The Newtown Forest Association (NFA), the oldest private land trust in the state of Connecticut, is spearheading an ambitious initiative to acquire over 60 acres of pristine land at Deep Brook Farm according to NFA Director Trent McCann.

The property, separated into two continuous parcels at 32 and 21 Deep Brook Road, would directly connect to the already existing municipal Dickinson Park, creating a vast open corridor for both hikers and ecologically sensitive wildlife alike.

Currently under the ownership of the late Dr Thomas Draper’s estate, the farmstead has been the focus of continuous cultivation since the mid-19th Century, McCann said. Today, however, Deep Brook Farm represents an opportunity before Newtown’s populace to preserve forever a piece of their own heritage.

As detailed in a recent mailing to NFA supporters, while not many such tracts of undeveloped farmland persist from the time of Newtown’s agricultural origins, NFA’s acquisition of the Deep Brook property would forever safeguard it and the trails that span it from the possibility of development.

McCann describes Deep Brook Farm as an immaculate green belt composed largely of open fields owing their existence to decades of agricultural practice.

“There are also forested and wetland areas on the property as well,” he told The Newtown Bee, explaining how protecting the area could have significant ecological benefits.

These ecosystems not only provide safe havens for the native biodiversity of the local environment, but also serve as natural water filters that prevent pollutants from reaching water resources and reduce the overall risk of flooding. By acting to conserve these sensitive ecological areas, McCann noted that Newtown’s citizens can promote the health of both the immediate environment we live in and the integrity of the basic resources we rely on to live.

According to McCann, however, flora and fauna are not all the landscape has to offer.

“The property has dirt roads on two sides which are adjacent to the Borough,” he related. “One of our fears with regard to potential development of the property is that these dirt roads will be paved over.”

These quaint dirt roads, with their proximity to the historical heart of Newtown, intrinsically capture the semi-rural charm that so many residents enjoy and are often frequented by bikers or dog-walkers, he explained. The Forest Association believes that by protecting the land from development, any incentive to pave over the roads will be effectively eliminated.

While there are no immediately imminent plans for development on this property, NFA underscores the need for proactive conservation.

“We just want to get ahead of the potential of that and purchase the property to ensure it’s protected forever,” McCann said.

Steve Maguire, deputy director at Newtown’s Land Use Agency, echoed McCann’s hopes and concerns. He said by connecting Deep Brook with the already existing Dickinson Park, NFA’s proposal would create an extended corridor of open space that could serve as a buffer for wetlands and watercourses.

“Environmentally, preserving these wetland corridors and areas of sensitivity would be beneficial,” Maguire concluded.

Maguire made it clear that the Land Use Agency also values the more intangible and cultural benefits that open space preservation brings.

He pointed out that “there aren’t many of these larger farm tracts left in town, which are a snapshot of what older Newtown used to be. So I think it’s valuable to keep some of these tracts and preserve them if they’re of some value.”

In this sense, the Newtown Forest Association — celebrating its centennial this month — is acting with the Town Agency’s blessing to extend and supplement conservation efforts that the town itself already undertakes.

NFA has secured pledges amounting to $600,000, but it is still striving to gather funds for the acquisition project. Complete acquisition of both parcels of the Deep Brook Farm property would run the nonprofit land trust a grand total of $1.8 million.

Those willing to contribute should visit their official website (newtownforestassociation.org). Donations are also accepted via mail-in checks and should be made out to Newtown Forest Association at PO Box 213, Newtown CT 06470.

Individuals wishing to make a restricted pledge which will be refunded in the event of an unsuccessful acquisition should contact Executive Director McCann directly by email (trent.mccann@newtownforestassociation.org).

=====

Reporter Owen Tanzer can be reached at owen@thebee.com.