ALMOND ANNOUNCES RINGROSE FARM PURCHASE

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Land Conservation in RI, 2002

News Release
Office of the Governor
State House, Providence, RI 02903

For Release:	October 30, 2002
Contact:	Lisa Pelosi (401) 222-2080, (401) 745-0651 (pager) www.gov.state.ri.us

ALMOND ANNOUNCES RINGROSE FARM PURCHASE
50-Acre Property to Be Used for Community Farming

Governor Lincoln Almond today joined Cranston Mayor John O'Leary, Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Director Jan Reitsma and local land trust representatives to announce the purchase of the 50-acre Ringrose Farm on the Cranston/Johnston line. Reflecting the input of the city, state and federal government as well as the efforts of private land trusts, Ringrose Farm will live on as a community farm. This venture, which is considered one of the first in the nation, will provide an opportunity for farming in close proximity to the urban areas of Providence and Cranston.

"Today we take another step forward to preserve our state's rich natural heritage," said Almond. "This fine example of cooperation among government agencies and the private sector will not only protect open space, but will provide for community farming and educational opportunities."

DEM has entered into a management agreement with the Southside Community Land Trust for the operation of a community farm on the property. That project has received funding from the US Department of Agriculture to establish a community food system. Additionally, the farm will provide volunteer and educational opportunities for students. And finally, the West Bay Land Trust will be provided with office space on the farm.

"It has taken the vision and cooperative efforts of many people and groups to bring this unique project to fruition," said DEM Director Jan Reitsma. "It is my hope that it will serve as a model for other community farm opportunities in Rhode Island."

The farm, located on Pippin Orchard Road near the intersection of Plainfield Pike on the Cranston/Johnston border, has been purchased by DEM from the estate of George T. Ringrose. The Agricultural Land Preservation Commission and the City of Cranston will hold a perpetual development rights easement on the property. The total purchase price for the property is $508,000, with $210,500 from the Agricultural Land Preservation Commission, $197,500 from The Nature Conservancy through a grant from the Champlin Foundations, and $100,000 from the City of Cranston.

The farm is located in an area where land preservation began over 50 years ago in order to save important natural resources. The 267-acre Curran State Park was acquired by the Kent County Water Authority in the 1950s to provide a public drinking water supply. The undeveloped park was transferred to DEM in 1967 and became the cornerstone of open space preservation in the area, followed in the 1980s and 1990s by the preservation of nearly 500 acres of farm lands such as the Confreda, Lawton, DiMuccio and Domenicone Farms. The 50 acres of the Ringrose Farm and the recent development rights acquisition of the nearby Holscher Farm add to the acreage preserved, and final negotiations are underway by DEM, the City of Cranston and the West Bay Land Trust to preserve the 250-acre Knight Farm.

At the Ringrose community farm partnership event, held this morning at the nearby Good Earth Greenhouse, formerly the Holscher Farm, Reitsma took the opportunity to release the state's land protection report for 2002, which shows a new record for the number of acres preserved in a fiscal year. For 2002, a total of 6,537 acres were preserved. Of this record number, the state's open space program and the local grants program protected 2,593 acres. Another 236 acres were protected by the state Agricultural Land Preservation Commission through its purchase of development rights program. Local land trusts and non-profit organizations conserved 3,708 acres.

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