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$40,000 Challenge Grant Awarded for Sakonnet Greenway Trail
The Aquidneck Land Trust ("ALT") is pleased to announce that The Nature Conservancy, through a grant from The Champlin Foundations, has just awarded ALT a $40,000 challenge grant to help complete construction of the next phase of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail by November 1, 2008. This is an invitation to all who cherish Aquidneck Island to join in supporting ALT's effort to build and open to the public, free of charge, the Island's largest nature trail.
When completed, the Sakonnet Greenway Trail will be over seven miles long connecting the Town of Portsmouth's public recreation area commonly known as "The Glen" to the Town of Middletown's public recreation area on Wyatt Road. In addition to hiking, jogging, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, the trail will also allow for the walking of leashed pets and equestrian riding on
 certain sections. In October 2007, ALT completed and opened a 1.5-mile segment of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail beginning at The Glen, passing through The Pennfield School property, crossing Sandy Point Avenue and looping around the large field south of Sandy Point Avenue. ALT is now building a 1.2-mile segment, to be finished by November 1, 2008, that will link the 1.5-mile segment completed in October 2007 with the 2.2-mile segment constructed around Newport National Golf Course in 2002. Thus, Aquidneck Island's approximate 60,000 residents and three million annual visitors should have about 5 connected miles of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail to enjoy this fall.
"The trail will let the public directly benefit in yet another way from the years of dedicated land conservation work by ALT and its partners as it will pass through many conserved properties. Our Sakonnet Greenway Trail is a living classroom where people can experience and bond with nature which promotes stewardship of our precious natural resources and an understanding of the importance of land conservation. We applaud and thank The Champlin Foundations and The Nature Conservancy for joining the special group of people who have stepped up to help us make our vision reality.," said Ted Clement, ALT's Executive Director.
Janet Coit, State Director for The Nature Conservancy, said, "We are thrilled to assist the Aquidneck Land Trust with its important Sakonnet Greenway Trail project that will make nature more accessible to the public."
ALT must now raise another $40,000 from the community by November 1, 2008 in order to meet the $40,000 challenge grant awarded by The Nature Conservancy, through a grant from The Champlin Foundations, and thus have these funds available to pay for the substantial construction costs for the newest segment of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail. Special naming opportunities are available on beautiful stone benches to be placed along the trail: $6,000 dedicates an entire bench and $1,000 allows a donor to share a bench with five other $1,000 donors. Click here to make a donation for ALT's Sakonnet Greenway Trail project today.
The ALT's mission is to preserve Aquidneck Island's open spaces and natural character for the lasting benefit of our community. ALT has conserved more than 1,983 acres on Aquidneck Island since its inception in 1990. The Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, visit www.AquidneckLandTrust.org or call (401) 849-2799.
As always, thank you for your continued support
for conservation on our Island.
This email update has been sent to the entire Aquidneck Land Trust email list. Please let us know if you do not wish to receive these email updates by replying to this message. If you have any questions or comments, please call 401-849-2799 x18 or jpohl@ailt.org. | 
