You may recall on June 13, 2007, the HLWA purchased 7.9 acres of undeveloped forestland on West Wakefield Boulevard as a joint project with the Winchester Land Trust. The property was immediately turned over to the Land Trust so it could remain undisturbed. The land was purchased through donations from HLWA members, other local residents, and from a state open-space grant program. The state provided $62,400 toward the purchase, and the balance of nearly $45,000 came from local residents. The property, renamed Long Pond Ridge, also contains 350 feet of waterfront.

The state required a permanent sign be placed at the location, and a bronze plaque was produced through donations by HLWA members. The plaque was erected on Thursday, August 13, 2009. As you can see from the accompanying picture, the plaque was placed adjacent to the historical plaque commemorating Mr. Harvey Wakefield, who donated the funds to build Wakefield Boulevard in 1884.

Special thanks should be given to the owner of the NJR construction company, Nick Mancini, who generously provided for the erection of the sign, and his crew of Dwayne Scovil and Chris Carfiro Jr., who worked for two days, often in the rain, grinding the granite stone at the site and raising the sign at the location.

Since the sign had to be placed on the rock ridge at nearly forty feet high, a boom truck was required. Thanks again for the generosity of Kevin Smith and Brian Simler at Sunbelt Rentals, who provided the boom truck for the two days required to erect the sign.

After nearly six years, from the time the project began with the preliminary discussions with the previous owner to the final erection of the bronze plaque, we can finally step back and feel very proud for a completed project that will be an asset for the watershed.