NORTH ANDOVER — The money is there and now the close to 200 acres of land that is Windrush Farm will be protected from development in perpetuity starting in the new year.
The Trust for Public Land and Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation Inc. raised $1 million to put with the $2.5 million in community preservation money and grants offered by North Andover earlier this year. The three groups needed to raise $3.5 million by the end of the year.
Under the deal, North Andover will own 160 acres to be held and managed for conservation purposes. Windrush will acquire the remaining 35 acres, which the town will place a conservation restriction on.
The groups now have to finalize the deal before Dec. 31.
"With the generous donations of so many from here in town, around the state, and across America, we now have the funding necessary to conserve the land and sustain our services for people with significant disabilities," said Paul Spiers, president of Windrush Farm's board of directors.
Four hundred sixty eight donors and a $15,000 state conservation partnership grant made up Windrush's $1 million private capital campaign.
While voters at North Andover's May 12 Town Meeting approved $2.5 million in Community Preservation Act money for the Windrush Farm conservation project, grant money from the state and the Open Space Institute brought the town's commitment down to $1.7 million.
Windrush Farm is a 195-acre mix of fields, forest, and a rare Atlantic white cedar bog, and is the longtime Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation Inc. headquarters. Windrush provides equine-assisted therapies every year to more than 300 children and adults with disabilities, including veterans of war.
Its protection creates a nearly 1,800-acre contiguous block of conservation land and connects to an extensive trail network, including the Bay Circuit Trail and trails in Boxford State Forest. Conserving Windrush Farm also protects the Ipswich River watershed.
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