The Town of Gardiner passed its Open Space law and formed the Open Space Commission (OSC) in 2006. The original committee had nine members and one alternate, and for the next eight years was instrumental in helping to preserve the Kiernan Farm (pictured above), in 2010, and Hess Farm, in 2013. The committee thus ensured that over 200 acres will continue to be used as farms, not housing developments.
The OSC has been inactive since the Hess Farm project was completed, but the Town Board would like to reinvigorate it so that the goals of the Open Space law can be pursued, including working with the Open Space Institute to acquire additional development rights. Some members are quite interested in continuing their work. The re-start effort is being coordinated by Warren Wiegand, the first Chair of the Commission, and Marc Moran, the last Chair.
They are now looking for people to join the Commission, which, going forward, will be responsible for creating new strategies to protect farms and open land; overseeing conservation easements; and educating Gardiner residents and their children on the importance of open space. For more information, call Warren Wiegand at 255-7915.