LETTER: Conservation Commission Withdraws CPA Funding Request Enabling Park Commission Request

Dear Editor:

In a gesture of cooperation and support between town boards, the Conservation Commission, at its meeting Feb. 26, 2013, voted unanimously to withdraw its request for $150,000 in CPA funds enabling the Park Commission to proceed unimpeded with their request for $350,000. Only $365,000 remains in the CPA open space and unallocated account to fund $500,000 in requests:  $150,000 for the Conservation Commission to replenish the Conservation Fund and $350,000 for the Park Commission to fund partially new playing fields on Cow Pond Brook Road.

The Conservation Commissioners' decision to withdraw their request was influenced, in part, by the good support the Conservation Commission has received from the CPC and Town Meeting for funding projects in the past. The Conservation Commission recognizes that we have received funding far exceeding that of the Park Commission and that the playing fields project, co-sponsored by the Groton-Dunstable Recreation Association, has special value to the youth of the town.

The Conservation Commission's recent purchase of 105 acres on Chicopee Row depleted the Conservation Fund, leaving only $30,000 for land acquisition. However, $400,000 of the $716,000 recent land purchase price will be returned to the town from a state LANDS grant in September. The Conservation Commission's goal is to keep between $750,000 and $1,000,000 in the Fund in order to act quickly when desirable parcels become available, working towards achieving the Master Plan goal of connecting open space and trail corridors throughout Groton.

The Conservation Commission wishes to thank the citizens of Groton and other town boards for their past support of open space projects and hopes that we can count on your support in the future.

Craig Auman, Chairman

Groton Conservation Commission