Preston — For the past few years, members of the Avalonia Land Conservancy, Inc. have been combing southeastern Connecticut in search of prime properties that are worth purchasing and preserving for open space.

They found one, or rather two, in the northeast corner of town near the Griswold border that national land preservation experts identified as a top priority for acquisition. Town officials agreed and are discussing the mechanism of how to contribute $50,000 in open space funds to help purchase the properties.

The properties, owned by the Kendall family at 119 Lewis Road and 15 Rude Road feature diverse natural habitats from woodlands and fields to wetlands and scenic vistas. Moss-covered stonewalls crisscross the rolling former farmland, with an occasional giant boulder standing where the Ice Age glaciers left it.

And with the dirt Rude Road crossing through the entire property from Lewis Road to Parks Road, the property would be easily accessible for everyone, from hikers,joggers and birders to mountain bike enthusiasts, moms pushing strollers and people using wheelchairs.

The land conservancy would own and manage the property, which would be open to the public, with the proposed trailhead and parking at the Lewis Road-Rude Road entrance.

“That’s the real important one,” Dennis Main, finance chairman for the Avalonia Land Conservancy, Inc. Board of Directors, said about the parcel. “An environmental review team went through and designated it as a top property to preserve. This goes back several years. It had been on the market. We had folks in from Land Trust Alliance traveling all over the country. This one they deemed to have great accessibility for everyone.”

Avalonia has a purchase agreement with the Kendall family to purchase portions of the two properties, totaling 177 acres, for $440,000. Including legal fees, surveys and appraisal costs, the total project cost is $477,171, Main said.

Avalonia has been approved for a state Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant totaling $195,750 and has obtained a $176,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife grant, also funneled through the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for the Preston purchase. Other grants and donations have been applied to the project, but the land trust was left with a gap of $93,750.

That’s where the town of Preston came in. The town has an open space fund, which is funded by fees assessed on lots in new subdivisions. The fund currently totals about $130,000.

During a March 30 presentation on Avalonia's request for funding, town Planner Kathy Warzecha told the Planning and Zoning Commission she did not want to use all the money in case another important acquisition came along. The commission voted unanimously to recommend to the Board of Finance that the town contribute $50,000 toward the Avalonia purchase, with a request that the town be recognized for its partnership.

Main told the commission a sign at the trailhead would recognize the town’s contribution.

Next, Preston officials need to figure out how to make the contribution. Gary Piszczek, chairman of the Preston Conservation and Agricultural Commission, which also approved the purchase, presented the request to the Board of Finance on April 22.

But finance board member Robert Congdon said he does not think the Board of Finance needs to approve expenditures from the open space fund and that the PZC has control of the fund. Past purchases using the fund have gone to town meetings, finance board Chairman John Moulson said.

Moulson is seeking a ruling from the town attorney on how to make the contribution.

Main said the land trust purchase agreement runs through Aug. 31, giving the town time to work out how to make the contribution and allow Avalonia to raise the rest of the money. 

Avalonia also is raising funds for its growing stewardship fund, which now has about $300,000. The land trust has a goal of boosting the fund to $1 million to manage all the trust’s properties throughout New London County.

A gate with a “No trespassing” sign now blocks the entrance of the private section of Rude Road off Lewis Road. Dirt off-street space for two or three cars already exists, and this will be the trailhead.

Dave Stygar, chairman of Avalonia’s land acquisition committee, said the trust has access to the roadway to show the land to potential donors. The proposed open space purchase land runs along the south side of the wide dirt road.

Gently sloped woodland with a variety of hardwood trees has filled in the former farm pasture fields. One stone wall runs parallel to the road, while others intersect at angles. Farther along, wetlands created by several streams attract birds and other wildlife.

Once acquired, the property would be opened to the public for passive recreation, including fishing, hiking, bicycles, strollers and wheelchairs. Fishing would be allowed, but since the Kendall family objects to hunting on the property, that restriction would be written into the public access and land management plan, Stygar said.

“There are some open fields that might remain agricultural for haying,” Stygar said. “We might contract that out to maintain that habitat.”

c.bessette@theday.com