Donation Adds 27-Acre Parcel to Town's Open Space

A beautiful 27-plus acre undeveloped parcel on Rt. 7 has been generously donated by the family of George Ladd, a long time Great Barrington resident, to the Great Barrington Land Conservancy to be preserved forever as a natural area.

The parcel is a highly visible natural landscape, including meadow, wetland, and forest habitat, located just north of Berkshire South Regional Community Center and Crissey Farm. The Land Conservancy will retain approximately 27 acres of the parcel and will work to develop a new hiking trail that connects to the Threemile Hill Trail at Fountain Pond and walking trails at the Community Health Program complex to points further south along Route 7 including Berkshire South Regional Community Center. At the request of the Ladd family, a 0.63 acres parcel will be donated to Berkshire South, who had been in conversation about a donation for many years.

“GBLC is delighted to preserve this property as open space and for future community use. This is a large area that could have been developed. Through the generosity of the Ladd family, the land will be protected in perpetuity and we hope to be able to develop new trails, providing a safe walking corridor along a busy highway route”, noted Carol Noble, president of GBLC.  

 
The potential new trail would depend on a number of pieces falling into place including trail easements from neighboring landowners, a successful trail design and permitting process, and significant fundraising for construction. The Land Conservancy is hopeful this vision will come to fruition in the near future. 

       
The Land Conservancy celebrates its 25th anniversary this year with ongoing stewardship of River Walk, Lake Mansfield, and the Threemile Hill Trail, and ambitious trail improvements at the Pfeiffer Arboretum on Long Pond Road. Learn more about the Land Conservancy and how you can be involved at gbland.org.

    “On behalf of our community, we extend heartfelt thanks to Leslie Fedge and Roger and Paula Suters of the Ladd family for their efforts in donating this property, as well as our partners at Berkshire Natural Resources Council and the Berkshire South Regional Community Center for their support and guidance", Ms. Noble said.