Avalonia adds to Stonington preserve
Jun. 1—NOTE — Updates with the purchase price for the land sale
Fennerswood parcel purchased from St. Michael's Church
Stonington — The Avalonia Land Conservancy announced Thursday the purchase of 1.4 acres along Stony Brook from St. Michael's Church to be used as watershed conservation land.
The land will be incorporated into the 94-acre Fennerswood Preserve that runs along Farmholme Road, North Main Street and Pequot Trail, according to a release.
"The Fennerswood parcels form part of a larger greenway area along the waterway, from north in Stonington in Avalonia's Stony Brook Preserve, to Sylvia's Pond and Paffard Woods, and south to Admiral Fife Naval Recreation Area to Quanaduck Cove," said Avalonia board President Dennis S. Main in the release.
Main added: "Undeveloped properties abut to the west and north and should be reviewed for possible acquisition."
Avalonia called the purchase a bargain at $4,000, saying the seller was St. Mary's RC Church Corporation, now known as St. Michael's Church in Pawcatuck.
The present preserve "provides habitat for local wildlife and protects Stony Brook," according to an Avalonia management plan.
Avalonia's board approved the acquisition of land that the church purchased in 1936 from Thomas Harvey, intending to create a Boy Scouts camp, according to the release.
"The Conservancy wishes to thank the Church for the bargain sale acquisition and the Church's commitment to conservation of this parcel which has provided undeveloped passive recreation use during the past century and will now be protected in perpetuity," Avalonia said. "This is the third of several expected closings on conservation tracts by the land conservancy during 2023 and brings Avalonia's total conserved lands to 5,006 acres."
For more information, email Mary Anne Sherman at avalonialc@yahoo.com.
