Worcester Diocese and Catholic Charities

Worcester, Massachusetts

The Diocese of Worcester and Catholic Charities owned an 80 acre parcel of land adjacent to the Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary. Bishop Daniel P. Reilly, understanding the importance of open space to the community as well as to the environment, entered into negotiations to preserve this land and add it to Broad Meadow Brook.

 

This urban oasis was sought by conservationists not only because of proximity to Broad Meadow Brook, but because it is home to 160 bird species, 77 butterfly species, 16 types of mammals and a rare turtle. Audubon's director of ecological management describes the area as "some of the finest examples of woodland and savanna vegetation in the Eastern US ."

 

After a decade of conservation interest in this land, plans began to take shape when Bishop Reilly became involved. The Bishop took a personal interest in the process, walking the land with neighborhood advocates and city officials to understand why conserving this property would be of significant benefit to the community. A number of officials and conservationists supported and participated in the acquisition process including U.S. Rep James P. McGovern, Deborah Cary of Massachusetts Audubon and Allen Fletcher of the Greater Worcester Land Trust, who led the negotiations. And, at the opportune time, the city of Worcester received two large grants to pursue conservation.

 

The conjunction of Bishop Reilly's recognition of conservation as an important objective, an experienced and dedicated member of the Greater Worcester Land Trust taking a lead role in the process, and the city receiving grants to make the land purchase possible, resulted in a solution that preserved the land and benefited the community.

  

• The City of Worcester was able to purchase the 80-acre parcel for $700,000, made up of state and local funds, grants and private donations.
• The Massachusetts Audubon society now manages the parcel and the nature trails that extend through it from their 300-acre Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary.
• The community, strongly in favor of conserving the land, will continue to enjoy the trails and wildlife, and the nature programs sponsored by Audubon.

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