TPL’s 2005 Conservation Achievements

San Francisco, CA, 1/6/2006-Today, The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national land conservation nonprofit, announced its conservation achievements for the year 2005. During 2005, TPL completed 253 projects across the country, protecting more than 123,873 acres in 37 states with a fair-market value of more than $471 million.

In addition, TPL and its affiliate, the Conservation Campaign, helped 36 counties and municipalities nationwide pass measures that will generate more than $8 million in new funding for parks and open space protection.

Since it was founded in 1972, TPL has helped protect more than two million acres of land, from the inner city to the wilderness, in 46 states. 2005 conservation highlights include:

EcoVillage Farm, Richmond, California

Six-acre EcoVillage Farm Learning Center is perhaps the only place where you can find urban kids caring for sheep and vegetable gardens, learning conflict resolution skills, and restoring creeks in the inner city.

New Playgrounds

TPL helped communities revitalize five playgrounds in New York City, Newark, New Jersey, and Oakland, California, including Mildred Helms Park in Newark and Bella Vista Playground in Oakland.

American Beach, Florida

TPL finalized a $2.275 million transaction with Nassau County that preserves 200 feet of prime beachfront property at historic American Beach that includes the historic Evans Rendezvous nightclub. American Beach was one of few beaches in the southeast open to African Americans during segregation era.

Vermillion River, Minnesota

TPL protected one of the best remaining trout streams in the Twin Cities region-475-acres along the Vermillion River.

Three New State Parks, Virginia

Including Seven Bends State Park in Shenandoah County. The 1,066-acre protection results from a $119 million bond referendum passed by Virginia voters in 2002.

Daniel Webster Farm, New Hampshire

The farm of Daniel Webster, one of New England’s greatest statesmen, has been acquired and will be protected by TPL.

Dunn Ranch, Colorado

The conservation easement on the 1,240-acre Dunn Ranch ensures the land will never be developed and the senior water rights that go with it will remain in the San Luis Valley.

Atlanta’s New BeltLine Corridor

Atlanta’s BeltLine, a 22-mile loop of historic railroad that encircles downtown and midtown, will increase greenspace, improve transit, connect neighborhoods and foster livable communities.

Puget Sound Priorities

To preserve and increase shoreline access throughout Puget Sound, TPL is collaborating with local communities, public agencies, Indian tribes, and other conservation groups to develop a regional conservation vision. Over the next 10 to 15 years, TPL will work with a variety of partners to identify priority areas for protection and secure new funding for communities to achieve local shoreline goals.

Designing the Santa Fe Railyard Park

TPL is assisting Santa Fe with building a new 10-acre park and 2-acre plaza in the heart of town.

The Last Shaker Village

At the headwaters of the Royal River in New Gloucester, Maine, the nation’s last active Shaker community lives as a testament to a religious and farming community that once numbered approximately 400 members in Maine and 5,000 in the United States. TPL and several partner organizations are working with the Shakers to protect the historic village and land from ever being developed.

New Playgrounds at New York City Schools

Students from New York City schools and local residents will celebrate new playgrounds. Parks will be created through the City Spaces program of the Trust for Public Land.

New Orleans Rebuilding Initiative

Larry Schmidt, TPL’s New Orleans Program Director has been invited to serve as co-chair for the land use committee of Mayor Ray Nagin’s Bring New Orleans Back Commission, to produce a master plan concept for New Orleans, in which expanded parks and open space are key elements.

“The Trust for Public Land proudly helps communities protect the parks, playgrounds, open space, and working lands we love, giving us all healthy places to play,” said TPL President Will Rogers.

Publications

Also in 2005, TPL released several land conservation publications including:

• The Conservation Easement Handbook-The definitive resource for land conservation professionals developing a conservation easement program to meet local acquisition needs
• Source Protection Handbook-Provides local governments, water suppliers and agencies, and community drinking water advocates with tools to identify conservation opportunities, implement source water conservation programs, and acquire and protect lands that will help keep our drinking water clean.
• LandVote-Report of the previous year’s state and local conservation finance measures. A new public database of updated conservation finance measure information is on the web at www.landvote.org
• Groundswell-Told through pictures, interviews, and editorial insight, Groundswell engages readers in compelling journeys of collaboration in the field of land conservation, and conservation’s capacity for enhancing community health, economies, and connections.

For more information on these and other TPL publications visit www.tpl.org/publications

The Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving land for people to enjoy as parks and open space. Since 1972, TPL has conserved over two million acres of land nationwide. For more information about TPL, visit www.tpl.org