Sudbury Foundation Commits $800,000 To Conserve Nobscot Reservation In Sudbury
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The Sudbury Foundation has awarded Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT), the regional land trust, an $800,000 grant toward its “Campaign to Preserve Nobscot Reservation.”
The Campaign will raise funds to place a conservation restriction (CR) on the Sudbury portion of the Reservation which is owned by the Knox Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Nobscot Reservation has long been of interest to Sudbury Valley Trustees, the Town of Sudbury and the Sudbury Foundation for conservation purposes because of its beauty, size, habitat, rare species and opportunities for passive recreation.
According to Sudbury Foundation Trustee Chair Rich Davison, “This grant commitment, the second largest ever made by the Foundation, is an acknowledgment of our support for this important effort to conserve the Nobscot Reservation, one of the largest tracts of unprotected, undeveloped land in the Metrowest area. With this restriction, the land will remain undeveloped forever.”
The grant represents the first major gift toward the Campaign’s $1.25 million private fundraising goal. “The Sudbury Foundation is a true leader for conservation in both the Town of Sudbury and the region,” said Ron McAdow, SVT Executive Director. “We are all extremely grateful for this tremendous grant from the Sudbury Foundation.”
Under the agreement reached between SVT, the Town of Sudbury and the Knox Trail Council, approximately 300 acres of the Nobscot Scout Reservation will be permanently conserved. SVT and the Town of Sudbury will jointly hold the CR.
The project will be completed in two phases. Phase I will protect 160 acres of the property in Sudbury at a cost of $6.6 million. The Town of Sudbury hopes to contribute $5.5 million toward the total purchase price through its Community Preservation Fund. Use of these funds will not place a new tax levy on Sudbury residents. The deal requires approval by Sudbury voters at the April 2008 Town Meeting.
To supplement the Sudbury Foundation grant, SVT is seeking an additional $450,000 from individuals and other foundations to complete the deal. Private funds will be used to meet the CR purchase price, to endow the long-term care and oversight of the land, and to support SVT’s efforts to conserve the Reservation.
“This is an unprecedented effort which has involved an extraordinary collaboration of resources by all parties involved,” said Sudbury Foundation Trustee Jill Stansky. “We’re pleased to be able to support this exceptional opportunity which aligns well with our commitment to preserving community character and assets in Sudbury and beyond.”
“Conserving 300 acres of land located in Sudbury is a priority for SVT because of the conservation value of this land,” added McAdow. “The natural resource values of the Nobscot Scout Reservation are many. The property has been identified by the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program as estimated rare habitat for two species. Other ecological attributes include vernal pools, wetlands, and a tributary of the Sudbury River.”
“Tax-deductible contributions to the Campaign for Nobscot Reservation can be made by visiting the SVT website http://www.svtweb.org or mailing in a gift to our headquarters at 18 Wolbach Road, Sudbury, MA 01776,” said Rachel Sagan, SVT Director of Development.
Sudbury Valley Trustees is a land trust founded in 1953, dedicated to protecting land in the 36-town region that is the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord river basin.
The Sudbury Foundation is a 56-year-old private, charitable foundation which makes grants to nonprofits in Sudbury and the 10 towns surrounding Sudbury, and to organizations working to balance conservation with community sustainability in the Northern Forest and the Gulf of Maine. The Foundation also provides college scholarships to local students through its Atkinson Scholarship Program.