Officials celebrate Mercy Woods open space purchase
CUMBERLAND – Calling it the biggest land purchase since the 500-acre Monastery property acquisition in 1968, Cumberland town officials, state leaders and members of the Sisters of Mercy Northeast gathered Monday to officially celebrate the completion of a $1.5 million land preservation deal that will preserve 229 pristine acres of woods and open space off Wrentham Road for future generations.
“This is without question one of the biggest things to happen to Cumberland in the last 50 years,” said Cumberland Mayor William Murray, who delivered his remarks from the 17.5-acre section of new town-owned Mercy Woods property that will eventually be home to several local town athletic fields. “I’m overjoyed and lucky to be
mayor at this time,” he said. “A lot of work went into this that involved some great people. It was a long process, but we always kept our eye on the ball because we knew that this important acquisition will benefit future generations.”
Among those on hand for Monday’s ceremony were Gov. Gina Raimondo, Lt. Gov. Dan McKee, Pawtucket Water Supply Board Chairman William Masuck, Randy Tuomisto, president of the Cumberland Land Trust, and Tim Mooney, marketing and communications manager for The Nature Conservancy.
Also in attendance was state Rep. Rep. Alex Marszalkowski (D-Dist. 51, Cumberland) and District 2 Cumberland Town Councilman E. Craig Dwyer
“This is stunningly beautiful land and at 229 acres is the town’s second largest land purchase. There has been nothing like this in 46 years,” Murray said. “How truly blessed the town has been to work with Sr. Jacqueline Marie Kieslich (president of Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Northeast Community) and the Sisters of Mercy on this project.”
The 243-acre Sisters of Mercy property is located in the northeastern corner of Cumberland historically known as Grant’s Mill, between Miscoe Lake and the Diamond Hill Reservoir. Since the Sisters of Mercy purchased the first tract of land in 1913, the property has been a place of prayer, education and service for people in need, and a sanctuary for wildlife and plant life.
The sisters have long desired to conserve the land and after five years of negotiations and discussions with the town and its partners, a deal was struck for the town to purchase the property and create “Mercy Woods,” a 229acre conservation project that includes 17.5 acres for new practice ball fields.
“Big things like this don’t happen overnight. It’s not luck. It’s a lot of work,” noted Raimondo. “This project is a perfect example of the great things that can happen when everyone does their part. I’m very proud to be part of this.”
Raimondo said funding sources for the $1.5 million purchase included a $400,000 Rhode Island DEM Open Space Grant, which is money that came from the last Green Economy Bond. Raimondo said the budget for fiscal year 2019, which she signed last week, includes a large environmental bond worth $50 million to fund land and water quality improvements. It’s one of four ballot initiatives the governor is proposing for November 2018.
“There’s a reason we call Cumberland God’s country and the Sisters of Mercy have a lot to do with that,” said McKee, a former mayor of Cumberland. “I am a Mercymount graduate so I have a warm spot in my heart for this place and the sisters. We now have more than 2,000 acres protected right now in Cumberland, which has always been able to strike a balance for what we need for the economy and what we need to protect our natural resources. I have a lot of pride in my hometown and this only adds to it. This is a big deal and I am proud to be a resident of Cumberland today.”
The town will develop 17.5 acres as town recreational fields. The town is planning to immediately develop 2.5 acres of the fields, and then the rest of the 17.5 acres in the future. The fields will be open space recreation acres geared toward soccer or lacrosse.
Town officials are also envisioning the town’s touch football league playing up on the field property. which will not have any backstops for other sports.
Although the land will be kept as conservation land, the Cumberland Land Trust will be managing the extensive walking trail system through the property and maintaining the trails as they do other open space acquisitions in the community.
“It’s done!” said an excited Randy Tuomisto, president of the Cumberland Land Trust. “Patience is a virtue has never been more true then when referring to this journey that began five years ago. This will enhance this town’s signature dedication to conservation.”
Sister Marie, who is retiring in a month, called the acquisition “new and exciting.”
“This has been a dream and a dream come true in such a nice way,” she said. “This really has been a team effort and a true demonstration of collaboration.”
She said the land has sustained the sisters spiritually since 1913 and is considered sacred land because of its beauty and nurturing qualities.
“We hope all those who visit will respect this sacred quality,” she said. “The beauty of this environment makes it a special place for those who have worked and lived here and now we entrust it to you.”