Dunham’s Brook Conservation Area opens to a large crowd!

EverythingWestport.com

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

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Over 60 people joined together to open the 88 acre conservation area on Main Road on July 6.

Westport, Massachusetts – The Westport Land Conservation Trust opened its newest Conservation Area, Dunham’s Brook, on Sunday, July 6. The largest group ever, over 60 people, joined the Westport Land Conservation Trust, members of the Town’s Community Preservation Committee, the Krapf Family, the Giblin Family and The Trustee’s of Reservations to open the largest of four Land Trust properties now open to the public in Westport. Susanna Krapf, daughter of Julia and Alexander Krapf, cut the ribbon to a good round of applause. About half the group ventured on to the trails for a walk after the opening remarks and ribbon cutting.

Photos courtesy of the Westport Land Trust. From left to right: (1) Set up crew proudly showing off their new sign; (2)Terry White, Westport Land Conservation Trust, and Liz Collins, CPC member making the opening remarks; and (3) Susanna Krapf, daughter of Julia and Alexander Krapf, cutting the ribbon to a good round of applause.

The 88-acre Dunham’s Brook Conservation Area is made up of two parcels of land. A 60 acre piece, known as King Hill, was donated to the Westport Land Conservation Trust in 2006 by the Krapf Family. The Land Trust was able to purchase adjoining land from the Giblin Family in 2008 thanks to the cooperative efforts of the Westport Land Conservation Trust, the Town of Westport’s Community Preservation Fund and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs. Protection was achieved with the support of the Trustees of Reservations.

These two pieces of land together created one of the largest conservation areas open to the public in Westport. The land contains trails, cultivated fields and important wetlands. The ecologically significant Dunham’s Brook originates to the north, flows through these properties, and then flows through 200 acres of preserved land before emptying into the West Branch of the Westport River. It provides an important source of high-quality fresh water for the Westport River Estuary.

Photos by EverythingWestport.com

About the Westport Land Conservation Trust

Since its founding in 1972, the Westport Land Conservation Trust has assisted landowners in protecting more than 1,469 acres in Westport, Massachusetts. WLCT is a private non-governmental organization dedicated to local land conservation on behalf of the Westport community. The organization accepts gifts of land and conservation restrictions on land, and assists farm owners in preserving farmland with agricultural preservation restrictions.

For more information, contact Peggy Stevens, Executive Director of the Westport Land Conservation Trust at: ( Days: (508) 636-3643

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