177 Main Street

177 Main Street was the site of the WLT’s Community Garden until 2019 when the garden was relocated to 145 Main Street, a lot also owned by the Land Trust.  In 2021, WLT partnered with Cinder Restaurant to create a permanent greenscape on the lot. The two entities determined that the best and highest use for their neighboring Main Street lots was a blend of commercial property and public urban greenway along the nationally designated Wild and Scenic Pawcatuck River. WLT was awarded a community development grant from the Rhode Island Foundation to support the transformation of 177 Main Street through landscaping, wayfinding signage, and public access walkways along the river.

The ultimate goal of the Urban Initiative is to transfer the improved properties to new operators, so in July 2023, 177 Main Street was sold to 169 Main St, LLC, which operates Cinder Restaurant. A conservation easement held by the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) ensures that the 177 Main St parcel will remain green open space, never to be developed.

More about WLT’s Urban Initiative

In 2004, the Board of Directors voted to expand the Westerly Land Trust’s mission to include an Urban Initiative, focused on redevelopment and enhancement of culturally significant commercial properties in areas of historic significance to the Town. The “smart growth” concept reflects the other side of the coin of land conservation. A vibrant downtown offering attractive options to live, dine, and shop reduces development pressure on precious open space.

Since establishing the Urban Initiative, the Westerly Land Trust has worked in partnership with the Royce Family Fund to purchase and adaptively re-use commercial properties of interest in downtown Westerly. The Westerly Land Trust holds three properties on Main Street along the Pawcatuck River as well as the historic Industrial Trust building on High Street and the United Theatre and Montgomery Ward building on Canal Street.

 

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WLT conserves open space, revitalizes culturally significant properties and provides environmental programs for the enduring benefit of our community.

🌿✨ Nature Journaling Series ✨🌿
Join us this fall for a 3-part Nature Journaling series led by educator, naturalist, and artist Jonah Salsich!

📓 Intro to Nature Journaling – FREE! 
Saturday, Sept 6 at 9:30 AM at Barlow
All ages welcome
Discover the joy of observing the natural world through words, sketches, and numbers—no artistic experience needed!

🖋️ Workshop 1
Saturday,Sept 20 at 9:30 AM at Wahaneeta Preserve
Ages 18+
 $10 WLT members / $25 non-members
Explore deeper connections to nature and yourself through creative journaling.

🍁 Workshop 2
Saturday, Oct 4 at 9:30 AM at Wahaneeta Preserve
Ages 18+
$10 WLT members / $25 non-members
Continue the journey with this relaxed, inspiring group and build your journaling practice.

Bring a notebook, pencils, and your curiosity. Come curious—leave inspired! 🌱

Follow the link in our bio to our Calendar of Events to learn more and register for each program!

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Open post by westerlylandtrust with ID 18123198556465416
🌿✨ Nature Journaling Series ✨🌿
Join us this fall for a 3-part Nature Journaling series led by educator, naturalist, and artist Jonah Salsich! 📓 Intro to Nature Journaling – FREE! 
Saturday, Sept 6 at 9:30 AM at Barlow All ages welcome
Discover the joy of observing the natural world through words, sketches, and numbers—no artistic experience needed! 🖋️ Workshop 1
Saturday,Sept 20 at 9:30 AM at Wahaneeta Preserve Ages 18+
 $10 WLT members / $25 non-members
Explore deeper connections to nature and yourself through creative journaling. 🍁 Workshop 2
Saturday, Oct 4 at 9:30 AM at Wahaneeta Preserve Ages 18+ $10 WLT members / $25 non-members
Continue the journey with this relaxed, inspiring group and build your journaling practice. Bring a notebook, pencils, and your curiosity. Come curious—leave inspired! 🌱 Follow the link in our bio to our Calendar of Events to learn more and register for each program!

...

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Last year, to focus on permanently protecting the 90-acre Champlin Farm Preserve, we pressed pause on the Farm Dinner. This year, in celebration of this success and all the work we do to connect our community with local agriculture, we are bringing back the Farm Dinner concept—celebrating the bounty of the land by dining together al fresco—with some exciting new twists. 🌳💚

First, this will be a smaller, more intimate experience held at Barlow Nature Preserve, which has been our “home base”, our “hub”, our “headquarters” since we moved here in 2020. For five years, we have gotten to know this beautiful landscape, and helped it grow into a centerpiece of our work, complete with two vibrant working farms, Frontier Farm and Echo Rock Flowers, a farm stand, and the heart of our youth education program.

🧑‍🍳And, rather than dividing the courses among different chefs, Julian ElFedayni-Connell from @thetinpeddler in Stonington and @barbarycoastct in Mystic will be curating the entire dinner which is sure to please.

So join us for our 2025 Farm Dinner on Saturday, September 13th beginning at 3:30pm — gather with friends and neighbors out on the land and enjoy a fabulous meal entirely prepared with local ingredients.

We look forward to seeing you at the table! 🌸

Follow the link in our bio to reserve your seats today. But hurry, they’re going quick!!

#farmdinner #farmtotable #farmers #farming #community #westerlyri #rhodeisland #conservation #nature

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Open post by westerlylandtrust with ID 18165816280362597
Last year, to focus on permanently protecting the 90-acre Champlin Farm Preserve, we pressed pause on the Farm Dinner. This year, in celebration of this success and all the work we do to connect our community with local agriculture, we are bringing back the Farm Dinner concept—celebrating the bounty of the land by dining together al fresco—with some exciting new twists. 🌳💚 First, this will be a smaller, more intimate experience held at Barlow Nature Preserve, which has been our “home base”, our “hub”, our “headquarters” since we moved here in 2020. For five years, we have gotten to know this beautiful landscape, and helped it grow into a centerpiece of our work, complete with two vibrant working farms, Frontier Farm and Echo Rock Flowers, a farm stand, and the heart of our youth education program. 🧑‍🍳And, rather than dividing the courses among different chefs, Julian ElFedayni-Connell from @thetinpeddler in Stonington and @barbarycoastct in Mystic will be curating the entire dinner which is sure to please. So join us for our 2025 Farm Dinner on Saturday, September 13th beginning at 3:30pm — gather with friends and neighbors out on the land and enjoy a fabulous meal entirely prepared with local ingredients. We look forward to seeing you at the table! 🌸 Follow the link in our bio to reserve your seats today. But hurry, they’re going quick!! #farmdinner #farmtotable #farmers #farming #community #westerlyri #rhodeisland #conservation #nature

...

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