Stow Acres Land Protection
Stow Acres South Course
In May 2021, Annual Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly to purchase a permanent conservation restriction on the entirety of the 151-acre Stow Acres South Course using $1.5 million in Community Preservation Act funds. That Conservation Restriction was executed and recorded in December 2021 and is co-held by the Town of Stow's Conservation Commission and Stow Conservation Trust. The CR document, plans and trail map can be found below.
- South Course Conservation Restriction
- South Course Public Access Easement Trail Map
- South Course Conservation Restriction Plans
Stow Acres North Course
In October 2021, Special Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly to purchase approximately 2/3 of the Stow Acres North Course for conservation and recreation purposes using $2.5 million in Community Preservation Act funds, with just over $1 million to be raised by the Town and Stow Conservation Trust from grants and private fundraising. The Town received $960,000 toward the acquisition from the state's Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program and the Trust contributed $100,000. The Town completed this acquisition in January 2023. The next step is preparation of a Climate Resilience Master Plan which will create a vision for the future conservation and recreation use of the property, including restoration of key upland and wetland areas (see the North Course Climate Resilience Master Planning Tab). In the meanwhile, Stow Acres will continue to use portions of the property for golf for up to 10 years. The remainder of the North Course will be developed privately for housing (see North Course Development Permitting Tab).
Map of Phase 1 and Phase 2 Land Protection Efforts
North Course ANR Plan (recorded 12/22)