CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP IN MIDDLETOWN

After months of discussions, the Town of Middletown and the Aquidneck Land Trust signed an important agreement late last week that will help permanently secure a few strategic parcels in Middletown for conservation purposes and long-term public benefit. 

Under the agreement, the Town will award the Aquidneck Land Trust a $140,000 retro-active grant award for the Land Trust’s effort to permanently conserve an approximate 15-acre parcel near the intersection of Green End Avenue and Valley Road in Middletown.  The subject property has important wildlife habitat and water resource values, as the property buffers Bailey’s Brook which supplies one of Aquidneck Island’s public drinking water reservoirs, and also affords scenic views to passersby.  The Land Trust had requested a grant award from the Town for this land in 2004 and successfully conserved the property in February 2005. 

Also per the agreement, ownership of the 15 +/- acre property will be conveyed to the Town of Middletown subject to a Conservation Easement held on the land by the Aquidneck Land Trust and the State of Rhode Island.  This is beneficial for various reasons.  For example, the arrangement increases the Town’s public trail opportunities in the Kempenaar Valley area where the parcel is situated as the Conservation Easement allows the owner of the property to construct a trail.

Furthermore, pursuant to the agreement for $140,000 the Aquidneck Land Trust will acquire a separate Conservation Easement on the approximate 14-acre Paradise Park owned by the Town of Middletown and a contiguous 7 +/- acre parcel that the Town acquired from the Diocese of Providence in August.  These parcels, which are adjacent to another property already conserved by the Land Trust, have significant recreational, educational, wildlife habitat and water resource values. 

Why would the Aquidneck Land Trust bother placing a Conservation Easement on a municipal park such as Paradise Park?  In 2004, the Land Trust completed an extensive mapping and prioritization project that identified all of Aquidneck Island’s conserved lands.  The project demonstrated that not all conserved lands are equal.  In other words, there are different levels of protection afforded conserved lands.  For purposes of the project, three conservation levels were identified: the highest level, Land Conserved with a Perpetual Conservation Restriction (e.g., Conservation Easement); the middle level, Land Conserved with a Deed Restriction; and the lowest level, Land Held with Conservation Intent Alone.  Conserved lands falling into the latter two levels can be further secured with a perpetual conservation restriction such as a Conservation Easement.  Good conservation is like good government, it requires checks and balances. A Conservation Easement can act as such a set of checks and balances.  Nationally, various municipal parks have been lost to development because they lacked adequate conservation restrictions.  As a result of this conservation agreement, Paradise Park and the abutting 7 +/- acre parcel will move up from the Land Conserved with Conservation Intent Alone level to the Land Conserved with a Perpetual Conservation Restriction level.

“We here in Middletown are truly fortunate to have such an active Land Trust and a Town Council committed to the preservation of open space.  This step in our continuing partnership will assure that these properties remain open for all future generations to enjoy,” said Gerry Kempen, Middletown Town Administrator.

Regarding the signing of the agreement, Ted Clement, Executive Director for the Aquidneck Land Trust, stated, “This agreement is the product of a terrific partnership on behalf of the Trustees of the Land Trust, I would like to thank the Town of Middletown for its good work and leadership.  With hard-work and foresight, we were able to take various disparate parts and bring them together in such a way that the sum was far greater than that of the individual components which results in a big win for the community long-term.”  

The Aquidneck Land Trust’s mission is to preserve Aquidneck Island’s open spaces and natural character for the lasting benefit of our community.  The Land Trust has conserved over 1,855 acres on Aquidneck Island.  This year alone, the Land Trust has already conserved over 567 acres, the most acres ever conserved by the organization in a single year since its inception about sixteen years ago.  The Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  For more information, visit http://www.ailt.org or call (401) 849-2799.   

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 x19 or email mandersen@ailt.org