In June of 2012, representatives from the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Mystic and the Trust for Public Land went to the Stonington Board of Finance asking it to recommended the town borrow $1.5 million to help it buy a portion of the historic Coogan Farm property and create the Coogan Farm Nature & Heritage Center.

The board's unanimous decision to not support bonding to buy and preserve 35 acres of the farm came despite what supporters said was its environmental, historical and educational significance. In addition, the farm would be open to the public.

At the time, finance board Chairman Glenn Frishman said that with the town's annual budget problems and the upcoming vote to spend millions on road and athletic field improvements, he could not support spending taxpayer money to buy the land.

It appeared at the time, the project was in jeopardy.

But that wasn't the feeling of Maggie Jones, the nature's center's executive director.

"I have never doubted that we'd be able to pull this off. There was no question this was the right thing to do," she said last week.

Jones' optimism was correct, as last week more than 125 people, including U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, filled a tent set in the foundation of an old barn to celebrate the grand opening of the 45-acre Coogan Farm Nature & Heritage Center.

The ribbon cutting culminated a 2 1/2-year effort by the nature center and the Trust for Public Land to raise $4.1 million in public and private money to buy the land and create the center.

Blumenthal told the crowd that the project shows "there is no stopping a group of citizens who are determined to do the right thing."

"This remarkable gathering shows that citizen activists are the key to all environmental efforts across this country," he said. "Think of all the people who will benefit from this living history. This is a wondrous, magical moment."

He added that a historical legacy has been preserved for all time.

Alicia Sullivan, the Connecticut director for the Trust for Public Land, said her organization was honored to partner with the nature center on the project, saying "it fits every part of the mission of our national organization."

She said the effort was particularly valuable along the shoreline of Connecticut where so little land is available.

But now, she said the farm "will remain part of the fabric of this community for many years to come."

In 2012, the nature center and trust began the effort to raise money to preserve the 370-year-old farm. The $4.1 million they raised was not only used to purchase 34 acres from the Coogan family, but is being used to renovate two buildings and create a park. Meanwhile, the Coogan family agreed to donate an adjacent 11 acres.

The Campaign to Save Coogan Farm received contributions from 760 individuals and businesses and grants of $600,000 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and $500,000 from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Since the purchase, a committee of volunteers has been working to transform the property into the nature and heritage center. Trails have been improved, brush cut, nearly 400-year-old stone walls have been exposed and an outdoor gathering space created inside an old foundation. Plans have been developed to restore the old farmhouse and an outbuilding for programs and exhibits. The restoration of those buildings and landscaping is slated to get underway this fall and be completed next spring, according to Jones.

A two-acre Giving Garden was also planted this year with produce being donated to the needy through the Gemma E. Moran United Way Labor Food Center in New London.

Jones, who was seriously injured in a bicycle crash three weeks ago, received a standing ovation from the crowd, as she stood at podium at last week's ribbon cutting.

"Coogan Farm has been a special place going way back to pre colonial times," she said. "It's a remarkable piece of land. Coogan Farm gives us an incredible opportunity to increase the educational programs we are known for."

Courtney who presented the nature center with a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol, said there was intense competition for the Fish & Wildlife grant. While showing the importance of the property from a wildlife habitat was easy, he said applicants also needed to have community support.

Wyman also joked that she has spoken at a lot of places but this was the best podium she had ever spoken at. The podium, with mushroom and acorn carvings, was fashioned from nature center logs and branches by Mike Charnetski, a member of its board of trustees.

State Rep. Diana Urban, D-North Stonington, said that early on in the process, Jones asked to meet with her and State Sen. Andrew Maynard, D-Stonington, to explain what she had in mind for the farm and how much it would cost.

"Are you serious?" Urban recalled telling Jones. "We'll you were serious and you got it done."

j.WOJTAS@THEDAY.COM

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