Good Dirt
September 26, 2005
(Right) From left to right: Mary Ann Edwards, Portsmouth Town Council President, Alison S. Vareika, ALT Board Chair, Senator Lincoln Chafee, Jane Escobar, Louis Escobar, Ted Clement, ALT Executive Director, Kenneth D. Ayers, Cheif, RIDEM Division of Agriculture and Resource Marketing, Judith H. Bailey, Chair, Rhode Island Agricultural Land Preservation Commission and Judith Doerner, State Resource Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Photo courtesy of David Thalmann.
The Escobar's Highland Farm FREE Land Matters Walk & Talk was completely
"SOLD OUT!"
so...
Photo courtesy of David Thalmann.
Don't forget to pre-register for these upcoming FREE programs!
Town Pond in Portsmouth
Saturday
October 22nd
9 a.m.
At the end of Bayview Road,
Portsmouth, RI
Tour the Salt Marsh restoration project underway at Town Pond in Portsmouth. The project is intended to restore the rich, natural salt marsh ecosystem that once existed on the site. The $3.5 million restoration is being accomplished through a public/private partnership among the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, R.I. Department of Environmental Management, Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, Aquidneck Land Trust and a variety of other organizations. RSVP Andy Arkway by phone or email at 401-849-2799 x14 or aarkway@ailt.org.
Sakonnet Greenway Trail:
Phase 1
Saturday,
November 12th
9 a.m.
Near the Brown House at
The Glen in Portsmouth, RI
In celebration of the anticipated acquisition of the remaining needed trail easements for the first phase of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail, take a walking tour of this portion of the public trail. When completed the first phase of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail will stretch approximately 2.8 miles from the Glen in Portsmouth to the Northern Boundary of the Orchard Course of the Newport National Golf Club. RSVP Andy Arkway by phone or email at 401-849-2799 x14 or aarkway@ailt.org.
Aquidneck Land Trust and
Senator Lincoln Chafee
Announce the
Closing on the Conservation Restriction
for
Escobar’s Highland Farm in Portsmouth, RI
Friday, September 23, 2005 at 2:00pm
Friday, September 23, 2005, the Aquidneck Land Trust, and Senator Lincoln Chafee announced the closing on a conservation restriction to permanently conserve approximately 75 acres of the beloved Escobar’s Highland Farm in Portsmouth, RI and also celebrated this extraordinary land conservation partnership led by the Land Trust and Louis Escobar with support from the U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Town of Portsmouth, the State of Rhode Island, and The Nature Conservancy through a grant from The Champlin Foundations.
In August 2004, amidst intense development pressure focused on Escobar’s Highland Farm, the Aquidneck Land Trust and Louis Escobar signed an Option to Purchase Deed to Development Rights. That agreement gave the Land Trust 18 months to raise $3,000,000 to purchase a perpetual conservation restriction from Louis Escobar to permanently conserve an approximate 75-acre portion of his farm. The agreed upon price was significantly below other offers being made by competing developers.
The Aquidneck Land Trust then began fundraising in earnest for the project. In June 2005, the Land Trust finished raising the necessary $3,000,000 by securing eight grant awards from four very important partners:
1. U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service $1,311,672;
2. Town of Portsmouth $750,000;
3. State of Rhode Island $688,328; and
4. The Nature Conservancy, through a grant from The Champlin Foundations $250,000.
Ted Clement, Executive Director of the Land Trust, stated, “The foresight and generosity of our partners has permitted a September closing which is well ahead of schedule pursuant to the terms of our Option Agreement with Louis Escobar. Once again, we are reminded that strong partnerships are fundamental to strong land conservation programs.”
Other speakers at the September 23rd press conference included:
Louis Escobar
Proprietor
Escobar’s Highland Farm
Lincoln Chafee
U.S. Senator
Rhode Island
Judith Doerner
State Resource Conservationist
U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service
Mary Ann Edwards
Town Council President
Town of Portsmouth
Kenneth D. Ayars
Chief
State of Rhode Island
Department of Environmental Management
Division of Agriculture & Resource Marketing
Judith H. Bailey
Chairperson
State of Rhode Island
Agricultural Land Preservation Commission
and
Alison S. Vareika
Board Chair
Aquidneck Land Trust
Escobar’s Highland Farm, which has been in the Escobar family since about 1937, is a farm of statewide and local significance. It is an integral part of the innovative and successful Rhody Fresh (www.rhodyfresh.com) cooperative dairy effort which produces terrific milk and works to keep the tradition of dairy farms in Rhode Island alive and well. The farm is also renowned for its annual July 4th fireworks show and corn maze.
The Aquidneck Land Trust’s mission is to preserve Aquidneck Island’s open spaces and natural character for the lasting benefit of our community. With the closing on Escobar’s Highland Farm, the Land Trust has conserved over 1,288 acres on Aquidneck Island. The Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information visit www.AquidneckLandTrust.org or call (401) 849-2799.
Senator Lincoln Chafee with Jane and Louis Escobar
This email update has been sent to the entire Aquidneck Land Trust email list. Please let us know if you do not wish to receive these email updates by replying to this message. If you have any questions or comments, please call 401/849-2799 or email info@ailt.org
As always, thank you for your continued support
for conservation on our Island.