The Western New York Land Conservancy has received three new donations totaling $250,000 toward the purchase and protection of Mossy Point, a 222-acre property located in Wales, N.Y., along Hunters Creek near East Aurora. They have now raised $1.35 million toward their goal of $1.6 million. But they need to raise an additional $250,000 by Dec. 31, 2019 in order to purchase the property and save it for future generations.
The donations include $100,000 from Dr. Paul Rutledge, an ecologist and former Land Conservancy board member who now resides in Michigan. Paul was instrumental in the land protection projects done by the Land Conservancy during its first decade, including Kenneglenn, a preserve adjacent to Mossy Point. “The steep forested slopes of the Mossy Point property are very important to the Buffalo Creek watershed,” Paul says. “Losing this area to development would have a negative impact on Western New York’s efforts to improve its freshwater resources, including moderating downstream flooding. I view this gift as a contribution to the entire region.”
Current Land Conservancy board member Kathryn Lasher and her partner, Scott Bieler, president of West Herr Automotive Group, just contributed $50,000 in addition to an earlier $50,000 gift for Mossy Point. “Protecting Mossy Point is absolutely critical to the health and wellbeing of future generations of Western New Yorkers,” Kathy says. “Everyone should be able to visit Mossy Point, take a walk through its beautiful forest, and splash through its creek.”
In addition to these gifts, another anonymous donor contributed $100,000.
Once purchased, Mossy Point will include walking, cross-country and snowshoe trails. It will connect to the adjacent Kenneglenn Nature Preserve as well as the adjacent Hunters Creek County Park. If the Land Conservancy cannot raise an additional $250,000 by Dec. 31, the property could be lost, logged and developed.
The Land Conservancy needs donations of all sizes in order to save Mossy Point. For larger donations, naming opportunities include:
• One donor of $350,000 will be able to name the preserve.
• Donors of $200,000 will have a trail named in their honor.
• One donor of $150,000 will have a nature “megaphone” named in their honor.
• Donors of $30,000 will have a bench named in their honor.
• Donors of $10,000 or more will have their name listed on a plaque permanently placed at the preserve.
• Donors of more than $2,000 will be recognized in the East Aurora Advertiser and the Alden Advertiser.
If a donor contributes $150,000, Mossy Point will feature a unique attraction that would be the first of its kind in New York State — a nature “megaphone.” The megaphone will allow visitors of all ages to sit inside and listen to the sounds of the forest, the songs of birds, and the babbling waters of Hunters Creek.
If you would like to donate to save Mossy Point, you can donate online at wnylc.org or send a check made payable to “Western New York Land Conservancy” to P.O. Box 471, East Aurora, N.Y. 14052. Please call or email if you have questions: (716) 687-1225 or
in**@wn***.org
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The Western New York Land Conservancy is a regional, not-for-profit land trust that permanently protects land with significant conservation value in Western New York for current and future generations. The Land Conservancy envisions a future in which open spaces, working lands, wildlife habitat and scenic beauty are cherished and protected as part of the landscape and character of Western New York. The Land Conservancy is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and is one of 1,000-plus land trusts nationwide, including 90 in New York State. Land trusts have protected 56 million acres of land.
