Ashland Looks Ahead: A Community Vision for 2035

What does it take for a mid-sized New England town to honor its roots while planning boldly for the future? Ashland set out to answer that question, and the result is Envision Ashland, a comprehensive plan that reflects the voices of its people and charts a path to 2035.

Once shaped by industry and the railroad, Ashland today is defined by its civic spirit, cultural diversity, and commitment to sustainability. The Envision Ashland Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2025, builds on this legacy with a flexible roadmap for the next decade.

The process was deeply community-driven. Residents shaped every stage through interviews, surveys, public forums, and creative tools like Meeting-in-a-Box kits and crowdmapping. With more than 3,400 participation points, far beyond the initial goal, the plan reflects the hopes, concerns, and aspirations of the people who call Ashland home.

At its core, the plan is organized around five interconnected themes: building and enhancing community, promoting long-term sustainability, guiding development that honors open space and conservation, enhancing town services and economic development, and creating a connected and accessible community.

These themes translate into clear actions, from revitalizing downtown as a hub of civic and commercial life, to expanding housing choices and affordability, to advancing Net Zero by 2040 goals. The plan also calls for protecting open spaces, celebrating historic and cultural assets, and strengthening connections with safe walking, biking, and transit options.

Ashland’s Comprehensive Plan tells a story of balance, with growth that welcomes new opportunities while preserving what makes the town special. It honors Ashland’s roots and offers a clear, flexible path toward an inclusive, resilient, and connected future.