Brookfield Looking at 7.7 Acres of Open Space Off Merwin Brook, Murphys Lane

The Brookfield Board of Selectmen (BOS) is considering the purchase of 7.7 acres of woodland off Merwin Brook Road that abuts Gurski Open Space (Williams Park) and would add another access point to Brookfield’s largest piece of open space.

The property is currently part of 14 acres at 4 Murphys Lane, which the property owners, Richard and Maureen Lane, have offered to subdivide and sell a portion to the town.

“The Conservation Commission is very interested in pursuing this piece,” Commission Chairman Alice Dew said. “It would add to Williams/Gurski Open Space and would allow access from Merwin Brook Road.”

Merwin Brook cuts through the property and its addition will give residents better access to the stream and the eastern side of Gurski Open Space.

The BOS approved moving forward Monday night. The town will begin with an appraisal before moving on to negotiating a price. (The final price will likely require a Town Meeting vote, as well.)

According to Vision Appraisal, the 14 acres of land at 4 Murphys Lane was assessed at $213,380 in 2011. (The entire property, including buildings, was assessed at $327,600.)

Approximately half of the final price (depending on negotiations) would be covered through the Conservation Commission’s Open Space Fund, according to Dew, with the remaining funding to come from the town.

What do you think? Is this a good piece of open space for the town to acquire?