NRTB is directly responsible for the preservation under Article 97 of the State Constitution of approximately 425 acres of prime agricultural lands, forests, and fields at the Old State Farm off Summer and Titicut Streets. The property remains under the control of the Department of Corrections with management collaboration from the Department of Agricultural Resources, the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, and the Natural Resources Trust of Bridgewater. The site is a former alms house and poor farm for imigrants, and borders the Taunton River Wild & Scenic Study area. Active farming is the goal, with areas for passive recreation and permanent open habitat.
NRTB creatied a sustainable passive recreation system on approximately 217 acres by combining six town-owned conservation properties, 5 sites on the Town & Taunton Rivers and the sixth site, also with a water feature, connected by walking trails. Three of these properties are new purchaces by the Town of Bridgewater through self -help funding, also promoted by the nonprofit grassroots NRTB as the founding directors are past members of the Municipal Open Space Committee.
The town of Bridgewater now has a conservation parkland system along 20 canoeable river miles, with places to fish, tent, walk the dog, bicycle, horesback ride, swim, study, hunt, etc, etc. ... in balance with the town's Active Recreation System of ball parks and playing fields.
In 7 short years the novice NRTB has uniquely protected approximately 640 acres of riverfront and public water supply! Watch our website - www.nrtb.org <http://www.nrtb.org> for continuing adventures. We're not done yet!
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