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Protecting the Common Pasture (MA)

Photo: Jerry & Marcy Monkman

The "Common Pasture", a scenic expanse of undeveloped land located on the Newburyport / Newbury border, dates back to the area's original settlement in 1635, when the land was held and used in common, even by the landless poor who made a living with livestock. Though much of the Historic Common Pasture has been lost to development, large expanses of the original Common Pasture landscape remain undeveloped, in a patchwork of open fields, working farmland, wooded uplands, streams and wetlands.

Residents treasure the Common Pasture for its extensive vistas, traditional agricultural uses, and valuable wildlife habitat. The land is a gateway to both Newbury and Newburyport, and its signature open landscape - unique in the greater Boston region - is enjoyed by thousands of commuters and visitors every day. At risk of being lost to residential and industrial development, the historic landscape was listed as one of Massachusetts' "Ten Most Endangered Historic Resources" by PreservationMass in 2004.

Photo: Jerry & Marcy Monkman

Almost 400 years after the Common Pasture was established as a grazing ground for livestock, more than 1,500 acres in Newburyport, Newbury, and West Newbury remain open and undeveloped. Given the intense development pressures in the region, much of this land is at risk of being converted to industrial or residential uses. Working at the request of the Town of Newbury and the City of Newburyport, and in partnership with Essex Country Greenbelt Association and the Trustees of Reservations, the Trust for Public Land is exploring opportunities to permanently protect the approximately 640 remaining undeveloped acres located within the initial focus area south of Hale Street, north of Scotland Road, and east of I-95.

The multi-phased effort is expected to take several years and will likely rely on funding from a mix of federal, state, city, town, and private sources.

Photo: Jerry & Marcy Monkman

Project Overview

Initial efforts to protect a portion of the working farmland, uplands, and wetlands in the Common Pasture are underway. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) has an agreement with the owner of the 22-acre Herrick property and is negotiating to purchase several other nearby parcels. Essex County Greenbelt Association is working with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a private landowner to protect 50 acres of working farmland with an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) that would prohibit development, but allow farming to continue in perpetuity. These first two projects are expected to close between November 15, 2005 and June 30, 2006.

The Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program has designated the Common Pasture as Priority Habitat. Rare species such as the upland sandpiper, American bittern, northern harrier, Long's bulrush, spotted turtle, barn owl, and blue-spotted salamander have been documented in the area. The Common Pasture also supports a wide variety of both wetland and upland plants and animals. For many years, the Common Pasture has been the premiere location in all of eastern Massachusetts for grassland birds and other wildlife requiring moist open space.

Working Farmland

In addition to working on protecting a 50-acre farm through a state Agricultural Preservation Restriction, Essex County Greenbelt Association is actively pursuing land protection strategies on other working farms in the focus area. It is anticipated that the majority of funding for the protection of these farms will be provided by the state, but other sources of funds may be required as well.

Future Common Pasture Projects

Project partners will be working with landowners throughout the focus area in the coming months on land protection strategies. The land to the north of the Herrick property is of particular interest from a wildlife habitat perspective, given its Little River frontage and moist grassland habitat. It is important that the area be protected in order to preserve the habitat for the diversity of bird species that frequent the open pasture. TPL is currently in negotiations with several landowners in this area to purchase their properties.

Future efforts on the Common Pasture project will involve negotiating agreements with the remaining landowners, completing due diligence for all projects, and acquiring the land for conservation and working farmland purposes. While the majority of our efforts will be directed at land in the initial Historic Common Pasture focus area, additional opportunities may arise beyond these boundaries.

The Essex County Greenbelt Association is a nonprofit land trust dedicated to conserving the open space heritage of Essex County. Greenbelt works with landowners and communities to conserve land that is of scenic, ecological and agricultural significance. Since 1961, Greenbelt has protected more than 11,000 acres of land. Greenbelt owns and manages 4,500 acres that comprises their reservation system, holds over 150 conservation restrictions totaling more than 4,300 acres, and has assisted in conserving 2,500 additional acres.

Donation Information

To donate, please download the pledge form attached at the bottom of this page. For more information please contact

The Trust for Public Land
Chris Lapointe
33 Union Stree, Fourth Floor
Boston, MA, 02108
617-367-6200 ext. 358
chris.lapointe@tpl.org

The Parker River Clean Water Association is a non-profit community-based organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the waters and ecosystems of the Parker River and Plum Island Sound watersheds for current and future generations.

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and natural areas. Since its founding in 1972, TPL has helped to protect more than 1.9 million acres nationwide, including nearly 10,000 acres in Massachusetts. TPL depends on the support and generosity of individuals, foundations, and businesses to achieve its land for people mission. For more information, visit www.tpl.org.

Posted 6/2005

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FILE ATTACHMENTS:

Pledge Form to Save the Common Pasture