With one of the prettiest views in town as their backdrop, Newtown Forest Association (NFA) board members were joined by local and state officials and other guests recently to formally recognize 100 years of conservation and land protection work within Newtown.

A proclamation from the General Assembly marking the centennial was one of two highlights of the brief August 1 ceremony conducted at NFA’s headquarters, atop Holcombe Hill. NFA also announced the awarding of $20,000 in bonding funds from the State to the local association to improve accessibility to Holcombe Hill Preserve.

In opening the brief event, NFA Executive Director Trent McCann said he and others were gathered “to celebrate the achievement of 100 years of preservation by the Newtown Forest Association.” August, he continued, “marks an entire century since NFA was founded by a forward-thinking group of Newtowners.”

The mission of NFA, said President Bart Smith, “is really, really simple: to preserve and protect open space in perpetuity. Sounds really simple. That’s what we do.”

In offering a brief history of NFA, Smith said 90 people gathered at the Mt Pleasant home of Dr Charles Peck in 1924.

“Officers were elected and the town forest was incorporated into the Newtown Forest Association, on Castle Hill Road,” he said. For context, he said there were approximately 2,750 residents in Newtown at that time, living in 900 homes. NFA has preserved 15 acres.

“By 2024 that has increased, interestingly, ten-fold: we have over 27,500 people, over 9,000 homes, and we have almost 1,500 acres,” he said.

NFA has had times of slow growth “and even some inactivity over the years,” Smith said. “Newtown grew, and preservation wasn’t really on everyone’s mind. There were farms everywhere and the thinking was ‘This land will last forever.’”

By the 1980s, guided by Doug Rogers, NFA moved into what Smith calls “a more modern land trust, becoming a little more active with our management and acquiring properties.”

Praise And Encouragement

Offering some backstory, Smith then shared that Josephine Holcombe had promised the land that now serves as NFA’s headquarters to a hospital.

“Had that happened, we would now be standing in someone’s backyard,” he said. “There would be dozens, if not 100s, of homes here.”

Instead, during the mid-1990s, Rogers spoke at length with Mrs Holcombe about preserving the property. Mrs Holcombe ultimately donated the property — approximately 150 acres — to NFA in 1997. That, and a financial gift “have kept us going the last 28 years,” he said.

The donations fueled more active management of NFA’s preserves, “and increased awareness in preserving more land for generations to come,” Smith also noted.

NFA earned national accreditation from The National Land Trust Accreditation Commission in 2017. The following year it received the National Land Trust Excellence Award from the Land Trust Alliance.

“I cannot tell you how gratifying it was for us to get that honor,” Smith said. The momentum continued when, in 2021, NFA hired its first full-time employee, its executive director.

“We’re counting on him to bring us into the second century,” Smith said in concluding his remarks.

State Senator Tony Hwang and State Representatives Mitch Bolinsky and Marty Foncello each spoke during Thursday’s event. All offered praise to NFA and encouragement for the future.

“The ability to celebrate 100 years of the Newtown Forest Association is a remarkable accomplishment,” Hwang said in opening his comments. Gesturing around and behind him, he said he could not pick “a more appropriate setting.”

Holcombe Hill is the highest point in Newtown, boasting an elevation of 830 feet above sea level. It offers spectacular views of three counties.

Thursday morning’s event was set up with attendees looking north-northwest. From atop Holcombe Hill, varying shades of green treetops and then miles and miles of blue-hazed mountains were capped by clear blue skies behind each speaker. Aside from the speakers it was nearly otherwise silent atop the hill, with only one vehicle and one man walking his dog detracting from the presentations.

Hwang recalled his first visit to the location and witnessing its stunning vista.

“I remember the first time I drove up here, and I was just amazed,” he said. “Amazed at the natural beauty that we have in our community.”

After walking the property’s trails he was left, he said, “with a greater appreciation of what the people before us have done in preserving this space. This is truly a celebration of a community making a commitment to preserving open space not only for this generation but for future generations.”

Hwang was “just so honored,” he said, to present a state proclamation to NFA along with his compliments and thanks to NFA volunteers who clear trails and maintain all of the association’s properties.

“It is difficult work,” he added. “If there is anything else I can offer, it’s a plea: support NFA, through volunteering, through your donations, and through participating and appreciating this natural beauty.”

State Representative Mitch Bolinsky called it “truly an honor” to be part of the 100th anniversary commemoration.

“Hearing Bart talk about us having the foremost land trust in the United States of America is quite an accomplishment,” he said. “I had been aware for years of the fact that NFA is the original land trust in the state, and one of the first in the entire United States.

“The honor is well deserved,” he added, then gestured behind him. “Look at this vista. This deserves protection.”

Bolinsky talked about recently visiting friends elsewhere in Newtown, where another beautiful view is enjoyed from their backyard. That property abuts the Draper property on Deep Brook Road, “the current property under conservation and preservation in perpetuity” by NFA, he noted.

The association is working to purchase Deep Brook Farm, a 63-acre parcel that borders the Borough of Newtown and Dickinson Memorial Park, with buildings that date to the mid-1700s. The property has been continuously farmed in some capacity since that time.

NFA has been working for about a year to purchase the property from the estate of Dr Thomas Draper. The association announced in June it had reached an agreement to purchase the farm for $1.3 million. NFA had $800,000 as of the end of June. The deadline to raise the remaining $500,000 is September 1.

“That’s happening right now, people,” Bolinsky added. “If I could put one message into the press, and into everybody who is communicating with their friends, it would be this: Support this organization. Help them make the acquisition of the vista over the Draper property possible.”

State Representative Marty Foncello spoke next, saying he too was “in awe of the view here. It’s simply stunning.

“No one builds better monuments than Mother Nature,” he said. “You can’t duplicate that anywhere.”

Echoing the comments of his colleagues, he offered his thanks to those “who have done everything you can to preserve this. Thanks for your work, your tireless efforts, and I look forward to working with you for the next 100 years.”

The three politicians then introduced a proclamation that had been issued by the State of Connecticut General Assembly, as requested by Hwang, Bolinsky and Foncello. Bolinsky read the document, in which the Assembly offered “its most sincere congratulations to the Newtown Forest Association in recognition of the 100th anniversary.

“Established in 1924 with the donation of one seven-acre parcel, the Town Forest, today with 1500 acres, and countless volunteers and admirers. The General Assembly of the State of Connecticut hereby proclaims our respect and our best wishes for the Newtown Forest Association for its next 100 years.”

Bonding Announcement

NFA Executive Director Trent McCann then returned to the podium and announced NFA has been awarded $20,000 in state bonding allocation. NFA plans to use the funds, he said, to improve accessibility to the top of Holcombe Hill — a steep quarter-mile pitch that often poses challenges to vehicles and walkers alike — resurface and better maintain parking areas, and provide dedicated handicapped parking spaces at the top of the hill.

“Much like land preservation, the state’s bonding process is an investment in the future of Connecticut’s communities,” McCann said. “These funds will make this incredible place more accessible to a larger portion of our community for future years to come.

“We’re extremely grateful to the State’s commitment to local preservation efforts, and we’re honored to accept these funds,” he continued.

Hwang said the funding was achieved through a collaborative effort between his legislative colleagues.

“No grant funding ever succeeds without a collaborative team effort from the delegation,” he said. While he said the effort was achieved through the work of himself, Bolinsky and Foncello, he did say he initiated the effort in part after his drive up the hill to attend a spring event.

“It was a challenging effort,” he said, drawing laughs and nods of agreement.

“This is important,” he continued. “Preservation and access, it’s important for all residents not just of Newtown and Sandy Hook, but all who want to come here. The enjoyment of natural beauty is worth making an investment.”

Deputy Land Use Director Steve Maguire shared he was “pleasantly shocked” to learn how much open space was already available in town when he was promoted to his current position.

“There is such a dedication to the preservation of open space,” he said. He shares similar views with McCann, he said, on preservation, “and looks forward to a continued collaboration between the Town and Newtown Forest Association.”

First Selectman Jeff Capeci offered his congratulations to the association.

“Newtown Forest has been a partner with the Town of Newtown, purchasing a lot of land and keeping it as open space, either buying the land or putting easements on it to keep it preserved,” he said. “Newtown has always been a rural community and our partnership with the NFA has allowed us to keep it that way, and to keep Newtown’s character the way it always has been,” the first selectman added. “I look forward to working with them more in the future, to preserve what we love about Newtown. Thank you and congratulations again.”

Hwang, who served as an emcee for the morning, acknowledged Amy Paterson, representing Connecticut Land Conservation Council; Board of Selectmen members Michelle Embree Ku and Dan Cruson, and representatives from The Nature Conservancy who were also in attendance.

McCann began his closing remarks by saying celebrating the legacy of 100 years of preservation in Newtown “is a really special moment.”

He also cautioned that 100 years is “a really, really small sliver in perpetuity. I’m looking forward to the preservation of Newtown, and this fall we’ll turn our attention toward the acquisition of Deep Brook Farm.

“The NFA is built on a long legacy of passion and community,” McCann added. “Preserving Deep Brook Farm — a 63-acre parcel in the heart of Newtown with nearly 300 years of agricultural heritage tied to that land — is going to be an incredible way to kick off our second century of preservation.”

NFA is on the cusp of its fundraising goal toward that acquisition, he said. He encouraged attendees to visit NFA’s website (newtownforestassociation.org).

“Protecting Deep Brook and the properties like it allow us to create a corridor of connected open spaces that benefit not just the fragile ecosystems and natural ecology of Newtown, but allow for a farther-reaching access of open spaces by hikers, equestrians, bike riders, and everybody else.

“The NFA is a special organization with a storied history and a bright future,” he concluded.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.