Friends of Upton State Forest urge as many people as possible to attend the Hopkinton Community Preservation Committee meeting tonight, Dec 18, 7PM

The topic of the meeting tonight is the Whitehall Woods Alliance (WWA) request for funding towards the purchase of 203 Pond Street.  Although it is not on their agenda, it is believed the Alliance may vote on the proposal for CPA funding at tonight’s Hopkinton Community Preservation Committee meeting scheduled for 7 PM at the Hopkinton Town Hall.

Friends of Upton State Forest member Ellen Arnold said, “We may need a strong show of support by having people attend the meeting.”

According to Arnold, the property would forge the final link to connect Upton State Forest and Lake Whitehall State Park. “Those two DCR properties are connected to other properties in Hopkinton, Upton, and Grafton and this connection would make a trail corridor for recreation, wildlife, and aquifer protection of over 3200 contiguous acres,” said Arnold.

The Alliance includes Friends of Whitehall, Hopkinton Area Land Trust, Sudbury Valley Trustees, Friends of Upton State Forest, Bay State Trail Riders Association and New England Mountain Bikers Association. Arnold said, “The group has put together a proposal to use some funding from Hopkinton’s Community Preservation Fund (CPA), some funding from the Department of Conservation and Recreation, private donations and a land grant.”

Here is the message from the Friends of Upton State Forest

Good afternoon, everyone.

We need as many people as possible to attend the Hopkinton Community Preservation Committee meeting tonight, Dec 18, 7PM at the Hopkinton Town Hall. This is to support the Whitehall Woods Alliance (WWA) request for funding toward the purchase of 203 Pond St. That property is the final piece to forge a link between Upton State Forest and Lake Whitehall State Park. This is not a sure thing so we need as many folks as we can get there, especially Hopkinton voters, but anyone who has an interest in seeing this happen can come. This is a public meeting.

The following groups are members of WWA. Friends of Whitehall, Hopkinton Area Land Trust, Sudbury Valley Trustees, Friends of Upton State Forest, Bay State Trail Riders Association, and New England Mountain Bike Association.

Please share this with your friends and family that live in Hopkinton.