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The Parker farm is one of the oldest family properties in this area, dating back to 1836.
 In 1999, most of the farm was permanently protected with conservation agreements sold to the State of Michigan farmland preservation program. It was one of the first properties so protected in Washtenaw County and in the state. Stanley & Helen Parker have now donated a conservation agreement to the Washtenaw Land Trust to protect the remaining acreage of their farm, 23 acres of mature woods on its eastern edge.
“The Parkers are to be commended for donating this land protection agreement,” said Charity Steere, chair of the Washtenaw Land Trust’s Land Protection Committee.
“This 23-acre woods links up to a contiguous block of 256 acres of protected land that will now be available for farming forever, a permanent benefit to the community.”
“Thanks should also go to Scio Township for their contribution of funds to help with the costs of completing this conservation agreement. We are honored to have the opportunity to partner with the Township to protect this land.”
The conservation agreement, also known as a conservation easement, is a legal agreement that places restrictions on the future development of the property. Under the terms of the agreement, the trees can be selectively cut in accordance with a forest-management plan, and the land can be sold or passed on to others, but the woods can never be clear-cut and the land can never be developed.
“We’re glad we could get our land into the Land Trust,” said Helen Parker. “We encourage more people to do this so more land is conserved.”
“This gives our nephew a chance to stay in farming, and it leaves open space, which means a lot.”
With the donation of the conservation agreement, the property value of the land decreases because of the restrictions on future development. However, this is offset in part by federal income tax deductions that are available to property owners who donate such an agreement. The loss in land value is considered a donation to the nonprofit Land Trust. The Land Trust, in turn, takes on the responsibility of making sure the land stays protected.
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The first land trust established in Michigan, Washtenaw Land Trust is a private non-profit that protects - forever - the natural areas and farms that make our community a great place to live. Since 1971, this growing organization has directly protected 55 properties totaling 3,068 acres throughout Washtenaw, Jackson, and Ingham counties through voluntary land conservation. For more information please visit www.washtenawlandtrust.org, or contact the Land Trust at info@washtenawlandtrust.org or 734-302-LAND (5263).
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How You Can Support Local Land Protection
More great projects like this are in the works. Your gift to the Land Trust will ensure that funds are ready for the next big opportunity. If you'd like to make a gift:
Thank you! For more information, please contact Suzie Heiney at 734-302-LAND (5263) or suzie@washtenawlandtrust.org.
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