Greenbelt Permanently Protects Historic Wenham Property

Thanks to strong community support, Greenbelt successfully acquired the Streeter property in Wenham at the end of May, permanently protecting more than 125 acres of forest, farmland, wetlands, and trails. Together, these diverse landscapes provide critical wildlife habitat and help safeguard a public drinking water supply serving nearly 90,000 people.

Now known as the Old Farm Conservation Area, Greenbelt’s Stewardship team is currently developing a public access plan that, once completed, will open a scenic trail network on the property to the public for the first time. An opening celebration will be held later this year once improvements are made to accommodate access.

“Bringing this property into permanent protection has been years in the making, and we are deeply grateful to the Streeter family for their enduring commitment to conserving this remarkable landscape, and to the Town of Wenham, which has been by our side the whole time,” says Greenbelt President Chris LaPointe.

In addition to its significant natural assets, the property includes two existing homes. Greenbelt has partnered with Historic New England, which will hold a preservation restriction over the 1689 house and surrounding 15 acres, protecting its significant features, including the Ellen Shipman-designed gardens. Greenbelt has secured a buyer committed to preserving and maintaining the house and property, with a closing scheduled for early summer. The house is not publicly accessible.

Greenbelt is also in discussions with Essex County Habitat for Humanity to explore the potential for adapting the cottage as an affordable housing opportunity for the community.

“Projects that combine high-quality land conservation, public access, historic preservation, and potentially affordable housing are rare. This is one of the most meaningful efforts we’ve undertaken,” Chris adds.

In addition to the generosity of private donors, this project would not have been possible without strong partnerships with the Town of Wenham, which provided funding through the Community Preservation Act (CPA), and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which supported the project through the Land Acquisition for Natural Diversity (LAND) Grant Program.

Next steps for the Old Farm property include further assessment and mapping of the landscape, installation of signage and trail wayfinding, and the design and creation of a public parking area.