Westerly Land Trust

The land trust currently holds 32 properties totaling more than 1,800 acres. The most recent acquisitions were the champlin farm preserve in october 2024 and bonnie brook preserve in november 2024. In 2004, the westerly land trust expanded its mission to include re-development of blighted commercial properties in areas of historical significance in downtown westerly. The concept is that smart growth will benefit the town and reduce development pressure on environmentally sensitive areas. In addition to the historic united theater, montgomery ward, and industrial trust buildings, the land trust and its partners own properties between main street and the pawcatuck river. As part of wlt's 2023 strategic planning process, the board and staff extended the urban initiative to include more than just downtown, with the new goal reading: to provide access to nature for everyone, wlt will continue to steward our current urban properties and work to conserve green spaces in other developed areas of westerly.

Since 2016, the westerly land trust has prioritized youth environmental education as a critical objective. This came in the form of field trips and classroom sessions, but covid altered the trajectory and opened minds to the importance of outdoor learning. Living laboratories came to life during the pandemic to encourage families to experience nature together, and this program has been growing and evolving ever since. Today living laboratories is a much needed after-school and summer option that combines social and emotional elements and environmental literacy.