Help Save "The Old Fort Field at Chase Garden Creek Project"!

What’s the Acquisition: The Dennis Conservation Trust currently has a unique opportunity to purchase and preserve approximately seven acres of land in Dennis Village. This acquisition would protect rare plant and animal species as well as local water resources near the head of Chase Garden Creek.  It also would preserve intact the site of the pre-revolutionary "Old Fort Field" where colonists constructed the first defensive outpost in Dennis, according to local historians.

What’s Happened to Date: To date the Dennis Conservation Trust has raised roughly $250,000 of the $425,000 purchase price. The money raised so far has been though generous donations and pledges.

What’s Next: DCT has asked theTown of Dennis Conservation Commission to hold a Conservation Restriction over the property, which they have voted their approval to do, allowing for DCT and the Town to apply for a State Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) Grant, for an amount up to 52% of the appraised property value. DCT and the Town will be applying for this grant in July and will know the results of the application in late fall.

This is a very competitive State grant and there’s no promising we will receive it. The Trust is asking for all Dennis residents to play a leadership role in this acquisition. The land has been marketed as developable building sites for some time. With changes in the real estate market, DCT recently has been able to negotiate a purchase agreement to preserve this land.

If you have already made a pledge towards the purchase of this property, DCT thanks you and asks that you look for website updates. You can also contact Kris Ramsay, DCT Administrator, at 508-362-3422 or e-mail CompactK@cape.com. We are confident we will close on the property before the end of the year.

 Conservation Significance:

The "Old Fort Field at Chase Garden Creek" Project will not only preserve the land from development but will:

• Protect a link to DCT's and the Town of Dennis adjacent conservation parcels;
• Protect sensitive rare species habitat, including that of the eastern box turtle, a Species of Special Concern in Massachusetts;
• Protect approximately 1,500 feet of roadside greenbelt for travelers on New Boston Road; and,
• Protect wetland resources draining into Chase Garden Creek, the town's largest Northside estuary, preserving water quality for shellfish beds downstream.

Historical Significance:

Many historians see the location of this project as one of the most culturally significant properties in all of Dennis.

• In the 1640's this property became part of a homestead owned by Thomas Howe.
• Howe was one of three Englishman within the Old Colony to be entrusted by the English magistrate to screen and check the backgrounds of the individuals looking to start their lives in America.

The significance of the area around Chase Garden Creek for colonial Dennis is noted in the siting of the first fort there. In 1643, the Plymouth Court decided that each town should build a fort against possible native uprising, and New Boston Road was the site of one of the two that were built. For many years, both sites were known as Fort Hill, but the hill in each case has since eroded. (paraphrased from Dennis, Cape Cod; From Firstcomers to Newcomers, 1639-1993, Nancy Thatcher Reid, 1996., pp. 42-43.)

Rural Character of Dennis:
Along with the conservation and historical significance, by purchasing this property, DCT will help to preserve Dennis Village's rural character.

We are collaborating on this project with The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts, to which we belong.

We hope you will support this opportunity with a tax-deductible contribution. We hope, too, you might be willing to reach out to other friends, neighbors, and businesses to help save the "Old Fort Field at Chase Garden Creek" property. Please contact Kris Ramsay, DCT Administrator, at 508-362-3422 or e-mail Compactk@cape.com. DCT is on a tight schedule to complete this acquisition project, so we hope you'll respond soon.  

P.S.  All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of federal tax law.

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Years from now, when you and your future generations walk the natural paths and places of Dennis, take pride in knowing that your continued efforts helped preserve them.