Town of Avon Earns Grant to Expand D.W. Field Park

By Thomas Patti, Communications Coordinator

Local, regional, and state partners convened at D.W. Field Park to celebrate an award to expand the park.

Since its inception, Wildlands Trust’s D.W. Field Park Initiative has striven to revitalize the beloved open space in Brockton and Avon through education, outreach, planning, and restoration. Physical expansion was hardly on our radar; comprising 700 acres in the heart of our region’s most populous city, D.W. Field Park seemingly had little room to grow.

Yet less than two years into the Initiative, D.W. Field Park is set to receive a modest yet meaningful boost to its open space portfolio. On August 27, government officials and nonprofit partners convened at D.W. Field Park to celebrate the award of $1.5 million from the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant program to the Town of Avon for the purchase of 32 acres adjacent to the urban park. 

Wildlands President Karen Grey (left) speaks to the group.

Wildlands raised $450,000 in private funding to support the grant proposal, which will also expand our revitalization efforts of D.W. Field Park north and west of our current project area. The award will also fund another semester of partnership with the Conway School, from which two graduate students provided crucial design input last spring. 

“There are only two significant undeveloped open space assemblages contiguous with the park, and we were fortunate that one was owned by an individual who wanted to see his land become part of the park,” Wildlands President Karen Grey said. “The Town of Avon was a lead partner in putting together this exciting project.”  

The project awaits final approval from a town meeting later this fall. 

From left: Wildlands Communications Coordinator Thomas Patti, State Senator Michael Brady, Wildlands President Karen Grey, and Wildlands Director of Special Projects Rachel Bruce.

Thank you to Secretary Rebecca Tepper of the MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, City of Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan, State Senator Michael D. Brady, State Representative Michelle DuBois, Town of Avon Selectman Eric Beckerman, and many others for voicing your support of this exciting new project! 

To learn more about our D.W. Field Park Initiative, visit wildlandstrust.org/dwfieldpark. 

Stay tuned for updates as this project and the larger D.W. Field Park Initiative march on.

Photos: Wildlands Celebrates 50th Anniversary

By Thomas Patti, Communications Coordinator

Board Chair Sam Chapin delivers remarks at Wildlands’ 50th Anniversary Celebration.

On Saturday, September 23, Wildlands Trust celebrated its 50th anniversary in the company of over 300 partners, neighbors, and friends from across Southeastern Massachusetts and beyond. The rain was no match for the camaraderie and good cheer of the Wildlands community, which gathered at Davis-Douglas Farm to honor the people and places that make our region a special place to live, work, and play.

Central to these commemorative efforts was our “50 Remarkable Years, 50 Remarkable People” gallery in the Conservation Barn. Photos, videos, and written profiles showcased the immense contributions of 50 key Wildlands partners.

Just outside the barn doors, event attendees got up close and personal with live owls, courtesy of Mark and Marcia Wilson of Eyes on Owls. Live music from the Louise Adams Acoustic Duo and the Pan Loco Steel Band created a lively atmosphere throughout the day. Local food trucks offered innovative and scrumptious meals, and guided walks gave guests the chance to explore the historic Davis-Douglas property.

Thank you to all who celebrated with us! A special thanks to the volunteers, sponsors, and vendors who generously provided time and resources to help us create an unforgettable event.

Missed out on the fun? Wildlands will host multiple smaller celebrations through the winter and spring. Follow us online for updates!

Click through the gallery below for sights from our 50th Anniversary Celebration. Photographers included volunteers Cierra Isakson and Paul Carey.

Celebration attendees admire a Great Horned Owl.

Celebration attendees share a laugh under an umbrella.

A rainy celebration-day hike to the Beech Tree Clearing at Emery Preserve.

A young guest admires a Eurasian Eagle-Owl.

Celebration attendees gather under a tent.

Taxidermy birds from the Town of Plymouth's wildlife education trailer.

Wildlands President Karen Grey addresses the crowd.

Celebration attendees hug an oak tree.

A young guest poses with autumnal decorations.

Wildlands Office Manager Tom D'Allessandro mans the merchandise table.

Davis-Douglas Farm during the celebration.

The Louise Adams Acoustic Duo performs.

Marcia Wilson presents a Northern Saw-whet Owl.

A young guest admires an American Kestrel.

Marcia Wilson presents two Eastern Screech-Owls.

The busy raffle table.

Wildlands President Karen Grey drives a golf cart.

Morrison's Home & Garden displays native plants.

IndieFerm Brewing served beer, wine, and kombucha.

The Pan Loco Steel Band performs.

Photographer Drew Lederman and Wildlands Programming Coordinator Max Phelps.

Guests explore the "50 Remarkable Years, 50 Remarkable People" gallery.

The bustling Conservation Barn.

Welcoming faces at the registration table.

Wildlands Director of Special Projects Rachel Bruce distributes raffle tickets.

Improving Walkability at D.W. Field Park

By Maddie Luongo

Maddie Luongo is a senior at Wheaton College. This summer, she served as an intern with Wildlands Trust, assisting Green Team Brockton with various stewardship projects and organizing our 50th anniversary raffles. 

Green Team crewmembers with Iolando Spinola (center) of WalkMassachusetts.

On August 15, members of the 2023 Green Team participated in a walking audit of D.W. Field Park in Brockton. A walking audit is an assessment of the accessibility and walkability of an outdoor space, and for somewhere with as much foot traffic as D.W. Field Park, it is an integral step in the restoration planning process. 

The audit was conducted by Iolando Spinola of WalkMassachusetts, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to make walking safer and easier for people in all types of outdoor spaces. Having grown up in Brockton, Spinola was personally familiar with D.W. Field Park and its amenities. Spinola instructed the Green Team by assigning crewmembers specific tasks, such as assessing the condition of the roads and walkways, counting benches, and evaluating park signage. Despite the rainy day, the Green Team was attentive to their tasks, photographing potential problem areas in the park and discussing their findings with each other. 

Iolando Spinola of WalkMassachusetts leads the Green Team in a walking audit of D.W. Field Park.

One of the keys to a successful walk audit is the people conducting it. As residents of Brockton, the Green Team was familiar with the area and, through this paid summer service-learning program, had already worked on other projects in D.W. Field Park. The walk audit gave the kids an opportunity to view the park through a new and more inclusive lens, attuning them to some of the park’s finer details. This skill can serve crewmembers well in many of their future endeavors. 

Spinola spoke highly of the walk audit as a whole, but also of the Green Team members specifically. “I thought the walking audit was a great way to get a sense of the accessibility and overall walkability of D.W. Field Park,” he said. “The park has a lot to offer, but there are also some areas that could be improved. For example, the sidewalks are uneven in some places, the entrance of the park could be redesigned to ensure pedestrians are safe, and there could be more wayfinding signs to improve the user experience of the paths and park. The park also lacks some basic amenities, such as accessible restrooms, drinking fountains, and bike racks. I loved that the Green Team youth group was working to improve the park throughout the summer and took part in our walk audit. They are super inspiring and had great insights on how to improve the park.” 

As part of the walking audit, Green Team members measured vehicle speed along a roadway in D.W. Field Park.

When pursuing sustainable development, accessibility is crucial to consider. Accessibility and sustainability are intertwined in important ways that few people consider unless they directly apply to them. “Accessibility is important to sustainable development because it ensures that everyone, regardless of their abilities and background, can participate fully in society and in our public spaces,” Spinola said. “When people are able to access the same opportunities, services, and resources, it creates a more equitable and inclusive society. Our public spaces are richer and more enjoyable when we can all fully live and utilize them. Sustainable development is about creating a better future for everyone, and accessibility is about ensuring that everyone has the same opportunities to participate in that future. When we design our communities and infrastructure with accessibility in mind, we make them more sustainable for everyone.” 

The D.W. Field Park Initiative is working to create these equal opportunities in Brockton, so that all residents of Brockton can easily access the amenities of D.W. Field Park. It takes projects such as those the Green Team worked on this summer to bring these ideas to fruition, and it is vital that young Brockton residents lend their voices and visions to this effort.  

Green Team members walk down a damp path at D.W. Field Park.

On a personal note, watching Green Team members participate in the improvement of their city was deeply motivating. It even inspired me to conduct similar projects on my college campus. I am incredibly grateful to these dedicated youth for their hard work, and I can’t wait to see how future Green Team projects advance the sustainable mindset in D.W. Field Park and beyond. 

Thank you to Maddie for her many contributions to Wildlands this summer. To learn more about the D.W. Field Park Initiative, visit wildlandstrust.org/dwfieldpark. To learn more about Green Team, visit wildlandstrust.org/green-team. 

Wildlands Trust to Host Public Celebration for 50th Anniversary

Music, food, drinks, owls headline festivities at conservation nonprofit’s Plymouth headquarters

By Thomas Patti, Communications Coordinator

Davis-Douglas Farm in Plymouth will host Wildlands Trust’s 50th Anniversary Celebration on September 23.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Plymouth, MA — On September 23, 2023, Wildlands Trust will hold its 50th Anniversary Celebration at Davis-Douglas Farm in Plymouth. The event is expected to attract over 300 people to the Wildlands headquarters, where live music, local food and drinks, guided hikes and property tours, wildlife presentations, raffles, and more will serve to honor the people and places that have helped the regional nonprofit land trust reach a half-century in operation.  

“This celebration is about honoring the people who helped Wildlands Trust reach this milestone,” said Wildlands President Karen Grey. “So many people contributed in remarkable ways because they believed in our mission, and that is the reason we will come together on September 23.” Accordingly, a photo and video gallery at the event will highlight 50 key Wildlands partners and volunteers. 

True to Wildlands’ mission, event attendees will have multiple opportunities to learn about the unique landscapes of Southeastern Massachusetts and the diverse wildlife that calls them home. A bird walk, led by Brian Vigorito of the South Shore Bird Club, will take avian-inclined guests on a quest for feathered life at Emery Preserve, directly across Long Pond Road from Davis-Douglas Farm. Another hike will guide attendees to Emery Preserve’s Beech Tree Clearing, and Wildlands Board Chair Sam Chapin will lead a history tour of Davis-Douglas Farm. Bird lovers will also have the chance to get up close and personal with live owls, courtesy of Marcia and Mark Wilson of Eyes on Owls. The Mobile Fish & Wildlife Exhibit, an ecological education trailer operated by the Town of Plymouth Department of Marine and Environmental Affairs, will put additional natural specimens on display.  

Local food and live music will give the anniversary celebration a lively, family-friendly atmosphere. Two food trucks, Alden Park-ed and the Filling Station, will offer guests sandwiches and other lunch options. Independent Fermentations Brewing will sell craft beer and kombucha, including Wildlands Eel River Rye, a specially designed 50th anniversary ale. Musical performances will include the Louise Adams Acoustic Duo of Tupelo Honey and the Pan Loco Steel Band. 

Multiple raffles will give attendees the chance to win a variety of local goods and services. A kayak from Billington Sea Kayak headlines a long list of prizes donated by artists and businesses throughout the region.  

Wildlands will also debut its other anniversary initiatives at the event. A new trail guide featuring Wildlands-owned and -associated properties, as well as a book honoring the 50 key Wildlands partners, will be for sale. Live demonstrations of Wildlands trail maps on mobile apps will offer guests a new way to explore the region. 

The celebration is open to the public, but every attendee will leave the event as a Wildlands member. For those new to the Trust, a six-month membership is included with the price of admission ($20 online; $25 at the door, capacity permitting). Admission also includes a Wildlands 50th anniversary beer mug, tote bag, and sticker; a ticket for the basket raffles; and a half-pint of Hornstra Farms trail-mix-flavored ice cream, while supplies last. Children aged 14 and under attend for free if accompanied by an adult. 

The celebration will last from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For a full list of activities and vendors, visit wildlandstrust.org/events/50th-anniversary-celebration 

About Wildlands Trust: Wildlands Trust is one of the largest and oldest regional land trusts in Massachusetts. Since 1973, the Plymouth-based nonprofit has helped protect nearly 14,000 acres of natural and agricultural land across Southeastern Massachusetts, keeping local communities healthy and connected to the natural world. Visit wildlandstrust.org for more details. 

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Wildlands Bids Farewell to Wendy Jones

By Thomas Patti, Communications Coordinator

In July, Wildlands bid farewell to our beloved Office Manager, Wendy Jones. After six years deftly balancing her Wildlands role with an assessor position for the Town of Plympton, Wendy has opted for a simpler work life, becoming the full-time Principal Assessor with the Town of Whitman. We will miss Wendy’s kind and calming presence around the office, and wish her the best in this next chapter of her career! 

“My favorite part of working at Wildlands was not only the pleasant environment, but working with dedicated staff, volunteers, and board members who are committed to accomplishing rewarding work in land protection,” Wendy said. “It may sound a little corny, but it’s true! Also, each property has its own unique attributes and challenges, and the Wildlands staff is adept at handling all situations. Sometimes you never know what kind of call or email you receive from the public—and there are some interesting ones!” 

Wendy’s path to Wildlands was long and winding, yet fueled at every step by a passion for learning and a commitment to her family. After an early foray into the legal field, Wendy pivoted to public television, where she worked for 15 years on PBS science documentary programs like Scientific American Frontiers and Audubon. After traveling extensively for a project with Harvard University, Wendy prepared for a closer-to-home career while juggling the roles of mom, student, and professional. She began managing a commercial property on Cape Cod and working toward an appraiser license, which led her to become a Massachusetts Accredited Assessor (MAA). Somehow, these various experiences brought Wendy to Wildlands—and we couldn’t be happier that they did. 

“For the past six years, we have all marveled at Wendy’s masterful ability to carry out two part-time jobs, each with a considerable workload and tremendous responsibility,” said Wildlands President Karen Grey. “She never missed a beat. Wendy is dedicated and conscientious and has always dropped whatever she is doing to help any one of us in need. With Wendy, it is not what she does, but how she does it. We will miss her tremendously.” 

We couldn’t let Wendy go without a feast. Last month, Wildlands staff convened after work in the Conservation Barn to share laughs, memories, and well wishes with Wendy over tacos and cake. In recognition of her dedication to the Trust, Wendy received a Yeti cooler, stocked with wine. 

Thank you, Wendy, for your immense contributions to Wildlands Trust!