Open Space and Recreation

Town Staff has a productive working relationship with the Friends of North Andover Trails (FONAT), which provides an interactive map of the town's trail system on its website.  Recently, the Town negotiated a conservation restriction and management agreement with Fireside Catering, Mass Audubon, and FONAT for preservation and enhancement of the trails at Osgood Hill.  

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 includes an objective that states: Pending approval by the Select Board and based on established need, create an Open Space Committee, as noted in the Town’s Master Plan.  - Updated 3/3/2025

In October of 2024, the Select Board voted to include "Riverfront Zoning Overlay to allow for by-right commercial development along the Merrimack River" as one of its goals for fiscal year 2026. - Updated 10/7/2024

In November of 2024, the Planning Board voted to issue a letter to the North Andover Police Department in order to inform of it of a recently passed special permit for an improved boat launch at 0 Great Pond Road (location of the old North Pump Station on Lake Cochichewick).   The letter also informs NAPD of instances where people have violated Lake regulations related to use of the lot after hours, domestic animals in the water, littering, noise, and more.   The Planning Board encourages cooperation with NAPD on informing the public about regulations and working to improve enforcement.  - Updated 12/2/2024

A Lake Access Working Group was established and met through early 2020. The group reviewed existing recreational amenities and their potential impacts on the Lake Cochichewick Drinking Water Supply.  Some recommendations included improving signage for pet owners, adding more fencing to reduce undesirable waterfront access, and rerouting trails away from the waterfront to  discourage access and minimize impacts of hiking. 

In February 2022, the Planning Department in partnership with the Trustees of Reservations submitted a funding application to the Community Preservation Committee, requesting funds for fencing that would fill gaps in the fence along waterfront trails at Weir Hill. If funded, this would officially limit access to an acre of  off-trail shoreline along a highly-trafficked hiking trail.  

In March of 2023, the Town issued a request for proposals (RFP) to solicit the services of a qualified consultant to develop an update to the Town's Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP), which expires at the end of 2023.  A portion of the scope for this project calls for producing an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) self-assessment and transition plan of all Town-owned outdoor recreational areas (parks, playgrounds, schoolyards, etc.). - Updated March 27, 2023

The Town is actively planning two new potential trails that would be accessible by persons with disabilities:

• One is a multi-use path that would connect Main Street in Downtown North Andover, to High Street.  This path would traverse Sutton Pond and extend around the Avalon property;

• The other is a Rail Trail, phase one of which would begin at the High School driveway, extending to the intersection of Dale Street and Marbleridge Road.  A second phase would run from that intersection to Blue Ridge Road.

At the Annual Town Meeting of 2021, Community Preservation Act funding was approved for a Planning Department project for trail and parking improvements at the Weir Hill parking lot on Pleasant Street. These improvements include adding a handicapped parking space, a boardwalk over uneven terrain by the parking lot, and using accessible materials on the causeway and trail up to the Lake Cochichewick boat storage area on the Hatch Trail. 

In February 2021, the Planning Department mapped and outlined a proposal for Phase I of a Rail Trail that would extend from the High School driveway at Osgood Street along the utility right-of-way to Marbleridge Road. 

• In early 2022, the Town contracted with transportation engineering firm Stantec to help develop a design for this proposed trail.  Stantec prepared a Project Need Form (PNF) for MassDOT on behalf of the Town, which it submitted in June of 2022.  The PNF seeks to demonstrate a need for the project and could result in funding through MassDOT's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for construction of the project in the future. - Updated 6/28/2022

• In November 2022, the Town again contracted with Stantec to continue planning and design of this Rail Trail.  This portion of the contract covers completion of a project scope and preliminary trail path, which will be based on public and abutter feedback and submitted to MassDOT for further review. - Updated 11/14/22

The Town, through its Community/Economic Development Department and Planning Department, is utilizing funding it received through a State earmark to plan for a pedestrian trail that will connect Main Street to the Mills to Hills Trail on High Street.  The Town has engaged engineering consultant Greenman-Pedersen (GPI) to develop concept plans and assist with public engagement.  Although the concept is still preliminary, the Town envisions a trail connection that would run over and/or along Sutton Pond, along an existing rail right-of-way, through Clean Harbors' property, and through the East and West Mills' property. - Updated September 26, 2022

In 2019,  the Planning Department oversaw the completion of the Mills to Hills trail, which extends from High Street at the East Mill to the Weir Hill parking lot on Stevens Street. Friends of North Andover Trails (FONAT) and the Trustees of Reservations provided extensive support for this project, including the Trustees allowing the trail to cross over their land. 

In 2019, the Town with support from Essex County Greenbelt received Community Preservation Act funding to acquire the Glennie Woodlot property on Dale Street.  Greenbelt holds the Conservation Restriction on the property and constructed the parking lot on the property.  An old woods road on the property acts as a trail connecting to existing trail networks at Town Farm. 

In January of 2025, the Town's Community Development Department submitted an application to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to fund the acquisition of an approximately 5.5 acre portion of 470 Johnson Street (known as Calzetta Farm) that will both preserve the property from development, and eventually enable it to be used as one or more athletic fields. - Updated 2/3/2025

In 2022, the Town hired consultant Gale Associates to help it develop an Athletic Fields Master Plan, which was completed in January of 2023.   The purpose of the Plan is to evaluate the condition and use of the existing athletic fields in town and propose improvements at these sites to enhance the town’s many athletic programs and outdoor venues.  The fields involved in this project are: Carl Thomas Complex, Grogan’s Field, McEvoy Fields, Aplin Playground, North Andover High School, Carter Fields, Drummond Park, Gallagher Fields, Dale Street Fields, Reynolds Fields, Foster Street Fields, Berry Street Field, and Sharpners Pond Fields.

• On November 2, 2022, the Town held a public meeting to give members of the public the opportunity to share their input on the condition, availability, and effectiveness of the town athletic fields in meeting the community's needs. - Updated 11/14/22

• In January of 2023, the Athletic Fields Master Plan was finalized. - Updated 1/2023

In 2019,  $6 million in Community Preservation Act funding was approved by Town Meeting for the creation of an athletic complex at the Middle School. This project will include a half basketball court, two playgrounds, a walking path, two baseball fields, two multipurpose athletic fields, and two multipurpose courts.

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.

The North Andover Police Department hosts its local version of "National Night Out,"  annually, which takes place the first week of August at Hayes Stadium (North Andover Middle School).  National Night Out is an annual community building campaign that promotes police/community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live.   The cost to attend is free to all North Andover residents. The event includes food, music, and lots of fun and games for the entire family.

With assistance from sponsors such as Lowell Five Bank and the North Andover Merchants Association, the North Andover Farmers Market has been in operation for a few years.  It operates along a section of First Street in downtown North Andover on a weekly basis (Sundays, 10am-1pm) from mid-June to early October, each year.

The Town's Festival Committee organizes numerous annual events, including the Santa Parade, the 4th of July fireworks display, and the Sheep Shearing Festival on the Town Common.

• The Town's FY2023 budget contains $20,000 in new funding for the Festival Committee to use as it sees fit.

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. 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. 

• After a pause during and directly after COVID-19, the Artisan Market is returning on Sunday, May 7, 2023 from 10am to 3pm.