Pascommuck Conservation Trust celebrates 40 yearsDate: 5/10/2022 EASTHAMPTON – Celebrating 40 years of protecting open land and farmland in Easthampton, the Pascommuck Conservation Trust (PCT) will host an event on June 25 at John Bator Park to commemorate the historical milestone.
The PCT acquired its first parcel of land for preservation in 1982, and currently stewards a total of 16 properties, many of which offer walking trails throughout the City of Easthampton.
The event will run from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with an itinerary that includes guest speakers, arts and crafts and homemade goodies. Parking will be available at the city hall lot, adjacent to the park.
The PCT, according to board member Marty Klein, was originally founded by a group of Easthampton citizens who were concerned about cleaning up Nashawannuck Pond, which was polluted at the time.
“It evolved into a land protection organization; we are concerned with protecting important conservation land, farmlands and open space in Easthampton,” Klein said.
“We don’t really set goals each year. We are opportunistic in that if a piece of land that we have determined has ecological importance or is a piece of farmland up for development, we get involved and see if we can somehow protect it,” Klein added. “We are not anti-development, but that development is more appropriate in some places more than others.”
Klein pointed out that the PCT is an all-volunteer organization, relying on the community to join in the land protecting efforts.
Throughout its 40-year history, Klein mentioned two examples of successful land saving campaigns.
Across 2006 and 2007, one successful project was the protection of Easthampton’s largest working farm, Park Hill Orchard.
“There was a proposal to build condominiums, so we began a protection act effort … it was a big project that we partnered with the national organization, The Trust for Public Land, along with the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture. We had to raise $300,000 and we managed to do it,” Klein said.
In 2012, the PCT acquired a six-acre parcel of land that is now known as the Mutters Field Accessible Trail, offering beautiful views of Mount Tom.
“That was an expensive effort and we received a lot of support from the city, the Community Preservation Act Committee and we received some other grants. We have this lovely property now used by people with mobility issues, mothers with strollers and ordinary people who want to take an easy walk.”
To continue the 40-year anniversary mark, the PCT will be hosting guided nature walks on a few of the properties throughout the year. Check the website at www.pctland.org for further information.
“We [the PCT] like to provide public access, which is sometimes not practical. We do this for the public, not ourselves. There is inherent value in open spaces. I think you cannot put a price on it,” Klein noted.
In addition to walks to inspire fundraising efforts, the PCT encourages donations and benches can be purchased on potential sites on properties with a commemorative plaque on the bench. Memberships are also offered – the PCT has 300 members at this point.
“One of the challenges, even though we have been here for 40 years, a good percentage of the community doesn’t know who we are. We are always trying to get the word out,” Klein said.
|
