We did it! Thanks to the extraordinary generosity and commitment of our community, we are thrilled to share that we are the grateful new owners of 13.5 acres of land in Dennis Port.
In just under three months, we met our fundraising goal, completed expedited survey and subdivision work, navigated a few inevitable delays, and ultimately closed on the properties as planned.
With these acquisitions, the Plashes Conservation Area has permanently expanded to 61 contiguous acres and now includes a beautifully intact Atlantic white cedar swamp.
This was truly a grassroots, local effort, involving so many individuals and organizations who came together to save an irreplaceable piece of land. No words can fully express our gratitude. The lasting protection of this land will provide ecological, educational, and recreational benefits for generations to come.
With Phase I of the Plashes Expansion and Trail Project now complete, we have already begun Phase II: trail design. We look forward to shaping these trails in partnership with you – our community – so that habitat and wildlife are thoughtfully protected while the public is invited to experience and appreciate this incredibly special place. Please stay tuned for future public engagement meetings so you can make your voice heard.
Below, we have done our best to acknowledge those who played an important role in reaching this milestone; if we have missed you or misspelled your name, please reply to this email so we can ensure you are properly recognized in the future.
Thank you for your support, your generosity, and your belief in the lasting value of conservation!
Acknowledgments:
Landowners
Natalie Chase, a steadfast supporter of DCLT and lifelong Dennis Port resident who helped the town protect Sea View Playland among other important properties. With Natalie’s recent passing, her lifelong support of DCLT and advocacy for land conservation in Dennis Port is what inspired our aggressive pursuit of these properties when one hit the open market last May.
David and Susan Clapp, who graciously agreed to sell at a bargain price their family’s long-loved land, a lineage tracing back to the famed Captain Jonathan Edwards of Dennis Port. David Clapp’s grandfather Lester Edwards and parents Leighton and Winnifred Clapp had placed their land into private conservation in the 1970s, giving us this opportunity to acquire and steward this rare, sizeable, undeveloped property for public benefit in the future.
Mary Ann Cravenho, with a deep history in Dennis Port owning and operating what was once her father’s “Factory Shoe Mart,” who in 2014 donated to DCLT a 0.67-acre piece of land abutting what is now her Cape Cod Shoe Market. That parcel serves as a key connector making possible our vision for these newly acquired properties.
Joseph and Laura Raymond, who two months before agreeing to sell us the back acre of their land had just purchased the property on the open market and – of course – had other plans for its future. What an incredible way as newcomers to support the Dennis Port community!
Advocates
Julie Kennie, who learned of the project at a late stage and sprung immediately into action. Julie volunteered tirelessly for days, and beyond donating over $53,000 herself, was directly responsible for over $100,000 in additional dollars raised. This project simply wouldn’t have happened without her.
Dennis Port Village Voices group, including Josh Brimdyr, Priscilla (Manning) Mariani, Carlyn Carey, the Murray Family, Christi and Paul Kemprecos, Shannon Goheen, Thom Huettner, Julie Kline, Ellen Storlazzi, and so many others.
Robert Sherman and Joan Lenington, Dennis Port residents, who met with DCLT early in the strategy stages of this project, providing early encouragement and the first donation towards the project.
Josh Brimdyr and Family, and Mary Ann Carmichael, all who braved the cold to distribute brochures and flyers and encouraged many folks to donate.
Kate Kane and Craig Knowlton, for opening their home to host a private fundraising event.
Mike Roberts and other longstanding neighbors and unofficial caretakers of the Plashes Conservation Area, for providing historical context and insight into the properties and for being passionate advocates of this project.
Donors & Grantmakers
Each of over 260 individual donors, and especially folks who donated early, donated twice, and all of those who stretched themselves to give what they could.
Chris Curran, who contributed an incredible gift of $100,000 in memory of her late, beloved husband Rich Curran. We look forward to prominently honoring this gift and their legacy through the installation of a future memorial on the trail.
Other major donors not previously acknowledged, who sealed the deal towards the end of the fundraising campaign: John and Diane Bujalski, Julie Kennie, Sharon and Alan Machuga, Chris Curran, Nancy Polydys, Neil Fitzpatrick and Maureen Arkle, Julie Burns Doll, Sarah Burns Blume, the Catchings Family, Anne and George Hadjimina, Dave and Kathi Hegner, Edward Gartland III, Nancy Jamieson, Norm Taupeka, Allan and Darlene Fisk, Jill Talladay, Peter and Catherine Lawler, Tom and Joan Gaidimas, and several anonymous donors.
Cape Cod Foundation and Fields Pond Foundation for expediting grant application review and awarding $50,000 and $12,500 respectively towards the project.
Chatham Conservation Foundation, a colleague land trust and not a grantmaking foundation, for their incredibly generous and neighborly $5,000 gift in recognition of this project’s regional importance, made in honor of the marriage of two DCLT friends and Dennis residents, also Directors of Land Stewardship, Connor O’Biren of Harwich Conservation Trust and Julie Baca of Chatham Conservation Foundation.
Organizational Donors, including the Village Garden Club of Dennis and Friends of Dennis Recreation.
Business Donors, including Martha B. Murray Real Estate, the Sea View, and Cutty Sark Motor Lodge. Please support these businesses who support the future of Dennis Port!
The Anonymous $100,000 Donor, a private foundation whose staff met with us in early stages and provided our board and staff encouragement that this would be a worthy and fundable project. Their support encouraged others to donate by structuring their grant as a challenge match for the local community.
Organizations
Town of Dennis Committees, including the Select Board, Conservation Commission, Recreation Commission, Dennis Port – West Dennis Advancement Committee, Tourism Committee, Community and Economic Development Committee, and the Advisory Committee on Disabilities, all who voted to endorse the project and provided helpful support letters.
Town of Dennis Staff, and especially those from the Department of Natural Resources, Planning Department, and Dennis Public Library for their time and energy assisting with the project.
Dennis Chamber of Commerce, for attending project meetings, writing a support letter, and helping strategize with respect to fundraising.
Native Land Conservancy, who provided a support letter and will assist with ensuring the forever protection of the Plashes area by holding a conservation restriction on a portion of the land.
Cape Cod Times, and WCAI, for recognizing the importance of the project and featuring it in their publications as we advanced the fundraising campaign.
TerraCorps, and their current members placed with DCLT, Charly Raymond and Lydia Rheinhardt, for conducting critical site work leading up to the acquisitions.
DCLT, our own organization, whose stewardship volunteers completed site prep work, whose trustees and advisors understood the immense opportunity with the project and took the risk of committing to it with largely unknown fundraising ability, and DCLT staff who stepped up in various capacities as work priorities shifted.
Consultants and Contractors
Outermost Land Survey for expediting subdivision and survey services to meet our expedited timeline.
The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts, particularly Kat Garofoli, and Mark Robinson who assisted with technical aspects of securing the deal and helped with fundraising.
The Law Office of Morgan B. Grozier, our go-to closing attorney.
Northeast Trail Works, for providing an early assessment of the trail development potential and process at the site.
Crowell Law and Attorney Sam Crowell, a Dennis local, who handled one of our closings.
Cape and Islands Appraisal Group, who prioritized and expedited this project to meet our deadline.
Joel Freedman, our Trustee and a real estate attorney, assisting with technical aspects of the negotiation, agreements, and closing documents.
Katie Clancy, our Trustee and a realtor, for assisting with negotiations and strategy.
Kate Byron, our Advisor and a realtor, for assisting with negotiations and strategy and for making a substantial donation for these acquisitions.
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