Help Establish Pagey's Preserve

A view of the land in Carlisle that SVT, CCF and the Elliott are working to protect. Photo by Mark Levinson.A boat travels up the Concord River, through Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, as seen from River Road Farm in Carlisle. Photo by Mark Levinson.Kayaks paddle by the land we hope to protect on the Concord River in Carlisle, photo by Christa Collins.

Sudbury Valley Trustees and the Carlisle Conservation Foundation have secured the opportunity to purchase a portion of beautiful River Road Farm in Carlisle. This acquisition will protect nearly 1,000 feet of riverfront on the Concord River as well as priority habitat for a state-listed species of wildlife. Adjacent to the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, the property’s unique location means development of the riverfront portion would have significant impact on what is now a lengthy stretch of unbroken land along the river.  
On Monday, April 29th, Carlisle voters agreed unanimously to provide additional funding for the Pagey's Preserve project.  The vote appropriates $150,000 from Community Preservation Funds toward the purchase of a conservation restriction on the property, to be held by the Town's Conservation Commission. SVT will own the land, and maintain trails, parking,  signage, and other amenities. 
We have raised significant funds toward the purchase, but still have a gap to fill. Can you help us?
Our option to purchase the property expires on June 30th, 2013. The overall fundraising goal for the project is $750,000, and nearly $700,000 has already been committed, including over $250,000 in private contributions, $300,000 from the Carlisle Community Preservation Fund, $75,000 from the Carlisle Conservation Fund, and $20,000 from the National Park Service’s River Stewardship Council. We are grateful to the Fields Pond Foundation and the Bafflin Foundation for generous grants to the project, as well.
The Elliott family is enabling this conservation effort as a tribute to the late Pagey and Mark Elliott, who were well-loved in Carlisle and beyond.  If successful, SVT will own the property and the Carlisle Conservation Commission will hold a perpetual conservation restriction on the land.  A small parking area will be located on Skelton Road, providing access to trails. The property will also be accessible to boaters from the river.
Funds donated will help to endow the long-term care and oversight of the protection, and will underwrite the efforts of Sudbury Valley Trustees and CCF to conserve the Farm.
Gifts of cash, appreciated stocks, or other similar cash-equivalents may be made to Carlisle Conservation Foundation or Sudbury Valley Trustees.  Contributions will be held specifically to support the protection of Pagey's Preserve or until June, 2013. In the event that conservation of the property cannot be achieved, funds will be returned to donors at their request.
Contributions to CCF or SVT will be fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
 

For more information or to make a contribution:
Christa Collins
Director of Land Protection
Sudbury Valley Trustees
18 Wolbach Rd
Sudbury, MA 01776
978.443.5588
 
Or
 
Steve Tobin
President
Carlisle Conservation Foundation
P.O. Box 300
Carlisle, MA 01741