Newtown Forest Association Acquires Barnabas Road Parcel

The Newtown Forest Association has accepted a donated parcel of land from former residents Marie and Richard Sturdevant located at 1 Barnabas Road. This wooded property, of just under three acres, will be added to the network of more than 1,100 acres that the NFA currently owns, oversees, and conserves in Newtown.

 The Sturdevants, who lived in Newtown for 30 years, have always been very involved in the town activities. Mr Sturdevant was a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission and a supporter of the NFA, including facilitating the donations of other open space parcels. The Sturdevants had purchased the property in 2000 with the possibility of developing it; however, their plans changed. In late 2011 they contacted the NFA to offer the land as a donation.

The property does not directly abut any other NFA parcels and is located next to Interstate 84 in a commercially zoned area. However, the board of directors believed that the land still added value to its conservation efforts. The property is close to another NFA parcel and other preserved open space. The NFA envisions the possibility of this being part of a larger future greenway or potentially established as a forest nursery.

NFA President Bob Eckenrode commented that “the opportunity to preserve additional open space in Newtown holds great value in the preservation of natural resources for wildlife and passive recreation.”

NFA Secretary Bart Smith added that “the Studevants’ desire to see property preserved and the generosity of their donation is commendable and something the NFA highly values. We are encouraged to see that the open space network of parcels we have acquired and steward are recognized as a valuable asset to our community here in Newtown.”