By Isabel Birge
Fields of ferns thriving under the shade of a dense forest of oak, maple and pine trees. Mushrooms that have popped up overnight in the moist earth after a heavy rain. Lush beds of moss adorning rocks and boulders. A babbling brook cascading downhill toward the Housatonic River below the cliffs.
Orange’s Housatonic Overlook and Tucker’s Ridge is a far cry from the bustling traffic of the Boston Post Road. Located just off Wheeler’s Farm Road, Tucker’s Ridge is one of many parcels of land designated as “open space” in town. Orange contains over 1,000 acres of open space (the town consists of around 11,000 acres total) and around 18 miles of hiking trails.
Conventional zoning assigns a residential, commercial or industrial designation to pieces of land and essentially serves as a blueprint for development. Open space zoning, on the other hand, prevents the development of these areas. In comparison to the planned sprawl of conventional zoning, setting aside land as open space acts to preserve the environmental integrity of these parcels while allowing people to enjoy the scenery and wildlife in them.
There are two main types of open space. “Active” open space refers to any open space that permits human activities such as fishing or athletics. Examples of active open spaces in Orange include the Orange Country Fairgrounds and Old Tavern Road Park.
“Passive” open space comes with a more restricted set of activities; they tend to be more heavily wooded and dogs must be leashed.
Spearheading the movement towards the acquisition and preservation of open space in town is the Orange Land Trust, a nonprofit organization that operates independently from, but works collaboratively with, the town. The trust relies entirely on donations and fundraisers to support their work. According to the trust’s website, the organization’s purpose is “the acquisition, preservation, and protection of natural areas, including plants and wildlife and the unique habitats they require, within the Town of Orange, for the benefit of its citizens through passive use.”
Dr. Lawrence Messina, president of the Orange Land Trust, describes this mission as trying to achieve a “balance of concrete and grass” within the town. While the amenities along the Boston Post Road cater to every imaginable need, one necessity is left unfilled: the need to immerse oneself in green, natural space.
Messina, a longtime resident of Orange, also says it is important to try to understand how people used to live before cars and cellphones – especially as we continue to undergo an era of rapid climate change.
Orange is a community with a rich agricultural heritage, and these roots run deep. The town is home to one of the oldest farms in the US. Field View Farm, located off Route 34, is a dairy farm established in 1639 by Thomas Hine and has remained in the family for 12 generations.
First Selectman Jim Zeoli is an Orange native and comes from a proud agricultural background. He cites his upbringing as his initial exigence for running for office. He said that the general public tends to lack an understanding of both the difficulties and value of local farms.
“People forget where the food comes from,” he said, “but they shouldn’t.”
In a world where obtaining affordable, fresh food and produce is as easy as driving to Trader Joe’s or Costco, it can be difficult to appreciate the work that goes into making this food appear on supermarket shelves.
According to Zeoli, this is one of the many reasons why open space is important. Consistently supporting local farms through patronage may not be financially realistic for all, but visiting these open spaces allows anyone and everyone to engage with the cultural heritage of the town.
There are few more involved in the land of Orange than Zeoli, who personally considers every parcel of land up for acquisition by the town. Echoing Messina’s sentiment regarding the need to maintain a balance of both developed and undeveloped land, Zeoli evaluates each parcel according to its historical, economic and social value. While more open space tends to equate to higher taxes for residents, some can actually be economically productive.
Race Brook Country Club is the only open space parcel that is actively paying the town back. In 2021, Orange purchased the club for $8.6 million. While the country club operates independently and does all its own maintenance, it is currently leasing the space back from the town, which eventually will offset the initial purchase price.
Zeoli explained that land acquisitions for the town are a balance of investment and preservation. Additionally, he emphasized that in terms of acquiring open space parcels, he strives to “connect” existing parcels. This effort is likely to promote the well-being of the natural environment while cutting down on the habitat fragmentation that is rampant in suburban areas.
Orange is not alone in trying to preserve open space. Connecticut had set an ambitious goal to designate 21 percent of the state’s land as open space by 2023. Although the state fell short on this goal, efforts continue to set more space aside. It’s a goal that many leaders in Orange are fighting for – Messina and Zeoli among them.