Celebration of 25th Anniversary has Summer Family Events, Photo Contest
This September, the Great Barrington Land Conservancy marks 25 years as a non-profit corporation dedicated to land conservation, farm preservation and community trail development.
Since our beginnings, we have preserved hundreds of acres of agricultural land and open space. We acquired the Pfeiffer Arboretum on Long Pond Road and created a .7 mile walking trail so that visitors can enjoy the diverse forest and wetland ecosystem. The Housatonic River Walk, our downtown treasure, is a unique riverside walking experience that has linked our town to its river and fostered riverside stewardship in dozens of volunteers and financial contributors. We helped to conserve and create the Fountain Threemile Trail between Fountain State Park and the Berkshire South Recreational Area. We formed the Lake Mansfield Alliance and created the trails in the Lake Mansfield Conservation Forest.
Our achievements are the result of the hard work of our volunteers, our members and our all-volunteer Board of Directors.
We celebrate these accomplishments with a summer of family friendly events, starting with a paddle and hike on River Walk to June 3 to observe National Trails Day. On July 15, Tom Ingersoll will lead a guided tree walk on River Walk. Entries to our first annual Photo Contest may be made until July 30th. Our anniversary celebration is our Hullaballoo dinner on September 10. We conclude the celebration with Run for the Hills, our road run/walk for all ages.
Town Awards CPA Grants to GBLC for New Trail
GBLC is proud to announce plans for a new trail and upgrades to existing trails, funded primarily by grants from the Community Preservation Act funds collected by the town and authorized by voters on May 1.
The new trail, which will run from Bridge Street to Brookside Road, will provide opportunities for river access, nature study, and a pleasant 1.25 mile walking route. GBLC was awarded $58,000 for the cost of surveying, permitting, engineering and trail design work. The trail will be designed by Peter Jensen, designer of Housatonic River Walk and the Lake Mansfield Conservation Forest Trails. Total cost for the design and development work is estimated at $75,000.
Supporters of the new trail can donate to GBLC by visiting the Donate page. Donations will be used to help cover the cost of development.