"The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn
over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value."
--Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States
The Conservation Commission helps preserve and acquire conservation areas, refines existing natural resource maps, and helps to update Hampton's plan of conservation and development.
The Commission meets the fourth Tuesday of the Month.
MISSION: To support the Town of Hampton and its citizens through research, coordination, development, and proposal of conservation plans pursuant to the originating ordinance.
Open land in Hampton: The Hampton Conservation Commission is charged with keeping an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned. In response to this charge the committee maintains a set of maps and overlays that show undeveloped land.
Undeveloped land can be protected through easements, regulation, or through the sale of property rights. Some areas of open land in Hampton are accessible to the public. These include:
Protecting open land: The Conservation Commission can acquire land and easements and is charged with obtaining information on the conservation of open areas and working with other bodies organized for similar purposes. A number of organizations, public and private non-profit, support the conservation of open land and natural resources in the area.
Greenways: The Conservation Commission may propose a Greenways plan to be included in the plan of conservation and development. Several Greenways already exist in Connecticut and one of them already crosses Hampton.
Airline State Park Trail (north section): an officially designated Connecticut greenway in Hampton - This is a continuation of the Air Line from Willimantic and eventually through to Thompson. This stretch is located within the Quinebaug-Shetucket Rivers National Heritage Corridor, and it is a key link in a proposed interstate trail system.
Land use: The Conservation Commission may make recommendations to relevant town agencies on proposed land-use changes.
Photos by Pete Verteufeuille, all rights reserved