Wareham Land Trust receives Conservation Partnership Grant

The Wareham Land Trust are one of 40 communities across the state that received money from state grants that help protect open spaces, build parks and give communities access to the outdoors.

The trust received $225,700 toward the River Walk at the Weweantic River project which will protect the maritime floodplain forest. The area is located on Cromesett Neck between the Weweantic and Wareham Rivers and includes 1500 plus feet of salt marsh.  

The 2025 Spring Town Meeting saw voters pass the allocation of $1.2 million to purchase the 19.37 acre property using the Community Preservation Fund. The money from the fund can be used for historic preservation, affordable housing, community recreation and preservation of open space and is collected through a surtax on property worth over $100,000.

Trust Executive Director Alex Zollo said that with the help of the grant the Wareham Land Trust will give $100,000 back to the Community Preservation Funds. The trust will close on the property in early 2026. 

"We have to purchase the property and protect it before the state will release the conservation partnership grant money," she said. 

The property will be part of a future trust campaign to celebrate the organization's 25th anniversary. 

Governor Maura Healey said that protecting open spaces is about investing in the health, safety and wellbeing of communities.

“These projects support local economies, improve public health and make our neighborhoods better places to live. This funding helps ensure that every resident has access to the benefits of nature," Healey said.