Community Corner

Donation to Land Trust Significantly Increases Open Space

The 32 acres in Middletown has streams, riparian and wetland areas, and a 5-acre trade­land site, whose lease or sale will support the Middlesex Land Trust's mission.

 

has added 32 acres of open space to expand the Boardman Preserve in Middletown — a donation of land by Middle Boardman Associates LLC.

In 2010, in collaboration with the U.S. Army, the Middlesex Land Trust purchased 54 acres of the former farm on Boardman Lane in Middletown creating the Boardman Preserve. The Army provided the funding for the purchase of the open space and is managing a wetlands restoration project on the land as mitigation for the loss of habitat destroyed by the development of a new Army base built on another property.

This year, the owner of the initial parcel that was sold, Middle Boardman Associates LLC, led by Pedro Wasmer, has donated the remaining portion of the Boardman Lane parcel to the Middlesex Land Trust. This additional open space substantially increases the size of the Boardman Preserve and will provide added protection for the Sawmill Brook Watershed.

The Preserve now includes both sides of Sawmill and Richards Brooks, creating a significantly larger preserve. In addition to the streams, riparian and wetland areas, this donation includes a 5-acre trade­land site, a parcel of land donated with the intent to support the land trust’s mission through its lease or sale, rather than as conserved property. While the Middlesex Land Trust has no plans to sell the trade-land, it may be used in the future to help fund the protection of additional critically important open space.

The Middlesex Land Trust is a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve open space in Northern Middlesex County and ensure that these lands remain in open space for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations. For information, call 860-343-7537.


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