Trust for Public Land in New England - 2023

New England

THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF IN 2023 AND MORE TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE YEAR AHEAD

Celebrating 50 Years of Impact, Thanks to You!

Dear Friends,

Since our founding, Trust for Public Land’s vision has been rooted in a singular belief: that access to the outdoors is essential to people’s well-being. What started as a bold idea in a small San Francisco office 50 years ago has blossomed into a nationwide movement to ensure everyone, no matter where they live, can experience nature’s countless gifts. At this important milestone, we celebrate the strong network of TPL supporters who make our work possible and fuel our efforts moving forward. It is because of you that we are able to protect places that are bringing neighbors together and fostering a love for the outdoors, while uplifting local economies and delivering critical, nature-based solutions in the face of climate change.

I live in a rural community in Vermont where one might assume that nature is easily accessible everywhere. But it is not. In Vermont, like much of New England, we are losing 12,000 acres of forestland a year, and once accessible private lands are becoming off-limits as ownership turns over and parcels shrink in size. For my family and me, it takes a place like Blueberry Lake, conserved by TPL in 2002, to reliably connect with the benefits of nature and community. I will forever savor one afternoon I spent with my mother and son, watching a pair of great blue herons circle the lake as my 4-year-old was mesmerized for 20 straight minutes. I know the same potential—for three

NEW ENGLAND BY THE NUMBERS IN 2023

10 NEW open spaces

19,495 ACRES CONSERVED

43 miles of new trails

$750,000 in grants to community partners

generations of a family to come together outdoors—lies at the future Archdale Community Park in Boston, Rumford Community Forest in Maine, and so many of our current initiatives across New England and the country.

It is an exciting time to be a part of the TPL community, as we look to new opportunities to connect to nature, our histories, and each other. I am so proud of the on-theground experts we have here in New England. Our dedication to New England communities is exemplified by our recent successes that build upon our 50-year history. From protecting the 2,744-acre Rolston Rest landscape in Vermont and the 13,640-acre Quill Hill to Perham Stream in Maine, to creating community green spaces like the Dundee Community Forest in New Hampshire and developing a series of new urban parks in Massachusetts, our passionate team is committed to creating public access to the outdoors where it is needed most.

With your support, we will continue to build parks and protect land, making New England a healthier, climateready, and more equitable place for everyone. Thank you!

-Shelby Semmes, Vice President, New England Region

Maine

From Tumbledown Mountain’s iconic peak to Portland’s multiuse Bayside Trail, our impact in Maine can be seen across the 200,000 acres we have protected from the coast to the mountains. This year we are celebrating the protection of 13,860 more acres in Maine, and we are moving forward with an ambitious goal to protect 50,000 additional acres over the next five years to ensure healthy, climate-resilient, and equitable communities.

Closing the Outdoor Access Gap in Southern Maine

With the recent opening of the new 24-acre North Deering Park , Portland is now one step closer to joining the few cities in America where 100 percent of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Because this property is protected, Portland residents and visitors will always have access to the land’s wooded trails, open fields, forestland, and pond!

TPL also led the creation of the 193-acre Talking Brook Public Land , a new unit of Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Lands system that helps meet the demands of the rapidly growing region. Located just 10 miles from LewistonAuburn, Talking Brook Public Land is home to scenic brooks, waterfalls, woodland pools, and an extensive 11-mile trail network. These new public lands help meet a crucial need to expand access to the outdoors in Southern Maine, where close to 50% of residents lack close-tohome green space.

Ensuring Climate Resilience and Outdoor Access for All in Western Maine

We successfully protected Quill Hill to Perham Stream in the High Peaks of Western Maine, creating 13,640 new acres of public land. By opening access to these lands for everyone, we have linked more than 100,000 acres of public lands along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, improving ecological connectivity and climate resiliency in the region.

Join us as we:

• Partner with Penobscot Nation to return 30,000 acres of land in the core of Penobscot Nation’s ancestral homeland to the tribe, create much needed southern public access to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, and protect public trail systems.

• Protect the 3,840-acre South Branch Forest in Western Maine—home to a key section of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail and hundreds of acres of pristine wetlands—as well as the 1,860-acre Moxie Pond bordering the Appalachian Trail.

• Work with residents and local partners to create community forests, like the Rumford Community Forest, as shared backyards for the community to gather and connect to the outdoors and each other.

©JERRY AND MARCY MONKMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Saddleback Lake, ME

We have worked for decades in Massachusetts to make the benefits of the outdoors accessible to all by protecting beloved landscapes, creating welcoming parks, and expanding opportunities to connect with nature.

Boston Parks for People

We know that not all parks are created equally, which is why we are partnering with communities across Boston to ensure equitable access to quality neighborhood green spaces that boost community health, reduce the impacts of climate change, and serve as community hubs. In Dorchester, we are transforming a series of underutilized vacant lots into vibrant parks, including the Norwell Street Park and the Radcliffe Street Park, Food Forest, and Garden . In Mattapan, the Edgewater Riverfront project will expand access to the Neponset River, by restoring a nearby playground, adding a riverfront trail, and building a footbridge. And after a series of successful design workshops that TPL led this year with the Boston Housing Authority, Archdale Village in Roslindale will soon have a new playground.

Massachusetts Land Conservation

Public lands and trails are essential to healthy, thriving communities. They provide a range of critical benefits from clean air to good jobs to improved quality of life.

In July, we permanently protected 196 acres of land on the New England National Scenic Trail in Southwick , which protects a critical piece of the long-distance trail for hikers, while allowing plants and wildlife to flourish. We are also conserving the viewshed of the iconic Appalachian Trail Landscape in Tyringham . Through this effort we will safeguard the farm and forests of the Tyringham Shaker Settlement Historic District, which are a vestige of the town’s history.

CELEBRATING OUR 50 TH ANNIVERSARY IN BOSTON

To celebrate TPL’s 50th anniversary, Shelby Semmes, Vice President, New England Region, joined Washington Post columnist Bina Venkataraman at the Boston Athenaeum in May to discuss the role of optimism in the environmental movement. We know that the devastating effects of climate change are already here, and without global action, they will only worsen. Destructive storms and crushing heatwaves are already starting to feel commonplace. But hope grows when we restore people’s connection to nature and each other. Hope grows from action.

During their discussion, Shelby and Bina gave us a reason to feel hopeful. We can cool our neighborhoods, reduce flooding, and enable plants and wildlife to thrive by protecting open spaces and creating parks. We can foster connections to our land and build transformative public spaces that serve as platforms for civic engagement and community voices. TPL supporters are helping us do this every day—writing new stories, redefining what is possible, and fostering hope by connecting everyone to the joys and benefits of the outdoors.

© DAVID TUCKER PHOTOGRAPHY

We are dedicated to ensuring that future generations of Vermonters have equitable access to the state’s iconic natural landscapes. Together, we are establishing local community forests and conserving expansive areas in the Green Mountains to boost climate and flood resiliency, support Vermont’s working landscapes, and protect diverse wildlife.

Bringing More Community Forests to New England

Once eyed for the development of a subdivision, the 283-acre Willey Woods Community Forest is now the first conserved land in West Burke that is managed by the community, for the community. The forest is a popular spot for hiking, hunting, and fishing—with its abundance of wild brook trout.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: KATE WANNER, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER

I have spent my career at TPL focused on protecting large forestlands across Vermont. Eighteen years, two kids, four dogs, and more than 23,000 acres later, my understanding of the value of those protected forests has expanded. Yes, they are vital habitat for bobcats, bears, and brook trout, but they are also where a child begins a lifelong love of rock climbing, where neighbors lead birding hikes through a stand of old-growth, and where people in recovery help build mountain bike trails as they heal from addiction. It has been so rewarding working with communities to protect what is meaningful to them, and to be a witness to the extraordinary culture of volunteerism in New England. It is abundantly clear that the impact of these efforts reaches beyond the town boundaries. The forest we conserve in Mendon helps decrease flooding in Rutland, supports small businesses in Killington, and contributes to climate resiliency and healthy natural systems for the entire region. Thank you for doing your part.

Conserving Landscapes Across Vermont

In Johnson, we conserved Judevine Headwaters in partnership with the Green Mountain Club and Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. This addition to the Long Trail State Forest safeguards a 100-foot stretch of the renowned Long Trail and improves public access for the thousands of hikers who visit each year.

We expanded the Otter Creek Wildlife Management Area by 355 acres, just upstream from the Town of Wallingford. Protecting and restoring the wetlands and floodplain forest along Otter Creek will improve flood resiliency and significant wildlife habitat, while also providing a new place to hunt, fish, and hike.

Black History and Culture

TPL has made a $100,000 capital grant to help safeguard the historic Clemmons Family Farm in Charlotte—one of only 17 Black-owned farms in Vermont. The center serves as a platform for Black arts, culture, and farming, and promotes a deeper understanding of African American and African diaspora history through community events, tours, and educational talks.

In 2024, Help Us Protect More Vermont Forests

• As part of our Community Forest Program, we will complete the 734-acre Wolcott Community Forest , providing new opportunities for outdoor recreation and community engagement.

• We are beginning work on the 2,300-acre Hazen’s Notch landscape, which will protect public access along the Catamount Trail, crucial wildlife habitat, and water quality in the Northern Green Mountains.

KATE WANNER AT WHITE ROCKS GATEWAY, © EMBER PHOTOGRAPHY

New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, we work with communities to help realize their conservation and green space goals. Whether by supporting local community forests, building trails, or protecting waterways, we are ensuring that all Granite State residents have equitable access to nature.

Shared Backyards for New Hampshire Communities

After much anticipation, we are thrilled to announce the opening of Dundee Community Forest in Jackson and Bartlett, completed in partnership with Upper Saco Valley Land Trust. Preserving this 1,250-acre property exemplifies our commitments to climate, health, and equity, as it presents opportunities for trail connectivity, preserves wildlife corridors, and protects vital water resources and mature forests that sequester carbon dioxide.

TPL is pursuing an exciting opportunity in Newfields and Exeter to expand two town forests and protect a regionally significant trail network. If approved, the 148-acre Newfields-Exeter Community Forest will be protected in perpetuity, as will 12 miles of a 50-mile, highly popular, multiuse trail network. The community is also planning a new parking area to improve public access.

50 TH ANNIVERSARY REFLECTION: CONNECTICUT LAKES HEADWATERS

In 2002, we protected the Connecticut Lakes Headwaters—171,500 acres of private forestland spanning Pittsburg, Clarksville, and Stewartstown. To this day, it is the second largest block of conserved land in New Hampshire. Balancing sustainable forestry, conservation, and recreation, we worked with a coalition of partners including the State of New Hampshire and The Nature Conservancy to ensure this valuable resource would benefit communities for generations to come.

Supporting Nature Near Schools

We are proud to have supported the Town of Stoddard in protecting 40 acres of pristine old-growth forest on Highland Lake to serve as an outdoor classroom for James Faulkner Elementary School. Residents and local leaders spearheaded the creation of the “Little Big Forest,” while TPL provided technical expertise and funding to improve transportation between the school and the property. Little Big Forest is part of our Nature Near Schools effort in New England, dedicated to bringing children closer to nature and providing space for outdoor learning.

© JERRY AND MARCY MONKMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Dundee Community Forest, NH

NEW ENGLAND ADVISORY BOARD

We are so grateful for our New England Advisory Board members, whose support and guidance keep us moving towards our goal of connecting everyone to the outdoors. And we are recruiting! Please contact us to learn more about volunteer opportunities with TPL.

Laquisa Burke , Manager of Rental and Homeownership Services, Madison Park Development Corporation

Carolyn Mansfield duPont , Chief Operating Officer, Upstream Tech

Will Hewes , Global Lead for Water Sustainability, Amazon Web Services

Wendy Holding , Trustee, Loring, Wolcott & Coolidge

Stanley John , Sales Account Executive, Tyler Technologies

Helen Kellogg , Principal, Brook Road Advisors and TPL New England Advisory Board Chair

Victor Morrison , Principal, Morrison Management Consulting and Executive Coaching

Richard Oetheimer, Partner, Goodwin Procter LLP, and Board Member, Needham Land Trust

Roland Price , Vice President & Treasurer, Point32Health

Micah Roberge , Senior Vice President & Financial Advisor, UBS

Ann Taylor, Physician, consultant, and Co-Chair, Forum on Drug Discovery, Development, and Translation, National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine

Dano Weisbord , Chief Sustainability Officer, Tufts University

Bald Mountain Pond, ME