Aspetuck Land Trust celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Trout Brook Valley Acquisition
Dan Woog "06880" Roundup June 20, 2024
Paul Newman’s family was front and center last week, when Aspetuck Land Trust celebrated the 25th acquisition of Trout Brook Valley, at the Pequot Library.
Purchasing the 730 acre preserve in Easton for $11.3 million — and saving it in perpetuity — was an enormous effort, involving hundreds of people.
But, ALT says, during the long saga “there was no moment more pivotal than when 3 (Newman) daughters, Lissy, Clea, and Nell, discovered that the beautiful property they knew so well was going to become a luxury home development with an 18-hole golf course.”
Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward jumped into action. They donated $500,000 towards the purchase, then starred in a benefit performance of “Love Letters” at the Westport Country Playhouse, raising another $175,000.
“There is no doubt that when the Newmans showed that they cared, people followed,” the Land Trust said.
Lissy Newman accepted the award, on behalf of her family.
Clockwise from upper left: Dan Tressler and Amber Anchor performing, Awardee Lissy Newman, David Brant and Adam Goodman with Awardee Lea Sylvestro, accepting on behalf of her fellow members of the Coalition to Preserve Trout Brook Valley, and Abby LePage accepting on behalf of her late husband, Bruce LePage.
The ALT event also included the Native Landscape of the Year Award, to Ann and Charles Stebbins.
Among many other activities, the longtime native landscapers have dedicated themselves to a 36-acre site in Westport.
“It took years to eradicate all of the invasives and plant natives,” Aspetuck Land Trust says, “but this property is now the beautiful CT Audubon’s Smith Richardson Preserve, open to the public attracting and supporting a wide array of wildlife. Their dedication is an inspiration to home and landowners everywhere who want to build back the ecosystem upon which all species rely.”
Charles and Ann Stebbins