Essex County Greenbelt Association

Join us for the 2024 Open Space Conference on Saturday,?December 7! This free event offers a variety of workshops for municipal staff, board and committee members, and others?who are engaged in land conservation and management. Topics include integrating housing with conservation, climate adaptation strategies, land protection under Chapter 61, and trail funding and construction. A great opportunity to network and expand your expertise! The conference will be held at Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School in Danvers from 9:30am to 2:15pm. Pre-registration required. Learn more: ecga.org/events/conference

Greenbelt is working to protect hundreds of acres of forestland in Gloucester and Manchester. Once completed, the DeNormandie Woods/Long Hill Conservation Project will safeguard vital natural habitat, an extensive trail system, and key watershed land from development. ? Guided public site walks of the property will take place on Sunday, October 20, and Wednesday, October 23. Learn more: ecga.org/denormandie

Earlier this week, Greenbelt participated in an event at the Crane Estate in Ipswich focused on restoring the Great Marsh and advancing innovative solutions to improve the long-term health of this vital ecosystem. Our President, Chris LaPointe, was among those to speak at the gathering. Special thanks to Representative Kristin Kassner (D-Hamilton) for convening this group, and to Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll for supporting the many partners involved in this important effort. #GreatMarshRestoration #CraneEstate #WeAreGreenbelt #GreenbeltTeam

The Greenbelt team had a great time at the Land Trust Alliance Rally in Providence, RI, last week! It was an inspiring few days filled with learning, self-reflection, networking, and discovery. We all returned feeling energized and full of new ideas for advancing conservation in our region. A special highlight: Greenbelt President Chris LaPointe, Abby Hardy-Moss, Director of Conservation Technology & Planning, and Board member Jonathan Sherwood contributed their own expertise to the mix by presenting a well-received workshop called "Working with Municipalities to Find Common Ground in a Changing Climate." #LTARally2024 #WeAreGreenbelt #GreenbeltTeam

Starting next week, Chris LaPointe will officially step into the role of Greenbelt’s President, succeeding Kate Bowditch who is retiring. A respected leader in land conservation, Chris has dedicated his career to protecting Essex County's natural habitats, working farms, and scenic landscapes. In this informal conversation, learn more about Chris's lifelong passion for the outdoors, his commitment to safeguarding the region’s vital natural resources, and his vision for Greenbelt's future.

We’re #hiring. Know anyone who might be interested?

We're thrilled to announce that Chris LaPointe has been named Greenbelt's next President, effective September 1, 2024. Currently serving as our Vice President of Conservation Operations, Chris is an accomplished and highly respected leader in the field of land conservation who has been a dedicated member of our team for close to a decade. ? We also want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Kate Bowditch, who is retiring, for her transformational leadership as Greenbelt’s President over the past six years. Kate is leaving Greenbelt in a very strong position to move forward under Chris’s direction, and we’re all excited about the organization’s future! ? https://lnkd.in/esubmTRH

We're excited to have you onboard! Looking forward to working with you. ??

In partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation and the City of Lynn, Greenbelt is pleased to announce the completion of a decades-long effort to permanently conserve the 2,100 acre Lynn Woods.? https://lnkd.in/e44QRhpu

We are still hiring for an open position! Take a look at ecga.org/careers to learn more about the job of Events & Admin Coordinator. Please share this with your networks and send any prospective candidates our way!