After a decade of debate and controversy, one of the longest and most complex public hearings in the town's history, and a January referendum, the town, with the help of the Trust for Public Land (TPL) signed all the necessary papers Monday afternoon and completed the $9 million purchase of the 42-acre Griswold Airport property from LeylandAlliance, LLC, the company that proposed developing a 127-unit adult condominium complex on the site.

Standing at the site for a brief ceremony, First Selectman Fillmore McPherson, said, "We are doing this for our children and grandchildren as much as for ourselves. Saving this beautiful property will enhance the lives of all Madison residents for countless generations, long after the bonds are retired. After all, they're not making land anymore."

The purchase is the final step in a two-year negotiation and campaign to purchase the land for the town. A portion of the property will be protected as open space. Other portions of the 42-acre property will be developed as playing fields. Located on the Boston Post Road, the property shares a half-mile border with the tidal wetlands of the Hammonasset State Park and includes prime wetland habitat, upland forest, and significant frontage along the Hammonasset River.

The conservation goals for the property are to maintain the land as natural open space with walking trails and viewing areas along the river, with the potential to restore a portion of the grasslands to accommodate a variety of birds. On the portion of the property closest to the Post Road, town officials envision several playing fields. The Board of Selectmen has appointed an ad hoc committee to make recommendations for use of the land and to carry out any approved renovations.

"TPL is delighted to add to Madison's character and protect the Griswold Airport land from development, creating a new coastal community park where families of all ages can be active and enjoy nature," said Alicia Betty, project manager with TPL. "This land was one of the last remaining chances to protect such a large parcel along the Connecticut coast."

LeylandAlliance purchased the former airport property in 2007, after holding an option to buy the land from the Griswold family since 2000. The Planning & Zoning Commission in 2007 approved LeylandAlliance's application for a special permit to build 127 condominium units on the land. Leyland then applied to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for necessary permit approvals for a waste water treatment system. The local grassroots group Stop Griswold Over Development filed objections and DEP took almost two years before granting its approvals to Leyland.

In the meantime, town officials, notably Al Goldberg, who was first selectman at the time, invited the Connecticut office of TPL, a national conservation organization, to negotiate with LeylandAlliance for a conservation solution. TPL announced an agreement to purchase the property in September 2009 and in January voters approved a $9 million referendum to cover $7.8 million of the $9.5 million purchase price and $1.2 million for improvements to the land. TPL, with support from Audubon Connecticut, Stop Griswold Over Development, and local volunteers, agreed to fundraise the remaining $1.7 million needed for purchase.

TPL and partner Audubon Connecticut announced last week that they have successfully raised $1.35 million of the purchase price and have secured bridge financing for the remaining funding necessary for the town's purchase of the land. Fundraising will continue throughout the summer to reach the final goal of repaying the financing and covering program costs.

"The protection of this critical habitat from over-development will assure its function as

valuable open space, for people and wildlife," said Tom Baptist, executive director of Audubon Connecticut. "The voting public and hundreds of donors have risen to the challenge to protect this important land and water resource. We have more fundraising to accomplish, but today we've secured the future of this land which will be transformed into a park for all to enjoy forever."

"Thanks go out to many people involved in this effort, but especially the town leaders that had the vision and dedication to work together to succeed in the admirable goal of creating a new coastal park," added Betty.

"While our vision was to create a wonderful, sustainable neighborhood developed in the best traditions of New Urbanism, we are pleased that the land will be conserved in a manner that will serve the people of Madison in the years to come. All of us at LeylandAlliance extend our congratulations and best wishes to the town and TPL and thank our supporters for their long-standing interest and encouragement," said Howard Kaufman, executive vice president of LeylandAlliance.

Local citizens, including the volunteer group called Stop Griswold Over Development (SGOD) had contested LeylandAlliance's proposed development on the former airport property for years. SGOD was concerned about the density of the proposed development and the impact its community septic system would have on the land, Hammonasset Park's tidal wetlands, and Long Island Sound.

"I am delighted that together we have protected the Griswold Airport land. So many people have worked hard over the last eight years to bring us to this point," said Dr. William McCullough of SGOD. "The citizens of Madison and our leaders should be commended for seizing our last chance to save this land."

The land has more than 400 feet of Hammonasset River frontage and a 2,000-foot marsh land border with the Hammonasset State Park's tidal wetlands. It also consists of approximately 10 acres of salt marsh and 32 upland acres. It is part of the Atlantic coastal flyway and serves as a key breeding ground for finfish in the Hammonasset River leading out to Long Island Sound. In 2004 the area was recognized by Audubon Connecticut as an Important Bird Area of global significance due to birds like the salt marsh sparrows that make their home there.