2026 CLT Annual Report

THE CHESTER LAND TRUST

Chester, Connecticut

Monitoring and Maintenance of Preserves
Chester Land Trust (CLT) currently owns 14 preserves, encompassing 18 land parcels and 94 acres of protected land in Chester, We also monitor 3 conservation easements (land set aside by owners that is not to be developed). Many of the preserves are left in their natural state which benefits wildlife, water and the environment. A complete listing of all these land trusts preserves is provided on the CLT website (chesterlandtrust.org). Each preserve has a responsible steward who performs an annual assessment of public safety, invasive plant content and encroachment issues.

Public Outreach
CLT held its Annual Meeting at the Chester Meeting House on November 22, 2025. The meeting was open to the public and followed by a presentation describing recent improvements to CLT’s open space nature preserves.

CLT planned and hosted its annual town-wide cleanup in honor of Earth Day on April 25, 2026. With crucial assistance from the Town of Chester, approximately 40 volunteers collected 38 bags of trash including but not limited to bottles, cans, garbage disposal unit, tires, furniture, plastic, plywood, lumber, needles and plastic house siding, Once again, this Earth Day event was a great success!

Preserve Improvements
Carini and Scudder Preserves: Major progress has been made during CLT’s invasive plant management program, which was initiated at the Carini Preserve (30 Water Street) in 2022. Funding for the program was through grants from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Rockfall Foundation, and the Community Foundation of Middlesex County. The initial focus was on Japanese Knotweed (JK) mitigation at Carini Preserve but measures to eliminate other invasives including Tree of Heaven from Scudder Preserve (34 Water Street) were in progress in this reporting period. The transformation of plant distribution from non-native invasive (ie Japanese Knotweed) to a diverse group of native plants at Carini Preserve has been remarkable. Live, standing Trees of Heaven are no longer present at Scudder Preserve.

Parking areas at both Preserves were resurfaced with gravel in 2026. A wooden fence was installed at the Carini Preserve entrance to prevent cars, trucks or other motor vehicles from driving through the Preserve.

Piquet Preserve: Special thanks to CLT Trustee member Bill Myers, Chester Resident John Linder, and the CT Department of Transportation for completing work on the 280 foot “Right of Way” from Wig Hill Road to the Piquet Preserve. A ½ mile loop hiking trail (The Oak Tree Loop Trail} was created on the property and has an “easy to moderate” level of ease for walking.

Rayner Preserve: A severe outbreak of the non-native invasive Multiflora Rose has been controlled, a cluster of Tree of Heaven removed, and a sizable portion of the property has been reseeded, Access to and drainage of the Preserve have been improved but are still problematic. In January 2026, received a $9500 competitive grant award from the Community Foundation of Middlesex County to improve access, provide on-site parking and improve stormwater handling at the Preserve, which is located at 121 West Main Street close to the Brushmill by the Waterfall restaurant. CLT has submitted an Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Agency application. If approved, work should begin in August 2026.

Chester Land Trust Board of Directors
President - Michael Cressman; Vice President - Jenny Kitsen, Treasurer - Felise Cressman, Secretary – Bill Myers. Other Trustees: Steve Cline, Fran Curto, Deb Dembo, Marieanne Heft, Matt Kosky, David Miller, Jim Murac, Carlisle Schaeffer, Pete Yuhasz.

Submitted by Michael Cressman
President Chester Land Trust

The 2026
Chester Land Trust Annual Report

July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026