BayCoast Bank (http://baycoastbank.com) has pledged $100,000 over a three-year period to the Westport Land Conservation Trust (WLCT) to help acquire the former St. Vincent De Paul Camp on Adamsville Road in Westport.
In July of 2016, the WLCT secured an agreement to acquire the 82-acre Camp from the Catholic Diocese of Fall River; the property includes a roughly 22-acre landscaped “camp core,” which supports more than a dozen structures and recreational facilities. The property also encompasses 60 acres of upland woodlands and wetlands in addition to over 2,000 feet of frontage along Adamsville Road.
The WLCT is partnering with the Town of Westport to honor the property’s history of connecting people to the land by protecting the property and making it available for the community’s use and enjoyment. The goals of the project are to protect one of Westport’s scenic landmark properties, helping to preserve the town’s distinct rural character; prepare the site for future use by removing aging infrastructure and establish a first-rate community park and network of trails through the property’s extensive forest; secure the opportunity for the Town of Westport to use the steel-framed structure, outdoor basketball court and baseball field for recreational purposes; preserve the rare species habitat and other natural resources on the property for future generations; and preserve the water quality of the West Branch of the Westport River by eliminating additional nitrogen loading associated with the potential development of the property.
Nicholas Christ, President and CEO of BayCoast Bank, said, “It is a privilege to help fund this important acquisition, one that will benefit the entire region for many generations.”
Westport remains as one of the last surviving coastal farming communities in Massachusetts; WLCT was formed in 1972 by a group of local residents to protect that unique rural character. Its mission is to preserve natural resources, farmland and wildlife areas for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
The community is welcome to visit the property for a guided walk on October 5 at 5 p.m. and October 14 at 10 a.m., and to provide input through an online survey. Visit www.westportlandtrust.org for more information.
About BayCoast Bank
BayCoast Bank is a mutually-owned savings bank chartered in 1851 and headquartered in Swansea, MA. The Bank serves southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with locations in Fall River, New Bedford, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, North Dighton, Fairhaven, Dartmouth, Westport, and Tiverton, RI. BayCoast Bank and its affiliates offer a wide range of financial services for consumers, businesses, non-profits and municipalities. Its affiliates include BayCoast Financial Services, offering stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities and college savings plans; Plimoth Investment Advisors, offering investment management, trust services, and financial planning; Partners Insurance Group, LLC, an independent agency providing automobile, home, life and business coverage through a wide range of insurance companies; and BayCoast Mortgage Company, LLC (formerly known as NFC Mortgage Company, LLC), which offers a wide variety of products including FHA, VA, Conforming Loans and Jumbo Loans in 11 states. Nicholas Christ is the Bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer. For additional information on the Bank or its services, please visit www.BayCoastBank.com or call 508-678-7641.
About the Westport Land Conservation Trust
Since its founding in 1972, the Westport Land Conservation Trust has assisted landowners in protecting more than 4,500 acres in Westport, Massachusetts. WLCT is a private non-governmental organization dedicated to local land conservation on behalf of the Westport community. The organization accepts gifts of land and conservation restrictions on land, and assists farm owners in preserving farmland with agricultural preservation restrictions.
