The Preservation Collective, Inc.

11/05/2026

“You can’t protect what you don’t know”… please take a break from scrolling and watch this short 30 min film about "The Nature of Nature" covering the regions biodiversity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_2LiaAzZUs

11/04/2026

NEWS… A VISION FOR CHESTER'S FUTURE MOVES FORWARD!

Town of Chester voters have approved establishing a Community Preservation Fund!

The road ahead belongs to the community to shape, and the legacy passed on will reflect the care, commitment, and decisions made along the way.

This vote paves the way for new opportunities to protect the character, resources, and special qualities that matters most for generations to come.

As with any journey, the path forward will take meaningful communication, community engagement, and a willingness to work together. Staying informed, sharing perspectives, and participating in thoughtful, constructive conversations will help guide the opportunities and responsibilities that lie ahead.

The future of Chester is a road the community travels together.

Photo credit: Tracy Schuh, President
https://www.thepreservationcollective.com/

11/02/2026

Sharing this post because there are many beyond the Town of Chester who are watching with great interest and hoping to see their Community Preservation Fund pass.

There is a great deal of appreciation for the efforts to protect the remaining viable farmland and open spaces that make Chester such a wonderful community. Voters have a unique opportunity (and a long-term responsibility) to consider the quality of life they want for their town in the years ahead and to begin planning now for its preservation for future generations.

Please know that many people throughout the region are quietly cheering Chester on and rooting for a positive outcome.

Wishing Chester all the best as voters consider this important preservation ballot measure on November 3!

Strong partnerships. Local investment. Lasting preservation

Growing support for a Community Preservation Fund (CPF) in Chester comes from those who understand what's at risk.

Regional conservation leaders and preservation partners include Orange County Land Trust, Open Space Institute, Land Trust Alliance, and Scenic Hudson.

These organizations expressed their support because they understand the importance of giving communities the tools and resources to help protect the places that make them special.

As Scenic Hudson explains, when communities have "skin in the game," they become more competitive for outside grant funding—multiplying the impact of every local dollar raised. Scenic Hudson has also worked alongside municipalities throughout the Hudson Valley, sharing expertise and helping communities establish Community Preservation Funds.

A CPF is about investing in Chester's future: protecting open space, farmland, natural resources, trail corridors, scenic landscapes, and the character of our community.

Now it’s up to Chester residents to put preservation planning to work. Vote Nov 3.

Image: Goosepond Mountain Road, Chester NY
Photo by: Angelo Marcialis Photography

10/28/2026

Preserving Open Space for a Healthier, More Resilient Community

Open spaces provide benefits that extend far beyond their ecological and economic value. Parks, green spaces, and protected farmland help preserve natural habitats, prevent habitat fragmentation, and safeguard valuable agricultural land for future local food production. Equally important are the mental, physical, and social benefits these spaces bring to residents and families.

Parks and natural areas provide welcoming places for people and families to connect, interact, and build meaningful relationships across generations and backgrounds. These shared experiences foster a sense of belonging, strengthen community ties, and cultivate neighborhood pride and a collective sense of stewardship. Access to nature also supports mental well-being, encourages physical activity, reduces stress, and helps build healthier, more resilient communities for families to live, work, and thrive.

Preserving open space is therefore not simply an environmental consideration or a land-use decision; it is an investment in the long-term health, character, and prosperity of a community. By taking a forward-thinking approach to preservation planning and protecting open spaces before they are lost to development, communities can balance responsible growth with conservation, safeguard local food systems, enhance residents’ quality of life, and ensure that these benefits remain available for future generations.

Planning for the future means recognizing that our open spaces are an essential community resource that sustains our environment, strengthens our economy, supports the well-being of individuals and families, and connects us to one another.

The time to act is now, before these irreplaceable spaces are lost forever. By planning today, you can protect what makes your community special and ensure that future generations inherit a healthier, more resilient, and more connected place to call home.

TPC, Inc.
Photo credit: T. Schuh “Today’s Fishing Hole. Tomorrow’s Lasting Memory”
visit: https://www.thepreservationcollective.com/

10/25/2026

Go Batty for Conservation! Bat Week has officially begun and could change the way you see the night....

From October 24–31, we celebrate these amazing mammals, even as they’re often portrayed as spooky symbols of Halloween. But while bats may be associated with the season’s frights, they’re actually heros hard at work every night, helping control insect populations, pollinate plants, and disperse seeds that help new plants and trees grow.

Throughout Bat Week, organizations and agencies are raising awareness of bats’ important ecological roles and the threats they face, including habitat loss, disease and light pollution.

Bats play a vital role in keeping ecosystems healthy and thriving. Take a moment this week to give these misunderstood creatures some love....discover some fascinating bat facts and how can you help with their survival.

For more info, go to https://batweek.org/why-bats-matter/
We will also post other educational links that might be of interest in comments.

10/23/2026

10/15/2026

Nature reminds us that we are temporary, interconnected, and ultimately subject to forces much greater than ourselves.....

In honor of National Poetry Day in the U.S., we decided to share a poem to make you think about "My land". It explores how the speaker can begin by believing they possess something, only to discover that they have become deeply connected to it instead.

Human beings are not separate from nature; they are part of it. This speaker in the poem makes a humbling discovery revealing that true connection does not come from claiming something as our own, but from recognizing our place within something greater than ourselves.

Today, let us celebrate poetry not only for the words it gives us, but for the questions it leaves behind.

If nature belongs to no one, yet sustains us all, what responsibility do we have to protect it?

10/07/2026

An example of Community preservation funds at work … “Community Preservation Funds empower towns to set and achieve their own conservation priorities so they’re able to save the landscapes that make their areas unique. We’re honored to work with the Town of New Paltz on their first major CPF project.” Said OSI Northeast senior land project manager. Read more….

The project marks the first major use of the New Paltz Community Preservation Fund.

10/02/2026

Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back. Preserve what makes your community special. Community Preservation Funds are a reliable source of funding that can help protect open spaces, farmland, historic places, parks, trails, and other community resources for generations to come.

Local measures happening including Town of Chester. Be informed. FAQ provided here: https://www.thepreservationcollective.com/community-preservation-funds/

05/06/2026

Thank you for the shout out Sugar Loaf Community Foundation. While we advocated hard to save this property from the overdevelopment project proposed at that time...and the Chester Town Board and landowner agreed to let it go to a public vote... it was ultimately the residents of Chester who brought it home. This win truly belongs to the community.

It is important that we can all try to spend more time outdoors, volunteer for beautification projects, promote the benefits of open space preservation, conserve resources, and participate in planning efforts led by our public officials. As development continues, it’s important that we work together to identify areas that need protection, safeguard vital natural resources, and support willing landowners who want to leave a living legacy.

The Town of Chester is on the verge of making a meaningful commitment to open space preservation with the upcoming vote on a Community Preservation Fund. Keep an eye out as the process moves forward.

A greener today creates a better tomorrow for generations to come.