East Chop Association Parks Overview
The Parks owned by the East Chop Association have been instrumental in defining the physical and social environment of the East Chop community. The East Chop Association Board of Directors prepared a brochure, replicated here on this web page, to highlight the rich heritage, preservation, and maintenance of parkland that has been dedicated as Parks to our community, the town of Oak Bluffs, and the island of Martha's Vineyard.
Historical Overview
In July of 1959, Ruel S. Smith compiled a historical narrative of the East Chop Association Parks. The information came substantially from printed records and reveals the background by which the parks were brought under the Association's ownership and control.Follow this link to read Smith's History of the East Chop Association's Parks
The importance of the parks to the character of the East Chop community can be seen in the Association’s Articles of Organization, the By-Laws and in the Fiduciaries’ Deeds from the Highlands Property Trust. Under the Articles of Organization, the East Chop Association was formed to improve the streets, public squares and parks by maintaining and preserving all of such land for the use and benefit of the people. The By-Laws of the Association set up a Parks Committee to care for, protect and maintain the parks and property owned by the Association. The actions of the Parks Committee have been further guided by the terms and restrictions contained in the deeds conveying property to the Association.
This overview provides the background for the Management Goals and Policies and Practices of the East Chop Association Parks Policy that has been approved by the Association’s Board of Directors.Park and Properties Policies - Follow this link to display our Park and Property Policies