Phase 1 Closed! See the press release here.
Phase 2 information here.
Get a map of the Ethel Walker Woods from the EWS site here.
Highlands Conservation Act - Ethel Walker Request (PDF 1.7 MB)

SIMSBURY VOTES YES on 2!
Town Referendum Passes! See Press Release Here.
See election results here (PDF).

Hear an Earthday 2007 Midnight Recording from the EWS woods!

An Opportunity for Preservation

The Town of Simsbury has the opportunity to protect 424 acres of land now owned by the Ethel Walker School (EWS). Under an agreement (see the press release) reached by The Trust for Public Land (TPL), the school's remarkable forests, fields, trails, and wetlands would forever be preserved as open space.

Why Preserve the Ethel Walker Woods?

Preserving this land is essential to Simsbury's drinking water quality.

The Ethel Walker property recharges the invaluable Stratton Brook Aquifer, which supplies 73% of town drinking water. It is also the sole source for numerous private wells. Development of the land above the aquifer poses a risk to the town's water quality. The CT Department of Public Health has strongly recommended that the town support the acquisition of open space in this area to protect its water supply.

Preserving this land will help retain the scenic, rural character of Simsbury.

The Ethel Walker Woods provides an outstanding scenic vista along a major town road. The property is the largest remaining tract of unprotected open space in Simsbury, and is at the heart of an important regional network of undeveloped land. Preserving the Ethel Walker Woods is a long-lasting investment in the quality of life in Simsbury for present and future generations.

Preserving this land will guarantee public access to the land and its trails.

The property's extensive trail system provides numerous educational and recreational opportunities, such as birdwatching, hiking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. The property also supports over 300 plants and animal species in a diverse set of habitats. Protecting the Ethel Walker Woods from development will permanently safeguard this important resource for future generations.

Questions and Answers about the Ethel Walker Woods

How will the Ethel Walker Woods be preserved?

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) has negotiated an agreement that would allow the Town of Simsbury to purchase the Ethel Walker Woods and place a conservation easement on it, ensuring that the land remains in its natural state and guaranteeing public access to the property for recreational purposes. Simsbury voters have approved appropriating funds necessary to preserve the Ethel Walker Woods in two separate votes. Private donations are still required to complete the agreement.

What is the cost to the town of preserving the Ethel Walker property?

The total cost of the property's development rights is $13.85 million. TPL has committed to raising $2.75 million in private donations to support the purchase. Therefore, the town's share of the acquisition price is $11.1 million spread over 5 to 7 years. However, the net cost to the town after the application of state and federal grants is expected to be less than $10 million. The town could receive up to 60% of the purchase price from government funding.

What is the cost to the average homeowner?

The town will finance the acquisition through a combination of reserves, grants and a bond, subject to the approval of the voters of Simsbury. The bond is expect to result in an approximate 0.8 % tax increase. Thus the cost to an owner of a median-priced home (approximately $300, 000 in Simsbury) would be approximately $40 a year for ten years (the life of the bond). However the alternative, which is development of the Ethel Walker land, would increase municipal costs (for example by adding to the school population) thus increasing the burden for the town's taxpayers.

What will happen to the Ethel Walker land if it is NOT preserved?

In May 2005, the Ethel Walker School submitted preliminary plans for subdivision of this property to the Simsbury Planning Commission. The plan would create 122 house lots throughout the Ethel Walker land. Although Simsbury voters have approved appropriating funds for this open space purchase, private money is still required. If the funds necessary to complete the agreement cannot be raised privately, School officials have stated that they will pursue the option to develop the property.

What can I do to help preserve the Ethel Walker Woods?

Make a donation! The Trust for Public Land is accepting contributions toward the $2.75 million private fundraising goal. Donations to TPL are tax deductible.
Contact Simsbury Town Officials and thank them for moving this forward to Town referendum.
If you are an EWS alumna, please contact EWS Board Members and thank them for approving the new terms.
Get involved in the project! Contact one of the organizations listed below to help.

For more information, contact:

Keep the Woods, 860-760-6281, keepthewoods@gmail.com
The Trust for Public Land, Melissa Spear, 203-777-7367 ext. 2, melissa.spear@tpl.org

The 424 acre Ethel Walker property is the centerpiece of approximately 1400 acres of open space in and around Simsbury. Phase 1 Acquisition also includes less than 20 acres NOT shown in the figure above. This image is an approximation based on maps available at Simsbury Town Hall and the USGS.

Structure of the Deal

The original deal negotiated by TPL with EWS (see press release here) was blessed by Simsbury's Board of Selectmen (see story here) but turned down by Simsbury's Board of Finance (see story here). A modified deal proposed by the Board of Selectmen (see story here) has been accepted by the Board of Finance (see story here). This modified deal has been approved by the Board of Trustees of EWS. Simsbury voters approved the Phase I appropriation on November 7, 2006 (see story here). They approved the Phase II down payment in Town Meeting on October 17, 2006 (see story here). For the deal to move forward, 2.75 Million needs to be raised privately to close on Phase I. These funds have been raised and Phase I has closed (see story here and here).

The terms of the modified deal spread the appropriation of funds and the acquisition of land over time. The final purchase price for the 424 acres is still $13.85 million dollars and the portion paid by the town (to be defrayed by state, federal, and private grants) is still $11.1 million. The final outcome is still preservation of the entire parcel of land for all time. The terms of the modified proposal are outlined below.

Phase I:

March 2007 closing date
Approximately 334 acres for $9.75 million

$2.75 million (of the $9.75 million sum) is to be raised privately by TPL and its partners

$2 million (of the $9.75 million sum) to be appropriated from Town reserves

$5 million (of the $9.75 million sum) to be bonded (defrayed by State and Federal grants)

$1 million deposit will be paid from Town reserves to secure the additional acreage (approximately 90 acres) which will be purchased over 5 - 7 years in Phases II and III for a total additional $3.1 million.

Phase II:

On or before April 2012
Three options:

Not buy the remaining acres and forfeit the $1 million deposit
Buy the remaining 90 acres for an additional $3.1 million
Buy half of the remaining acres for an additional $2 million with an option to buy the other half within 2 years

Phase III:

On or before April 2014
If only half of the Phase II acres were purchased in Phase II, the remaining 45 acres could be purchased for an additional $1.1 million or the Town would forfeit its $1 million deposit.

Simsbury Voters have approved this modified plan in two steps:

Town Meeting on October 17, 2006

Discussed the $2 million reserves + $5 million bonding that then went automatically to Town Referendum on the November 7, 2006 ballot.
Voted to approve taking $1 million from reserves for the deposit on Phase II and III (see story here).

Town Referendum on November 7, 2006

Voted to approve the $2 million from reserves + $5 million bonding to fund Phase I (see story here).

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Prior to the agreement between EWS and TPL, our home page included the information below...

Preserve the Ethel Walker Land

The Ethel Walker School, based in Simsbury, CT, offers an exceptional 620 acre campus loved by current students, alumnae, and the surrounding community. A subset of the Ethel Walker School campus is a critical parcel of connected open space consisting of pristine woodlands, wetlands and wildlife habitats. Its environmental, recreational and educational value is enjoyed and appreciated by both the school and surrounding community. At this time the Ethel Walker School feels it has a fiduciary responsibility to maximize the yield of this asset to enhance their future. Currently they are considering a plan to sub-divide and develop this parcel. Negotiating the sale of the development rights to open space groups, however, could yield them similar financial benefits while preserving the land in its current state. Selling the development rights of this property would present a historic opportunity for the Town of Simsbury and many other local, state and national partners interested in targeted land preservation.

The Town of Simsbury maintains a long-standing interest and successful track record in preserving critical parcels of land when opportunities arise. Given the educational, environmental, and recreational value of the Ethel Walker School property, community support for its preservation is overwhelming. Amicably reaching an agreement on the purchase of the woodlands on the west side of Bushy Hill Road for wholesale preservation rather than development exemplifies the Ethel Walker School’s goals of innovation, creativity, and community. In addition, it fulfills the first goal of the Simsbury Plan of Development: “The retention and preservation of open space”.
As stated in the Plan,

“While our land and natural beauty are a part of Simsbury’s heritage, the responsibility for maintaining the quality of the community as a place to work and live rests finally with the citizens of this town.”

We are a diverse, large, and growing group of citizens with a common interest in working toward this preservation effort. The Ethel Walker property represents a major purchase, with multiple sources of financing needed. As such we are seeking funding from a variety of local, state and national sources. We acknowledge and appreciate the wonderful relationship that the Ethel Walker School and the Town of Simsbury have enjoyed for many years, and we aim to negotiate an offer such that Ethel Walker realizes fair financial benefits, comparable to developing the property, and continues to enjoy the priceless resource of their exceptional campus. In this win-win scenario, the Ethel Walker School responsibly realizes the full financial potential of this asset yet retains this outstanding asset for their advertising, education, and recreation. Most importantly, this environmentally sensitive and critical piece of habitat, connected to other pieces of preserved land, will be enjoyed by many future generations in the community and at the Ethel Walker School.

Browse though this website if you would like to see our work on specific topics as they pertain to this preservation project.

Join our e-mail list if you would like to be informed of neighborhood meetings and receive general updates via e-mail.

Submit any information, feedback or comments for posting by filling out the electronic forms.

Check out “What you can do”

Most of all: Thank you for you interest!!

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