Our History

LEE LAND TRUST 30th ANNIVERSARY

The Town of Lee was endowed with resources as farmland, mountains, waterways and the Housatonic River.

In 1992, Tim Gray, Deidre Consolati (with writing skills that still inspire), Sarah Bell (legal consultant) and others became the Founding Family of the Lee Land Trust. This Trust was, and continues, to encourage thoughtful development in Lee while preserving the rural character and promoting the preservation of land & natural resources.

The future survival of all species, depends on preservation of our resources including open spaces, forest lands, farmland, wetlands, waterways, streams, ponds & lakes.

What we do today will determine what we have in the future. The Lee Land Trust (LLT) wants to help by encouraging land preservation today and being stewards to what Lee is preserving.

MILESTONES THROUGH THE YEARS:

1994 – LLT joined with the Stockbridge Land Trust and the Mass Dept of Environmental Management to preserve Kampoosa Bog as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). In 1999 the complete management plan was finalized.

1998 – Discussions & plans beginning for a Lee Riverwalk along the Housatonic River. This Housatonic Riverwalk Concept Plan is currently being used as a reference for the Lee Bikeway Committee.

2001 – LLT accepts the generous donation of 100 acres in East Lee from Donato Cedrone to be preserved in memory of Blanche Barlow.

2004 – LLT and Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) oversee the Conservation Restriction on 206 acres of the Oak ‘n Spruce Resort land on Beartown Mountain.

2008 – Work began to save Golden Hill Land about 153 acres, previous Schweitzer-Maudit Mill Property. After much work, it was preserved under the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) with help from LLT, BNRC, neighbors on Golden Hill Road & friends in Lee by 2014.

2009 – Trails Grant awarded to The Trustees Of Reservations (Trustees) & LLT (Cedrone Property) is the beginning of the hiking trail project on their adjoining lands in East Lee.

2011 – LLT awaiting the Federal Scenic Byway Grant, applied through the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, for work on the Cedrone Property at the trail head.

2012 – Cornelia Kalischer, speaking for the Citizens for Preserving South Lee, awarded the LLT a generous donation for continuing protection of land in Lee & South Lee.

2015 – Federal Scenic Byway Grant was finally received thru Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. It will be used for the continued development of the trail system on the Cedrone property including  removal of the existing building, installing a parking area with picnic table & kiosk with historical information.

2015 – LLT, with the generous support from the Citizens for Preserving South Lee, was able to accept 30 acres donated by James Williams on Church Street. This land will be preserved as open space.

2019 – LLT Grand Opening of “Donato’s Trail” in East Lee! After many years of research, planning & preparation, LLT & the Trustees welcome hikers to this special woodland. The roadside sign says: Donato’s Trail & Goose Pond Reservation (Trustees land).

2021 – Finalizing “Donato’s Trail” with the Trail Map (from the Trustees) & unique designed kiosk from Heather Pixley of Pixley Sign, we wish everyone: Happy Trails!