Public Tour Kicks Off Campaign for Treetops (CT)

Stamford & Greenwich, Connecticut–On Saturday, November 4, a coalition of nonprofit organizations will kick off the Campaign to Save Treetops with a public site walk of the 110-acre property in Greenwich and Stamford. The walk will take place from 10:00 am to 11:30 am and residents of Greenwich and Stamford are encouraged to attend.

Conservation experts from the Town of Greenwich, Stamford Land Conservation Trust, The Trust for Public Land (TPL), Mianus River Greenway Alliance, and Mianus River Watershed Council will be on hand to explain the property’s importance as a buffer for local drinking water supplies, a link in a greenway of protected open space, and a critical habitat for rare species of wildlife.

For more than three years, area residents have watched with concern as first Champion International and then International Paper considered development proposals for this land. On October 17, in an exciting breakthrough, TPL announced that it had reached an agreement to purchase Treetops from International Paper for $11.5 million. In order to protect Treetops permanently, TPL must secure funding commitments by January 31, 2001. The 100-day campaign to save Treetops began with a $3.5 million commitment from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, and the race is on to raise the remaining $8 million.

Both the Town of Greenwich and the City of Stamford are expected to contribute to the project, and strong private support will be essential to save Treetops from development. Contributions to the Treetops Campaign can be sent to the Greenwich Land Trust, P.O. Box 1152, Greenwich, CT 06836.

The site walk will begin at the parking lot on the Treetops property in Stamford. For more information, or in the event of inclement weather, contact Alicia Betty at (203)-777-7367 x1.

Directions to Treetops, Merriebrook Lane, Stamford

From the North:
Take the Merritt Parkway to Exit 33 in Stamford
Go straight off the end of the ramp onto Den Road
Take the first left onto Bangall Road
Take the first left onto Riverbank Road
Follow Riverbank Road (which turns into Westover Road)
Take a Right onto Merriebrook Lane (which is on a sharp bend)
Follow Merriebrook to the driveway at the end
There will be signs at the driveway directing you to the parking area

From the South:
Take the Merritt Parkway to Exit 33 in Stamford
Go straight off the end of the ramp onto Den Road
Take the second right onto Roxbury Road
Take second left onto Westover Road
Take a Right onto Merriebrook Lane (which is on a sharp bend)
Follow Merriebrook to the driveway at the end
There will be signs at the driveway directing you to the parking area

From Downtown Stamford:
Take West Avenue to Stillwater Road
Follow Stillwater Road to Westover Road
Take a left on Merriebrook Lane
Take a Right onto Merriebrook Lane (which is on a sharp bend)
Follow Merriebrook to the driveway at the end
There will be signs at the driveway directing you to the parking area