The Great Barrington Land Conservancy is a small town land conservancy with a big mission: To preserve natural places, agricultural land and wildlife habitats within Great Barrington, MA and to enhance recreational opportunities for residents and visitors through the creation of trails, walking paths, and special programs. Since our establishment in 1992, we have preserved several hundred acres of
agricultural and natural properties. Conservation restrictions evolved into projects for trail maintenance programs, community activism and collaboration. Please learn more about Housatonic River Walk (now a National Recreational Trail), the Lake Mansfield Conservation Forest Trails, Pfeiffer Arboretum and Trails, and the Threemile Hill Trail that links Fountain Pond State Park with the Berkshire South Recreational Area on our website www.GBland.org. We don't just put these resources in place, we help develop community involvement that ensures these places will be maintained and will be sources of recreation, ecology education, and community for years to come. We helped establish the Lake Mansfield Alliance, which has worked to preserve the ecology and recreational opportunities of the lake and its environs. We also helped establish GB Trails and Greenways, which provides robust trail maintenance and stewardship of trails and natural areas. GB Trails also provides a year-round calendar of outdoor events from bird watching to snowshoeing. We also established the markers that commemorate the involvement of W.E.B. Du Bois and William Stanley at the places where they lived and worked near the Housatonic River. Our programs and special places are available and accessible to all. Partnership with the Town of Great Barrington and local land, trail and habitat organizations is an important way that we accomplish our goals. We have provided important involvement in the adoption of the Community Preservation Act and work with the town on its Greenway project. Our work is accomplished through donations and the efforts of our community volunteers and volunteer Board of Directors. Since we began, we have also:
• Conserved more than 300 acres of privately owned land as "forever wild"
• Protected 53 acres of open space for public recreation and enjoyment
• Preserved 45 acres of prime agricultural land for farm production
• Established and maintained 3.5 miles of public walking and hiking trails
• Provided care and stewardship of the Lake Mansfield Recreation Area and the trails within the Lake Mansfield Conservation Forest through the work of Lake Mansfield Alliance
• Supported the creation of Great Barrington Trails and Greenways, a collaborative organization providing for trail development, maintenance, and enjoyment throughout Great Barrington
• Secured National Recreational Trail status for River Walk
• Landmarked Great Barrington's historic figures including W.E.B. DuBois and William Stanley
• Worked towards Great Barrington’s adaptation of the Community Preservation Act
• Supported the engagement of students in conservation and stewardship through partnerships with Greenagers and area schools and colleges
We look forward to adding to these achievements in the coming years.
