A New Park for Plypmton?

Allison Gillum, Regional Conservationist,
AmeriCorps MassLIFT Volunteer
at Wildlands Trust

Allison Gillum, Regional Conservationist, has been an AmeriCorps MassLIFT Volunteer with Wildlands Trust for 1.5 years. She has been focused on helping municipalities and land owners with conservation planning. Most recently she's been working with the Town of Plympton on their first ever CPA (Community Preservation Act) funded land acquisition project.

The proposed project involves 2 parcels: a 10-acre parcel off Main St. to be named Churchill Park at Jones River Brook and Cato's Ridge Conservation Area, a 77-acre town-owned parcel that is currently landlocked. Allison explained that, "The project would provide public access to two incredible parcels of land in the heart of Plympton. I have very much enjoyed working with the Open Space Committee, CPC (Community Preservation Committee), and the Conservation Commission. Plympton is a beautiful, rural town."

Town meeting approval is needed on May 16 to keep this project moving forward. For more information about the project, see the brochure (front and back) Allison designed below:

Grey's Plate: What does moving to the Davis-Douglas Farm really mean?

Karen Grey, Executive Director.

Karen Grey has been the Executive Director of Wildlands Trust for four years. Among her many duties, she is focused on raising the needed funds to purchase and upgrade the Davis-Douglas Farm in Plymouth, which will serve as the new home of the Wildlands Trust.

Karen says, "The Farm is a 10-acre property in the heart of some of our most important holdings. It will place the Trust within a mile of nearly one third of its conservation land.  Because of the Farm’s proximity to so much of our land, we see the property as an opportunity to create a “gateway” to our mission.  The Trust will be much more visible to the public and we will have the space to offer programs and learning opportunities related to land conservation.  We look forward to interfacing with the public in ways we currently cannot."

Davis-Douglas Farm - Plymouth, MA.

The Trust plans to continue what the Trust's AmeriCorps volunteers have started, reaching out to non-traditional constituencies.  Some early ideas include community gardening, horticultural therapy and expanded outdoor passive recreation programs. She added that, "In a way, the new headquarters will serve as a 'Super Trail Head' where the public can park and head out by foot or mountain bike on the extensive trail systems throughout South Plymouth."

Passive recreation trail adjacent to the Farm.

As with most organizations, the Trust has noticed a downturn in fundraising, but Karen and the board remain committed to meeting the goals to make this project happen.

For more information about the Farm or to find out how you can help make the project possible, please contact Karen at 781.934.9018.