***This meeting is to determine if the proposal is sent to town wide vote. This is not the final decision. It is step 1.***

The 108-acre Menegay property on Codfish Hill Road has become available for purchase. The property combines expansive open meadows, beautiful hardwood forest, active agricultural land, and an extraordinary location near Huntington State Park and adjoining other conserved lands.  It would potentially combine together the 96 acre Wolf Pits Preserve and 1000 acre Huntington State Park trail systems, allowing for 20+ miles of hiking and mountain biking.

The owners have given the Town of Bethel a limited opportunity to purchase the property before the end of September. After that, they have indicated that they intend to offer the property for sale to developers.

The proposal is straightforward: the Town secures the property now, while the Bethel Land Trust raises the conservation funding needed to protect it permanently. The Land Trust expects that process to take approximately 12 to 18 months. Once funding is secured, the Land Trust would purchase the property from the Town and place a conservation easement on it. The BLT and the Town would then jointly manage the land.

This would be similar to the management done for the Franc Preserve in Bethel,  which currently allows hiking, biking, and mushroom foraging. (there is a mushroom foraging hike with an expert coming up the 23rd!) There is also the potential to continue agricultural use similar to how it is used now. Or add a community garden.

The Town, in effect, serves as the bridge—giving the Bethel Land Trust time needed to secure conservation funding without losing the property in the meantime.

**Wednesday, August 19 • 7:00 PM**

**Bethel Middle School Auditorium**



if you would like to see a drone flyover of the property with more info, visit the [Bethel Land Trust website.](https://www.bethellandtrust.org/)  the website also has info on current hiking, biking, and fishing opportunities.

  
**Mushroom foraging hike info:**  
Sunday August 23rd 1PM  
franc Preserve, 160 Plumtrees Rd. Bethel

the Franc Preserve is similarly preserved open space in Bethel, managed by the Land Trust. The hike is really more of a slow ramble to stop every few feet and go "ooh, what's that!" than an actual *hike*. It will cover around 1 mile in total, with rolling terrain. Go foraging with Danielle who has 10+ years experience with wild mushrooms.

Dogs are welcome but MUST be on leash. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes. Light drizzle will not cancel  hike, but thunder, other hazardous condition, or a downpour will result in cancellation.

Bethel Town Meeting- Aug 19th- Purchase & preserve 108 acres of open space on Codfish Hill