What is the Campaign for Farm Creek?

The Campaign is an effort by the Norwalk Land Trust and neighbors of Farm Creek to:

1. Permanently protect the peninsula owned by the City of Norwalk through a conservation easement granted to the Norwalk Land Trust.

2. Raise money to purchase two acres abutting the peninsula, renovate the 100-year old stone barn into a nature's classroom and reclaim the land.

What is the Norwalk Land Trust?

The Norwalk Land Trust (NLT) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded 30 years ago in Rowayton. Norwalk is one of 128 towns in Connecticut to have a land trust acting as advocate and trustee for open land.

NLT owns 67 acres on 16 sites throughout Norwalk. Three sites are in Rowayton. They are located on Jacob St., along Roton Ave. between McKinley and Sammis St. bridge, called Farm Creek Kulze Preserve, and on Sammis, abutting the two acre parcel the Campaign for Farm Creek seeks to purchase, called Farm Creek Langdon Preserve

A land trust holds land in perpetuity, permanently protecting the land in an undisturbed, natural state.

What is the status of the conservation easement?

The Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs subcommittee of the Common Council has recommended approval of a conservation easement to be held by NLT. The Common Council plans to put this action on its February 27, 2007 agenda

What is the status of the fundraising?

We are just beginning. Securing the conservation easement is critical to the fundraising effort as the peninsula links the two properties together.

The Campaign anticipates a partnership of private and public money to reach our goal. Through the 6th Taxing District, the CT Open Space Fund, and other public sources, we plan to raise about $1million. The balance of roughly $4million will come from individuals through large and small gifts.

Our closing is June 2007.

How can the 6th Taxing District help?

NLT has requested a two-year commitment from the district in the amount of $125,000 each year.

Why is this Campaign capturing the attention of Norwalk and Rowayton?

There are many reasons - for some Farm Creek Preserve will:
· expand the habitat for birds and other animals
· offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to provide a sanctuary, a quiet oasis in the midst of a highly developed residential and commercial village.
· continue the Rowayton tradition of preserving open space - Bayley Beach, Pinkney Park and the Community Center.

How will Farm Creek Preserve serve the human residents of Rowayton?

Farm Creek Preserve is a place for passive recreation.

The south side of the property offers a scenic vista of the marsh and Wilson Cove leading into LIS. It is a quiet place that fosters peace and harmony.

Farm Creek Preserve is an educational site.

By turning the stone barn into a nature's classroom, Rowayton and Norwalk will have its first nature preserve. The space is small but can accommodate an earth science class from Rowayton Elementary School or a biology class from the High School. "Hands on learning" is often the most effective educational methodology.

Campaign for Farm Creek
Co-chairs: Pete Scull, 18 Pine Point Rd., 838-9126
Pam Davis, 28 Rowayton Ave., 838-5123

NLT Board of Directors
Beth Ackerman ~ Rich Baskin ~ Kate Davies ~ Pamela Davis ~ Rich Henry ~ Henry Huse
Peggy Holton ~ D. Seeley Hubbard ~ Midge Kennedy ~ Diane Lauricella ~ Peter Law
Michael Poler ~ Douglas Rankin ~ Amy Smith ~ Marny Smith ~ Roger Willcox

Advisory Board of Directors
Senator Bob Duff ~ Diane Keefe ~ Bill Kraus ~ Grace Lichtenstein ~ Paul Littell
Representative Chris Perone ~ William Wrenn