230 Pine Hill Road                      9.7 Acres

This beautiful forestland is bordered on 3 sides by the Pootatuck State Forest . The property to its north is a huge tract owned by Timber Trails Association and stretches up into Sherman .   In fact, the only way to access the property is along the State Forest road that cuts the land in half as it temporarily leaves the state forest and enters once again on the far side of the 9.7 acres.   There is also a state forest hiking trail cutting through the property that connects with the rest of the trail system that includes Look Out Point.   This land gives us a good opportunity to work with the State, although they have shown some interest in purchasing it from us.

 Donated by Betty Stote

18 Saw Mill Road                      1.2 Acres  

A small parcel located on the eastern shore of Disbrow Pond , the small pond at the end of Colonial Drive .   The property is accessed from the Saw Mill Road extension and is an early succession forest with a lot of spruce and pioneer trees and meadow.   The surrounding lands are undeveloped open space with some of it owned by a local water company and some by the company that developed the area. The land is a natural oasis in a heavily developed area and is used by local residents for walking and biking. We hope to expand it in the future by obtaining some surrounding lands.

  Donated by John Lacy   5/1/1999

8 Ball Pond Road                      21.7 Acres
17 Autumn Ridge Road             5.2 Acres    

These two parcels are our first land holdings.   The two parcels are abutting and were acquired by the Town as permanent open space from two different subdivisions.   The larger parcel is the wide wetland visible on Route 39 directly across from Milltown Road .   The land is quite wet and has been known to be the habitat for beavers, fox, deer, and many species of birds.   The 5+-acre parcel is sloping forestland above the swamp accessed from the cul-de-sac on Autumn Ridge Road , which is where we may create a minor trail loop in the future.

Donated by the Town   7/22/1998

26 Milltown Road             5.5 Acres

Our second donation came from a local builder and is a 5+ acre wooded wetland that makes up the southern border of the West Farms Estates subdivision on Milltown Road .   Dennis was about to donate this land to Swamp Field Land Trust in Danbury , until he heard about our forming, and decided to give it to us.   This property will remain as a sanctuary and buffer zone between two subdivisions.

 Donated by Dennis Currier 7/29/1998

With a donation of a 2-acre parcel by Edmond Ashe our total land protected is now 218+ acres. This latest donation abuts the Pootatuck State Forest with ample access from Short Woods Road.

Not all properties are liste here yet .

51 Bigelow Road                 15.2 acres       

Mostly a lightly wooded wetland stretching from Route 37 North of Beaver Bog back to Bigelow Road. A small man-made pond surrounded by homes is close to Bigelow Road.   Our plans are to keep it as a wildlife sanctuary as public access is limited.

 Donated by Renc Assoc. 12/15/2000

Hidden Valley Nature Center
Approx. 14 Acres  

Hidden Valley Nature Center was created in 1960 by a handful of local residents. Situated in the middle of our school campus' it was in an ideal location to serve as both a sanctuary and an environmental education center. Frances Gillotti, on of the original founders became the Center's volunteer Director from 1960 to 1972. The town's Conservation Commission then took on the responsibility of operating the area and hiring Program Directors, which it continued through the 1980s. During the 1990s however the center fell on some hard times with budget cuts, vandalism, arson and damage from construction projects all taking their toll. Fortunately volunteer efforts from Boy Scout troop 137 and the Lion's Club helped to revive the Center. When the NFLT discovered that there did not exist any permanent protection, we pursued a conservation easement on the land. We also tried to enlarge the 12+ acres to include an additional 5 acres to the north, but were only successful in gaining 2 more of those acres. Today Hidden Valley Nature Center is the site of our annual Earth Day Celebration that we co-sponsor with Park & Rec. as well as other programs sponsored by both groups.

Hidden Valley Images

Conservation Easement from the Town of New Fairfield   11/29/2000

36 Beaver Bog Road                  17.8 Acres

Tina and her husband Jim Moskowitz were very early supporters of NFLT. Jim also became a member of our Board of Directors in our first year  Tina had purchased this and other properties that abutted her home with the intent of protecting the area from over development. This land encompassed a large portion of the northern section of the aquifer surrounding Short Woods Brook.   This is New Fairfield's main aquifer that runs to the center of town up to the Shaws's property.   A beautiful forestland made up of both dry and wetlands and includes the remnants of a man-made pond.   We believe that the area may once have been used for making charcoal as many local lands had been. Although there is currently limited access we hope to connect it with a greenway trail extending to the center of town.

 Donated by Tina Redecca   3/20/1999

21 Woodcreek Road    37.8 Acres  
44 Woodcreek Road    .3 Acres
51 Woodcreek Road    2.8 Acres

This property was donated by the Fox family as a means to preserve the land in its natural state in perpetuity. These lands, collectively known as The Sweetcake Mountain Preserve are our most important acquisitions to date. Not only are they our largest, with over 40 acres, but it is also an incredibly beautiful property comprised of open deciduous forest, dense mountain laurel understory, hemlock stands and rock outcroppings like the "Comer" offering spectacular views of Candle wood Lake. Sweetcake Mountain also represents the first NFLT property open to public access with almost 2 miles of trails built by Eagle Scout Brian Stoddard and friends.

The trail also winds through the forest passing "Fox Family Memorial". This outcrop of bedrock has been inscribed by the Fox Children honoring their parents Charles and Dorothea Fox, long time residents of New Fairfield.

Most significant this land was not an unwanted wetland or open space from a subdivision. This was highly developable land in a very desirable area. The donation was made by Charles Jr., Robert, Rebecca and Catlin Fox as a lasting tribute to their parents and out of a love for the land that they grew up on. This gift will benefit New Fairfielders far in to the future. As with all our properties that have public access, you are welcome to visit from sunup to sundown. The trail is open to any passive activity such as bird watching, hiking, photography or picnicking. All we ask is that you remove anything you bring when you leave. Please stay on the trail and do not remove plants or rocks from the property

 Donated by the Fox family 5/15/2001

4A Peaceful Drive               4.5 Acres    

  Very wet, forested wetland designated as open space as part of subdivision. We accepted this parcel because it abuts our 18 acres, from Tina Redecca, and is part of the aquifer and helps to maintain a larger forest area

 Donated by Martin Andrews 12/21/01

47 Ball Pond east               .9 Acres
8 Brook Wood Road           7.2 Acres
1 Weldon Woods Road     2.7 Acres   

Over ten acres in 3 parcels donated by the developer.   The two larger parcels were designated Open Space forestland with the smaller, one of the two, surrounding Ball Pond Brook.   The smallest parcel is on Ball Pond and, although it is deeded with some community access rights, we intend to keep it as a buffer zone for lake protection.  

Donated by Weldon Woods LLC 12/21/2001