A gift of land on Nashawtuc Hill

Trail in snow

The Land Trust is pleased to announce a gift from The Michael and Tara Burgess Edelman Family of 1.4 acres of open space in the Nashawtuc Hill neighborhood. The donated property is a mature woodland that includes walking paths on both Squaw Sachem Trail and the abandoned Reformatory Branch rail road bed that parallels the Assabet River.

As residents of the Nashawtuc neighborhood and having enjoyed its many natural open spaces, the Burgess Edelman family decided to ensure that their own riverfront would never be developed. When they approached the Land Trust just over a year ago to see if we would be interested in accepting a donation of land, we quickly said yes: the parcel represents an important link in the matrix of over 125 acres of protected open space that the Land Trust has been assembling for almost 60 years in this neighborhood.

The Edelman parcel consists of a mature oak, pine and hemlock woods. With a precipitously steep slope along the Assabet River, the parcel is, first and foremost, an integral part of the river corridor; now preserved, it will continue to protect the water quality and natural landscape of the river. Critical segments of the system of walking trails — some of the most popular in town — are located here, connecting Nashawtuc Road and Simon Willard Road and all the spur trails in between. The parcel plays a supporting role in the narrative of the Nashawtuc Hill area: its river frontage reminds us of the early settlement by Native Americans on the rivers; the arc of Squaw Sachem trail illustrates Concord’s first planned residential development by William Wheeler; and the alignment and grade of the lower trail trace the route of the railroad.

The Land Trust greatly appreciates the perseverance and commitment shown by the Burgess Edelman family in accomplishing this donation and the role they have played in conserving the natural and historic landscape of Concord through their generosity.

See maps below for location details.

 

View of the Assabet River
 
 
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