Faces of Greenbelt: Jessica and Michael Tomlinson: Neighbors, Donors, Friends

Jessica and Michael Tomlinson live on a leafy corner lot just across the street from the trailhead to the Viburnum Woods conservation area, which officially opened in early June. Residents of Haverhill’s Parsonage Hill neighborhood, they have been actively engaged with the project from the beginning as both enthusiastic supporters and generous donors. Now, they’re looking forward to exploring the trails with their dog and one-year-old daughter, Nora.

“The property feels like an extension of our backyard, it’s that close,” says Jessica. “With warmer weather here, we’re excited to get out there and enjoy the trails as much as we can.”

When they first moved to the neighborhood three years ago, Jessica and Michael had no idea that a trail and sizable, ecologically significant property were located within sight of their house. “It was completely overgrown, with no signage or trail markings,” Jessica recalls. “We never saw anyone coming or going — it was pretty easy to overlook.”

The Tomlinsons first learned about the effort to conserve the Viburnum Woods property — then known as Parsonage Hill — through a notice they received from Greenbelt, inviting neighbors and interested residents to an informational gathering at Willow Springs Vineyard in Haverhill last spring

“We were just curious, since the project was potentially happening right in our own neighborhood,” says Jessica. “It was fascinating to see all the maps of the area and hear about what was being proposed in greater detail.” They both walked away feeling excited about the possibilities.

That fall, Jessica and Michael also took part in a site walk of the property and later decided to support the conservation effort with a financial contribution. Since then, they’ve closely followed its progress as momentum built and conservation plans began to take shape.

In addition to learning about Viburnum Woods, Jessica and Michael have also developed a deeper understanding of Greenbelt and its conservation mission.

“Michael grew up in Beverly, and I went to school in Salem — we also lived in Ipswich for a while, so we were already familiar with the Greenbelt name and some of its properties,” Jessica says. “But this has been a great opportunity to really see how the organization works up close and to understand the importance of protecting open space at the local level.”

As a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Realty, Jessica views the protection of the 111-acre Viburnum Woods property, tucked away in a quiet residential area not far from the New Hampshire border, as a major benefit for the community. “Had the land been developed, it would have changed the character of the entire neighborhood,” she says. “Now it’s protected for everyone to enjoy.”