The Land Trust and Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) completed a 33-acre addition to the college’s East Hill Campus—one of the school’s sites for outdoor recreation and environmental education. The Land Trust worked with the FLCC Foundation and an anonymous donor to facilitate the purchase and transfer of the property, formerly owned by Rachelle Cromwell.

The property, located off of East Hill Road in the town of Naples, is situated almost entirely within an Audubon Important Bird Area and is in close proximity to High Tor Wildlife Management Area. Conservation of the land provides a buffer to a spur of the Finger Lakes Trail, which runs through the East Hill Campus.

The FLCC Foundation will own and manage the property, which the Land Trust has permanently protected with a deed restriction that prohibits subdivision and limits future development. The college’s environmental conservation and horticulture department will use the site to teach students about wildlife management and forestry practices.

“The addition of this property to our existing East Hill Campus will have an immediate impact on several of our courses,” said John Van Niel, Professor of Environmental Conservation & Horticulture at FLCC. “With 33 additional acres, this increases the range of wildlife management projects we can undertake with students. And since the land has been managed differently than the existing campus, students will be able to compare and contrast the forests and, over time, we will see the benefits of forest management practices.”

“This acquisition expands educational opportunities while conserving significant wildlife habitat,” said Land Trust Executive Director Andrew Zepp. “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to partner with the college and grateful for the anonymous donor who made the project possible.”