PORTSMOUTH — The Aquidneck Land Trust (ALT) has opened Little Creek Preserve, a newly conserved property on Bramans Lane.

ALT purchased the 15.28-acre site, once part of a dairy farm, in 2018 and has spent over a year preparing it for public accessibility.

The entrance can be found on the south side of Bramans Lane, just east of Malee Terrace. A new parking area provides access to both the park and the existing 10-mile Sakonnet Greenway Trail, also conserved and maintained by the land trust. 

A half-mile of new grass trails loops into the preserve, with the remaining land left as undisturbed habitat. It is well-marked, with trail maps located at the trailhead on Bramans Lane and available on ALT’s website. 

Picnic tables and benches will be installed later this month and ALT has submitted a request to the R.I. Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) for permission to construct a 160-foot boardwalk over a marshy area on the property. The proposed boardwalk will have built-in benches and a viewing platform that extends over a vernal pond, allowing visitors to enjoy local wildlife.

“We are thrilled to open Little Creek Preserve to the community and encourage everyone to enjoy its free walking trail and abundant natural beauty,” said Chuck Allott, ALT’s executive director. “The site is home to many songbirds, waterfowl, and hawks as well as amphibians that use the vernal pools in the refuge. Key water assets are now protected in perpetuity, including forested wetlands, marshes, and the headwaters of Little Creek. 

“The property fits into the Sakonnet Greenway habitat and trail corridor like a puzzle piece, as it is completely surrounded by other protected land. We are thankful to the former owner, Dennis Silvia, who worked with us to save it and continues to help manage the land. This property provides a wonderful example of how conserving property benefits everyone.”

ALT received more than 300 donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations to conserve the property. A grant for $151,500 was awarded by RIDEM as part of an open space bond approved by taxpayers. 

Boy Scouts from Troop 1 of Portsmouth constructed a map kiosk, and ALT staff and volunteers expanded the Sakonnet Greenway Trail onto the parcel. 

The trail is open dawn to dusk and follows the same rules as the Sakonnet Greenway Trail. Dogs must be leashed and picked up after. 

For more trail information, visit https://ailt.org/trails-maps.