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| Watchaug Pond in
Charlestown- February 12th 2012 This may be of interest to our members: The Charlestown Town Council is scheduled to vote tonight (2/12/12) on whether to join with the non-profit Charlestown Land Trust, the RI Department of Environmental Management, and private contributors to preserve and permanently protect from development a scenic 27 ˝ acre parcel of land on Watchaug Pond in Charlestown, and to turn the space into a nature sanctuary with walking trails. At stake is the largest parcel of private, unprotected land on Watchaug Pond – a pond that is the second largest natural pond in Rhode Island. It has been privately owned for generations, and the public has been unable to enjoy the site. This is the last opportunity to protect it from development permanently, to help the quality of the pond, and to create a nature sanctuary on the site with walking trails for all to enjoy. After a statewide competition, the Charlestown Land Trust obtained a grant from the RI Department of Environmental Management of $367,000 to help purchase and preserve the property, and turn it into a nature sanctuary with walking trails. But it is not possible for the Land Trust to raise all the funds necessary to purchase the property and preserve it in the short time in which the YMCA – which owns the property -- wants to sell it. The Charlestown Town Council will be voting on whether to contribute money from the Town’s open space funds to the project. Some people are apparently so determined to fight preservation of this scenic land on Watchaug Pond and to have a housing development or condo development put there – even though the site was found worthy of protection in a statewide competition -- that they are resorting to outright fabrications and extreme statements and personal attacks. This negative campaign has escalated in recent days. Please don’t let these underhanded tactics destroy a chance to preserve a special part of Charlestown. I urge you to send an email to the members of the Charlestown Town Council voting on this issue, to show your support for this public-private partnership to preserve land and create a nature sanctuary with walking trails for all to enjoy. What would be particularly meaningful to the Town Council is for you to make a contribution to the Watchaug Pond Preserve Campaign in whatever amount you can afford at charlestownlandtrust.org, and then, in your email, tell the Town Council that you care enough to make a contribution and that you are urging the Town of Charlestown to participate in this effort, too, since the land is in Charlestown and is worthy of protection. Here is a list of the Town Council members who will be voting on the issue: - Thomas Gentz tom.gentz@charlestownri.org - Lisa DiBello lisa.dibello@charlestownri.org - Gregory Avedisian greg.avedisian@charlestownri.org - Marge Frank marge.frank@charlestownri.org Here is a combined email address for your convenience: tom.gentz@charlestownri.org; lisa.dibello@charlestownri.org; greg.avedisian@charlestownri.org; marge.frank@charlestownri.org Please take a few minutes to urge the Charlestown Town Council to join with the Land Trust and DEM and private contributors to help purchase the YMCA property and turn this private land into a nature sanctuary for all to appreciate. Thank you. Joanne D’Alcomo, 9 Michelle Lane, Charlestown, and 48 Leamington Road, Boston |
