HUDSON — Since its founding in 2018, the Hudson Land Trust, a nonprofit organization, has worked to preserve open space in town.
The group was formed with the idea to oversee the conservation restrictions on 65 acres of land that the town currently owns.
On Jan. 23, it received a donation of a one-acre parcel, its first acquisition, to continue that mission.
President of the Land Trust Tom Green said, “It was donated by Sam Wong, the former director of public health in Hudson. He acquired it at a public auction of foreclosed land in 2008.”
He noted that the parcel is located along Danforth Brook from Palmieri Drive between Second and Third streets. Ownership of this land ensures that the area of open space that “borders one of the major tributaries of the Assabet River” will be protected from future development.
Green said, “It will always remain open space.”
The trust is required by its bylaws to make sure it is used “for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the Town of Hudson for conservation, education and active recreation purposes,” he said. The conservation restrictions were reviewed and approved by the state as governed by Massachusetts General Law.
In a press release, the trust wrote, “We are deeply indebted to Dr. Wong for his donation.”
Green explained that the trust enforces conservation restrictions on preservation property that was purchased using Community Preservation Commission funds.
The trust seeks to maintain and enhance passive recreation opportunities on those properties, as well as acquire new land resources for conservation. It also advocates and educates, as he noted that the trust supports local and state conservation efforts and offers conservation-related education to the community.
(Photo/Tom Green)
The four properties totaling 65 acres are inspected to ensure there are no encroachments from abutters, and he said the trust has built and continues to maintain trails on a few of the properties.
He said, “In addition, we have partnered with the town’s Recreation Department and Conservation Commission to build and improve trails on other town conservation land, and we are undertaking a multiyear project to enhance Lamson Park at Tripps Pond.”
The acquisition of the Palmieri Street parcel means that land abutting an Assabet River tributary will be held to benefit everyone in town, according to Green.
He said, “This is the first time that we have worked with a property owner in town who wanted to ensure that the open space they owned remains undeveloped and can be made accessible for passive recreation.”
It was Green’s goal that the trust be able to protect open space.
He said, “We hope to continue the conservation of open space in town by working with other property owners. This property will only be used for passive recreation: hiking and enjoying the natural beauty of the land.”
For more information on the trust and the work it does, visit https://hudsonlandtrust.org. It also has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HudsonLandTrust/ and can be reached at [email protected].
