Phase two of Westport community park project to begin

Land trust is looking to raise another $1 million to remove buildings, reconstruct fields, create walking paths, rebuild stone walls and more

By Kristen Ray
Posted 7/14/18

Construction of Westport’s first community park, located on Adamsville Road, is set to begin this summer. The Westport Land Conservation Trust will begin breaking ground on the 82-acre former …

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Phase two of Westport community park project to begin

Land trust is looking to raise another $1 million to remove buildings, reconstruct fields, create walking paths, rebuild stone walls and more

Posted

Construction of Westport’s first community park, located on Adamsville Road, is set to begin this summer. The Westport Land Conservation Trust will begin breaking ground on the 82-acre former St. Vincent De Paul Camp property in phases, the first of which involves building removal and renovation. The three-part process is expected to be completed no later than April 2019.

Once finished, the park will feature two miles of trails, 60 acres of meadows and open fields, and carriage paths while enjoying the park’s cultural roots. The land trust partnered with the Town of Westport back in 2017 to transform the property into a family-friendly, open-air recreational site — a vision spawned from the ideas and feedback of more than 200 Westport residents.

“After the community’s overwhelming support to acquire and protect this property, as well as its thoughtful feedback about the property’s future, WLCT is thrilled to start this second phase,” said land trust Executive Director Ross Moran.

The trust plans to remove the majority of the former camp buildings and renovate the farmhouse into a visitors center and office. Following part one of construction, the land trust will then work to restore the existing stone wall structures and farmland, as well as line the center carriage path with trees, and restore the footprints of the original farm fields with meadows and open fields (where the buildings now stand). Adding trails, parking, and signage will complete the project. 

The trust plans to maintain the nonoperational gymnasium on the property into the immediate future and will continue to work with the town’s Recreation Commission to create a plan for its potential future use.

A community-wide event on the site is set for next month on Aug. 25.

The land trust officially acquired the property in February, after a two-year effort that included raising more than $1.2 million in private donations. The property was purchased from the Fall River Diocese. To complete phase two, the land trust is working to raise more than $1 million more.

To learn more about the project, visit http://www.westportlandtrust.org.

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