Ithaca, NY – The Finger Lakes Land Trust announced today that it has accepted a donation of 195 acres located in the town of Corning in Steuben County from retired Chairman of Corning Incorporated, Jamie Houghton and his wife, Maisie.

The Land Trust intends to establish a public conservation area with the property, thus adding to the Houghton family legacy within the Corning community. The property is to be known as the “Houghton Land Preserve.”

Photo: Staff

The property is a mix of hardwood forests that provide habitat for a variety of wildlife, and fields that offer scenic views of surrounding forested ridges. The site is located on Spencer Hill Road, between the City of Corning and Corning Community College. Its close proximity to Corning and the existing network of trails make it an ideal location for outdoor education and recreation.

“This is a priceless gift that will only become more valuable in the future,” says Land Trust Executive Director Andrew Zepp. “It’s a beautiful property that features some of the best of what our region has to offer. We’re grateful to James and Maisie Houghton for their tremendous gift to the Land Trust and to the Corning community.”

During the coming year, the Land Trust will complete a natural resource inventory of the property and develop a management plan to guide future use of the land. The plan will ensure the integrity of the Houghton family land while providing for public access to the site via Spencer Hill Road. A public workshop will be held in Corning sometime during the fall to share information about the project and gather public input.

It is anticipated that the property will be opened to the public during 2017. At that time, the land will be made accessible for uses such as hiking, cross country skiing, bird watching, nature education, and permit based deer hunting.

The Finger Lakes Land Trust is a non-profit conservation organization that works cooperatively with landowners and local communities to conserve those lands that define the character of the Finger Lakes Region and the Southern Tier. The organization is supported by more than 2,000 families who contribute to the Land Trust on an annual basis.

Since the Land Trust was founded in 1989, it has worked with partners to protect more than 18,000 acres of the region’s undeveloped shoreline, rugged gorges, scenic farmland, and majestic forests. The Land Trust owns and manages 38 conservation areas that are open to the public and holds conservation easements on 120 properties that remain in private ownership. Within the Southern Tier, the Land Trust owns and manages the 800-acre Steege Hill Preserve in the Town of Big Flats and also holds a conservation easement on 200 acres bordering Quarry Farm in Elmira.

Additional information about the Land Trust may be found at www.fllt.org.