Conservation Lands
The Conservation Commission currently owns and/or manages approximately 483 acres of land in Southwick. Many of which can be accessed by the public and enjoyed. Click on the names below for more information.
Goose Pond Conservation Area
Granville Gorge
Keenan Park
Loupinski Park
Miller Road Old Gravel Pit
New England National Scenic Trail
Pauline Circle
Sodom Mountain
Sterrett Farm Nature Walk
In addition to Conservation Lands, there are other recreational opportunities within the town of Southwick. Click here for the “Recreational & Open Space Opportunities in Southwick” ArcGIS story map.
Land Conservation Opportunities
Chapter 61 Programs
Rising property values and taxes can make owning your land expensive. The Chapter 61 programs (insert Chapter 61 Programs UMass Extension pdf.) give Massachusetts landowners like you an opportunity to reduce your property taxes in exchange for providing important public benefits like clean water, wildlife habitat, rural character, wood products, food and outdoor recreation.
Land that is not in a Chapter 61 program is assessed under Chapter 59 for its “highest and best use”, which is considered to be its development value. When you choose to keep your land in Chapter 59, you may find yourself paying property taxes based on your land’s development potential. The Chapter 61 programs offer a property tax break for landowners willing to commit to keeping some or all of their land undeveloped for a specified period of time.
There are three different Chapter 61 programs:
Chapter 61- Forestry
Chapter 61A - Agriculture
Chapter 61B - Open Space and Recreation
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/forest-tax-program-chapter-61
APR Program
The Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program is a voluntary program which is intended to offer a non-development alternative to farmers and other owners of “prime” and “state important” agricultural land who are faced with a decision regarding future use of their farms. Towards this end, the program offers to pay farmland owners the difference between the “fair market value” and the “Agricultural value” of their farmland in exchange for a permanent deed restriction which protects the farmland for future agricultural use.
https://www.mass.gov/agricultural-preservation-restriction-apr-program
Land Conservation Options
There are many ways to protect your land to benefit your family, your community, and the natural environment. Many of our region’s scenic and historic sites, hiking trails and working farms are protected because private landowners like you decide to take action. Below are some examples:
Gifts of Conservation Restriction
Sales of Land or Conservation Restriction
Gifts of Land
Bequests
Additional Resources for Landowners
https://www.franklinlandtrust.org/
In 2020, the Southwick Open Space and Recreation Planning Committee created the “Town of Southwick Open Space and Recreation Plan 2019” - a comprehensive guide for the protection of natural resources and environmental quality for town owned lands.