SOUTHWICK – The Franklin Land Trust and North Pond supporters attended the Community Preservation Committee meeting Thursday night to discuss their $500,000 application with the CPC.
At the CPC meeting of October 4, the Franklin Land Trust submitted an application to request $500,000 from the CPC to donate towards preserving the North Pond land.
The effort to preserve the land began in June of 2016 with a purchase price of $5 million. As of today, the Save North Pond supporters have $1.5 million still to raise before the deadline of June 30, 2019 or the 146 acre-property will be sold by the current landowner.
Alain Peteroy of the Franklin Land Trust speaks to people in attendance for the CPC meeting. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Originally, the fundraising deadline was June 30, 2018, however, two extensions were agreed upon now extending the deadline to June 30, 2019. The Franklin Land Trust has noted that the latest extension will be the last. Despite that deadline, the hope is to have the remaining $1.5 million raised by March.
At the meeting on Thursday evening, members of the Franklin Land Trust gave those in attendance an overview of the project and the importance of the North Pond land.
“Given the significance of the resource, we really felt we needed to take it on,” said Rich Hubbard, the Executive Director of The Franklin Land Trust.
Noting that in his 35 years in this career field, Hubbard has worked across 90 different communities throughout Massachusetts attempting to preserve land and sees this particular piece of land as very special.
“We have an opportunity here, you have an opportunity here to conserve a really significant piece of land,” said Hubbard.
Alain Peteroy of the Franklin Land Trust also spoke to the crowd and made her case to the CPC to accept the $500,000 request by mentioning that if the land is to be preserved, it’ll be a resource for the community.
Executive Director of the Franklin Land Trust, Rich Hubbard, gives his overview of the project to the CPC. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
“This will be open to trails, fishing off the edge,” said Peteroy. “It’s a lot of money, but we’re hoping the town will support it, we’re hoping the CPC will support it.”
Peteroy also pointed out that a small parking area near the North Pond property would be built, along with restrooms.
People in the crowd also spoke out in favor of preserving the land.
“We feel strongly that for the health of the (Congamond) lakes, this is to be preserved,” said Deb Herath, a member of Citizens Restoring Congamond.
Resident Laura Zides-Lucier expressed her thoughts on the issue.
“It would be great if this passes for the town,” said Zides-Lucier. “It would be a fabulous thing.”
The CPC will not be making a decision on the $500,000 request until their next meeting.
