Pawtucket Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, the former Christmas tree farm turned accessible green space, received the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition’s 2026 Excellence in Conservation Award on March 13 at the 36th Annual Massachusetts Land Conference.
Mass Audubon, along with its partners Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust, the City of Lowell, and Mill City Grows, was named this year’s recipient because of the project’s demonstration of excellence in land conservation work, advancing the conservation cause in creative and substantive ways, and serving as a model for other organizations across the Commonwealth.
“This project meets all those criteria in a particularly compelling way,” said Mass Land Trust Coalition Executive Director Robb Johnson. “This is an inspiring model for how to engage a diverse community and forge creative partnerships to realize a vision that addresses multiple community needs.”
The collaboration between partners is truly what makes this project such a success story.
Mass Audubon owns and operates the property, the permanent conservation restriction is held in perpetuity by Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust and the City of Lowell, and Mill City Grows leases farm fields and community garden plots on the property.
The sanctuary is open to the public and includes a universally accessible 0.75-mile All Persons Trail. An outdoor classroom pavilion and one-acre food forest are planned for this year, with an education center, barn, and nature play area coming in the future.
Project partners held nine listening sessions in four languages to ensure the community could provide on ample feedback on their wants and needs, which included fresh food, nature education, and the opportunity to have multi-generational family outings in nature.
“We appreciate this recognition from the land trust community that reflects the power of partnership in bringing much-needed open space to the people of Lowell and ensuring everyone everywhere has the opportunity to access the wonderful benefits nature provides,” said Mass Audubon President & CEO David O’Neill. “Pawtucket Farm is a tremendous example of what can be accomplished when collaboration and community are prioritized in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss.”
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