Newtown Forest Association
Newtown (duh)
Newtown. Beautiful Newtown.
A town whose very name bring grown men to tears. (That would be me.) The national media sort of latched on to “Sandy Hook” rather than “Newtown” in the first day or two after the tragedy, so both names get me. If you’re feeling particularly emotional today, you can read the piece I wrote about Newtown in 2012.
But if you’re not, and you’re here expressly for the Forest Association stuff, then good. Let’s get to it. “The Newtown Forest Association is a private non-profit organization and not part of the Town of Newtown, Connecticut. In fact, we are the largest private landowner in Newtown.”
When I first read that I thought to myself, “Hm. I wonder if that’s unique in Connecticut.” Now, 20 minutes later I still have no idea – nor do I care to look it up. I would think many town land trusts may be the largest private land owners in their respective towns though. Someone else can sort that out for me though. There is another fact about the NFA that IS unique though: “The NFA is the oldest private land trust organization in Connecticut.”
Someone has to be the oldest, right? And why not Newtown? “The Association was started in 1924 when Dr. Howard Peck presented a gift of 7.2 acres of land to nine Newtown neighbors forming “Newtown Forester’s Association.” Additional lands added from concerned citizens formed the 15.5-acre “Newtown Town Forest”. This is an example of how a land trust works to protect the character of the community by preserving scenic, historic, agricultural and recreational lands for the benefit of present and future generations. The NFA has grown from the initial 7.2 acres to its current holdings of more than 1,100 acres located in all districts of Newtown.
That “Town Forest” is also believed to be the first “Town Forest” in the nation. (If you are unaware, many towns have “Town Forest” open spaces… it’s kind of a thing.)
Everyone in the world has heard of Newtown. Most Nutmeggers have probably driven through the center of town with its famous giant flag. But man, once you start heading away from the interstate, Newtown gets really woodsy really quickly. It is a town to easily get lost in – literally and figuratively. For some reason, the roads here seem to be more confusing than in most other towns around the state. (I guess it’s all part of the Bethel/Danbury/Newtown/Redding goal to trap people in their clutches though, as navigating the back roads between these towns is, quite simply, very difficult.
Which is perhaps what I like most about Newtown and the NFA properties – getting “lost” in them.
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The Preserves and Hikes:
If linked, I’ve hiked it.
196 Hattertown Preserve
Bloom Preserve
Brunot Preserve
Cavanaugh Pond
Fosdick Preserve
Greenleaf Preserve
Hattertown Pond Preserve
Holcombe Hill Wildlife Preserve
Holcombe Preserve Memorial Trail
Jay Preserve
Knotts Preserve
Mulholland Preserve – no trails
Nettleton Preserve
Newtown Town Forest
Paul A. Cullens Wildlife Preserve (Key Rock) – no trails
The Glen – no trails
Wasserman Preserve
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CTMQ’s Land Trust Trails Page
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