TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND PROJECTS

PAST YEARS' PROJECTS:

These may be economic impact stories. Not included yet. Need details from project managers.

San Diego

Seattle suburbs like Bellevue

Westside Community Garden in New York City

Woonasquatuckett, Rhode Island

Dudley Street Gardens in Boston (TPL involved in new Dudley Common?)

INCLUDED BUT NEED MORE DETAILSs:

Pugh Ranch Project, Sacramento County, CA- flood contol section

The GDC transaction in St. Lucie and Charlotte Harbor (see TPL e-mail correspondence between Ernest Cook and Jennie Gerard. January 1996.)- infrastructure section

Burlington, Vermont's waterfront park system. - property values section

Grand Island National Recreation Area (see summary of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for more information. Need update to see if this is appropriate to include.)

"Once owned by Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company, the island served as a game preserve and resort until the late 1940s when CCI began timber harvesting. In the 1980s, most of the marketable timber had been harvested, and the Trust for Public Land purchased the island to hold until a government agency could acquire it for public use. Some land is still owned privately, and TPL gave renters the option to buy their cabins but not the land itself."

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site

FROM TPL's 1996 Annual Report, a sampling projects with potential economic impact:

CALIFORNIA

Antioch River Park: 1 acre in Contra Costa County to the city of Antioch

Using mitigation funds, TPL donated this riverfront property to the city as part of a planned waterfront park on the San Joaquin River.

B.P. Ranch: 4.5 acres in Sacramento County to Sacramento County Parks and Recreation

The piece along Dry Creek, a federal flood disaster area and a proposed river parkway, will help promote parks and open space as a means of flood control.

Volcan Mountain: 19 acres in San Diego County to the Julian Community Services District, 566 acres in San Diego County to the California Wildlife Conservation Board, and 897 acres in San Diego County to the U.S. Forest Service.

TPL continues to protect the 14,000-acre Rutherford Ranch, including Volcan Mountain in San Diego County's backcountry. Visitors to Volcan Mountain can hike, horseback ride, study nature, and explore Native American sites and homesteader cabins on the property.

Whittier Hills: 960 acres in Los Angeles County to the Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority and 300 acres in Los Angeles County to the city of Whittier.

These former oil fields--previously owned by Chevron and Unocal, respectively--constitute a critical link in an imperiled 25-mile wildlife corridor and also offer vital public open space in the densely populated Los Angeles basin.

COLORADO

Jewell Wetlands: 50 acres Arapaho County to the city of Aurora.

The Denver suburb of Aurora sought to protect these wetlands for storm-water impoundment, and as a nature preserve and environmental classroom for visiting school groups.

FLORIDA

Pelican Island: 36 acres in Indian River County to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 131 acres in Indian River County to Indian River County Endangered Lands Program.

Encroaching development on this barrier island off Florida's east coast threatens seabird rookeries and other wildlife at two refuges: the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge and Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, the nation's first wildlife refuge, established in 1903. An observation tower will be erected on this land for public viewing of Pelican Island.

(Potential economic impact from birders.)

GEORGIA

Chattahoochee River: 3 acres in Fulton County to a private developer, to be included in an exchange with the National Park Service

TPL's latest transaction in an ongoing effort to protect the Chattahoochee River in metropolitan Atlanta will add a popular trout-fishing spot to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. TPL is also helping to plan a new 12 mile Chattahoochee River greenway for Atlanta.)

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site: 5 acres in Fulton County to the National Park Service

This acquisition doubled the size of one of the nation's visited national parks. A dilapidated pen factory was razed (demolished and toxics cleared) to make way for a badly needed parking lot, service facilities, and an interpretive center for the more than 2 million people who visit the National Historic Site near downtown Atlanta each year.

Ocmulgee River: 250 acres in Monroe County to the U.S. Forest Service

This addition to Oconee National Forest is part of a long-range multi-agency plan to create a recreational greenway along the Ocmulgee River between Macon and Atlanta.

MASSACHUSETTS

Neponset River: 3 acres in Norfolk County to the Metropolitan District Commission of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

With TPL's help, government agencies and nonprofit groups are working to create a 12-mile greenway along the Neponset River, through some of Boston's parks-poor neighborhoods. This is TPL's first acquisition for this greenway.

In Boston, Conrail agreed to donate a mile-long rail corridor in densely settled East Boston for another greenway

MINNESOTA

Apple Blossom: 50 acres in Winona County to Winona County

This site, located on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River Valley, has an exceptional view of the Upper Mississippi River National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. Adjacent to a bike path, a scenic highway, a state visitor's center, and a major tourist route through southeastern Minnesota, it will be developed as a park and picnic area.

NEW JERSEY

Donald Reeves Community Park: 5,000 square feet in Newark to the Donald Jackson Neighborhood Corporation

This community park is on of several that TPL is working to create in Newark, where there is a tremendous need for safe play areas for children.

St Columba Peace Playground: 2 lots in Newark totaling 5,000 square feet to the St. Columba Neighborhood Club, Inc.

Part of a TPL program to bring new playgrounds to Newark neighborhoods, this site adjacent to the St, Columba School provides safe, off-street play areas. TPL assisted with the land acquisition and playground construction, making this ten-year neighborhood dream a reality.

NEW MEXICO

Santa Fe Railyards: 37 acres in Santa Fe County to the City of Santa Fe

With this acquisition the city of Santa Fe gains control of the last large undeveloped parcel in its downtown. The land will include a badly needed ten-acre park.

NEW YORK

Croton-on-Hudson: 13 acres in Westchester County to the village of Croton-on-Hudson and the Beaverkill Conservancy

With this acquisition, the village of Croton is the first Hudson Valley community to ensure public access to its entire waterfront.

Harbor Herons Refuge: 6 acres in Richmond County to the State of New York

These freshwater wetlands on Staten Island protect critical watershed habitat at Goethal's Bridge Pond and provide the first public access to the Harbor Herons Wildlife Refuge, which is under joint city and state jurisdiction.

NORTH CAROLINA

Winston-Salem Greenway: 9 acres in Forsyth County to the city of Winston-Salem

Plans for this site in the heart of Winston-Salem's college and tourism district include redeveloping the area to create a new public plaza, a visitor center for historic Old Salem, and a small shopping area. Two nearby greenways that connect schools, neighborhoods, businesses, and tourist facilities will be improved.

OREGON

Jenne Butte: 21 acres in Multnomah County to the city of Gresham

This remnant natural area in a rapidly developing suburb of Portland will host ballfields, picnic areas, and a much-needed trail connection to nearby Johnson Creek.

RHODE ISLAND

Cityarts!: 1 acre in Providence Rhode Island to Cityarts!

In the heart of a culturally diverse Providence neighborhood, TPL helped a local performance and fine arts organization called Cityarts! Purchase a former factory building for its community arts center, which will include a new outdoor performance space and park.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Long Falls: 270 acres in Oconee County to the U.S. Forest Service

Part of an ongoing effort to protect the Chatooga River from any development that would adversely affect its water quality, this acquisition for Francis Marion Sumter National Forest includes a 15-acre lake, a 60-foot waterfall, and a prime campground site.

VERMONT

Phenn Basin: 2,695 acres in Washington County to the state of Vermont, with a conservation easement to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and the Vermont Land Trust.

Now part of Camel's Hump State Park, Phenn Basin's rich mix of forests and wetlands provides habitat for bear, moose, and neotropical songbirds, and includes three popular recreational trails.

WEST VIRGINIA

Gauley River: 17 acres in Nicholas County to the National Park Service

Part of a seven-year TPL effort to protect the popular recreation spot and whitewater rafting river, this addition to the Gauley River National Recreation Area protects the spectacular view of the steep gorge walls from the river.

Page last updated 04/03/2000