Preserving Open Space At Ferris Farm

By Kendra Bobowick

Long blades of field grass soaking under a light rain at Phillips Farm in Southbury last week dampened the dress shoes and pant legs of area town and state officials. Among them were Newtown First Selectman Herb Rosenthal and Newtown’s Land Use Agency Deputy Director for Conservation Rob Sibley, who would take home $500,000 — Newtown’s portion of $9.9 million in open space grant funds from the state.

Referring to open space as integral, and priceless, Mr Sibley indicated that 2007 would be a banner year for land preservation. Seventy-four acres at Ferris Farm, Fairfield County’s last operating dairy farm along Route 302, will benefit from this round of funding. With the help of Melissa Spear, the Connecticut director of Trust for Public Land, Newtown secured the grant to preserve the rustic stretch of rocky fields where small clusters of cows graze.

“For Newtown, it’s the first time a farm has been preserved in this way; it’s exciting,” said Mr Sibley. Mr Rosenthal envisioned the open fields stretching upward from either side of Route 302.

“People say the fields and rocks remind them of Ireland,” he said. “It’s a very pretty property and we’re happy to preserve it.” A release announcing the grant awards stated, “In addition to preserving the agricultural heritage of the town, this site contains open meadows, pastures, forested areas, watercourses, and an important wetlands complex. The site offers a nesting habitat for bank swallows and American kestrels…and is a migration stopover and wintering habitat for a variety of geese and the blue-winged warbler…”

Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Gina McCarthy stresses the importance of open space. Land acquisition offer residents the ability to protect the landscape and scenic beauty of Connecticut, she said. Looking to the future, she said, “The work we’re doing is important and will become self-evident as the modern world displaces the natural one.”

People need to step outside. “Open space provides people the opportunity to get out and reconnect to the natural world,” she said. “Open space matters no matter where you are. It’s not just about pocket parks, but working spaces where kids can dig in the soil and grow things.”

Addressing the grant recipients, she continued, “Open space is on way to protect and preserve the face of Connecticut.”