Here in our local communities, Upper Charles continues to pursue preservation of open space throughout our watershed. Some of our current projects include:
- Land protection: ongoing efforts to permanently protect the 155 acres of the Norfolk Hunt Club land in Dover and Medfield, and continued dialogue with municipalities in our watershed to acquire and/or permanently conserve properties
- Recreational trails: expansion of trails in Dover, Medfield, and Medway by supporting local Friends groups, Trail Clubs, and Community Preservation Committees
- Natural resource conservation: lobbying the State Legislature for the Public Lands Preservation Act (PLPA) and the Bottle Bill
- Public awareness: guided walks reading the land and forest and updated signage and trail maps·
- Land stewardship: updated foot bridges and trail maintenance in Wenakeening Woods, along with pursuit of invasive plant control and forestry management plans on our properties
Past conservation collaborations with other entities include:
- Lobbying the State Legislature to pass the Community Preservation Act that was adopted by Holliston, Hopkinton, Medway, and Millis
- Upper Charles Trail – 14 miles of a recreational trail in Holliston, Milford, and Sherborn
- Preservation of the 279 acres of land at the former Medfield State Hospital along the Charles River (pictured above)
- Pegan Hill (40 acres) in Natick and Dover
- Chicken Brook Trail – Wetland crossing boardwalks in Medway – totaling 325 feet