March 2008

Dear Friends, WE DID IT!!!

Norwalk Land Trust working with the Campaign for Farm Creek has closed on the last 2.2 acres to complete the 16.2 acre Farm Creek Preserve.  After almost two years of grass roots fund-raising, the former Hart property at 34 Sammis Street will be the heart of a public place for the enjoyment of nature. There remains a $1 million mortgage to pay off, as well as trails to build and repair work on the stone barn.
Most important, the land is ours and we are on our way. For a list of our generous contributors, click here. 

And we’re not done: after several years of work we expect to gain an easement on 5.13 acres of open space on the former White Barn property in Cranbury, which includes a pond, meadow and wetlands rich in wildlife habitat. This property, too, lends itself to having trails
for public use. Both properties will have been acquired with the help of the CT DEP Open Space and Land Acquisition Grant Program.

We care for our land. On a Saturday morning last April a group of volunteers gathered on Sammis Street in Rowayton to create a trail on
the Norwalk Land Trust’s Langdon property. Once the old trolleyway leading down to Farm Creek and across to the former amusement
park on Bell Island, this half acre strip of woods was given to the NLT in 1992 and is the easternmost section of the Farm Creek Preserve.  Armed with long-handled loppers, clippers, rakes, pitch forks, spades, wheelbarrows and a power saw, this corps of member volunteers
set about clearing a path for public access from the road to the Creek. Spring flowers from bulbs planted the previous fall bloomed in the woods. Three spotted fawns, the usual inhabitants of the property, were nowhere to be seen, but spring birdsong filled the air. The result
was a trail cleared and covered with wood chips. An NLT logo sign was posted at the trailhead to invite visitors.
           
Situated in one of the richest counties in the nation, the City of Norwalk’s focus has traditionally been on development. Today, however, people recognize how important open, undeveloped spaces are to the quality of life we seek in living here. Our Land Trust exists to hold open spaces for the benefit of all, and as property values rise, there is real urgency to prevent the loss of nearly all remaining open space.  We believe our steadily growing membership indicates that people share our concern with our mission of balancing nature and development. 

We hope you will join us by sending your 2008 tax exempt membership contribution today. Membership dues enable us to do what we do. 

Thank you so much,

Norwalk Land Trust Board of Directors

Beth Ackerman – Miki Alicastro – Rich Baskin – Katrina Davies – Rich Henry – Peggy Holton
D. Seeley Hubbard – Henry Huse – Joanne Jackson – Midge Kennedy – Diane Lauricella
Peter Law – Michael Poler – Amy Rowe-Smith – Marny Smith – Ken Whitman – Roger Willcox

Advisory Board

Senator Bob Duff – Diane Keefe – Grace Lichtenstein – Paul Littell – Rep Chris Perone

Click here to read Campaign for Farm Creek Brochure