Our Story

In 1980, the Suffield Land Conservancy was born out of necessity.  Suffield had the opportunity to acquire 45 acres of land for $1,000 per acre from descendants of Luther Spencer.  The wooded property was adjacent to Sunrise Park and offered the community the opportunity to protect the lake, its aquifer, and a section of the Metacomet Trail.  In keeping with the town’s tendency to be penny wise and pound foolish, the Board of Selectmen declined the initial offer in 1978.  The following year, the Board of Finance proposed the purchase be brought to town meeting where the acquisition was passed, but at a 20% higher price due to inflation.  The selectman decided to call for a special referendum where the purchase was defeated by a slender margin.    

A group of resolute backers, fearing the destruction of this important piece of habitat to deforestation, formed the Suffield Land Conservancy.  The intention was to establish an organization dedicated to preserving Suffield open space and funded through grants and private donations. The first President, Russell MacNayr, was able to get the Connecticut River Watershed Council of Easthampton, MA to acquire the land on behalf of the SLC with a two-year interest free loan at a time when interest rates were over 15%. The SLC mobilized and was able to raise the needed funds through a door-to-door campaign. 

Since this initial purchase, the SLC has assembled ten additional properties along the ridgeline through donations and acquisitions.  By being a patient acquirer, we were able to string together 150 acres that preserve nearly 50% of the Metacomet trail in Suffield. It is a major destination for our residents seeking sunset views and fall foliage vistas, as well as for our bears, coyotes and deer seeking an undisturbed greenway through our town.  

The primary goal of the SLC is to selectively accumulate critical properties that exemplify the biodiversity of our town.  Since our founding nearly forty years ago, we have accumulated 28 properties with over 560 acres.  From a bog on Congamond Lake to meadows surrounding the Silver Creek development, the Conservancy uses these properties to educate our citizens about our natural surroundings and the importance that nature plays in the health of our planet.   All properties are open to the public and low impact usage is encouraged. 

As many communities lose open space, Suffield works hard to try to maintain its natural beauty and biodiversity.  The SLC will continue to work with the town planners, boards, and commissions to encourage preservation of open space and farmlands and creation of greenways for wildlife.   Its fund raising and advocacy has preserved major parcels of land for the future and will strive to continue these efforts for centuries to come.