to provide wider access to these programs.

• Windrush Farm now offers the opportunity for educational institutions and other organizations to host field trips at the farm.  This is an opportunity to visit a horse farm, learn about and interact with horses and explore the flora and fauna on a New England farm.  Groups of up to 10 of all abilities are welcome.

At least two (2) times in in 2022, Merrimack College brought students to the North Andover Senior Center to sing to patrons.

In December of 2022, Temple Emanu-El's Cantor, Vera Broekhuysen, hosted a conversation at the North Andover Senior Center called "The Jewish Holiday Experience" about the Jewish holidays while enjoying traditional holiday foods.

In May of 2022, Annual Town Meeting approved an appropriation of $1.7 million from the Town's Water Enterprise Fund to purchase 400 Great Pond Road.  The 7.8 acre property abuts Lake Cochichewick and includes a home that juts into the Lake.   Acquisition of the property is was strategically advantageous to the Town, because it protects this area of the Lake as open space and it enables the Town's Water Department to accommodate higher water levels for the Lake without inconveniencing the owner of the property. - Updated 7/14/2022

• In September of 2022, the Town officially acquired this parcel of land and intends to form a committee that will make recommendations on how to utilize it and what to do with the existing residential structure. - Updated September 26, 2022

As part of an approved development agreement between the Town and Aimco/Trinity Financial, the proponents would have provided $550,000 to the Town for drinking water supply protection, that could include acquisition of property around Lake Cochichewick.  This arrangement did not proceed because the proposed rezoning of the Royal Crest property to accommodate its redevelopment was voted down at Annual Town Meeting in 2022.