Campbell Land (Sargent Rd), Boxborough

Campbell Land

These 21 acres of forested land located along Sargent and Littlefield Roads in Boxborough protect local water resources and serve as a link between nearby conserved lands.

To prevent this important property from being developed into five or more housing lots, the Town of Boxborough set out to purchase it with the assistance of SVT and Boxborough Conservation Trust.

Update January 2023: Success! The Town of Boxborough has acquired this land from SVT, which we had purchased in October to save it from development and give the Town time to raise the necessary funds. Using a combination of Community Preservation Act funds, other Town funds, a LAND (Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity) grant from the Commonwealth, and more than $200,000 raised by the Boxborough Conservation Trust, the Town purchased the land from us on December 28. SVT will soon hold a conservation restriction on the property to forever protect it as open space. The Town also has plans for trails that will link to an extensive trail network through the surrounding area.

This is a big win for the project partners, area residents, and local wildlife!

At a Glance

Location: Boxborough, near the Littleton town line
Size: Approximately 21 acres
Land Type: Forested upland along one of Boxborough’s scenic roads
Goal: Town of Boxborough to purchase and SVT to hold the conservation restriction
Project Partners: Boxborough Conservation Commission, Boxborough Conservation Trust

Campbell Land Project Maps

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Project Background

In early 2022, the Town of Boxborough was given a 120-day window to exercise its option to purchase the property. Faced with the prospect of losing the land to development (at least five house lots), residents voted at Town Meeting in May to purchase the property with Community Preservation Funds and other Town funds. Boxborough Conservation Trust (BCTrust) spearheaded a successful fundraising campaign in the community, raising over $200,000 to offset the Town’s costs as well.

The short window provided little opportunity for the Town to apply for state grants to help with the purchase. SVT has agreed to use our revolving fund to purchase the property and hold it until the Town can buy it back from us and forever protect these 21 acres as open space. SVT will hold a conservation restriction on the land. The Town also plans to develop trails on the property that will become part of a trail network that stretches for nearly 5 miles through the surrounding open space.

Property Description

Situated along Sargent and Littlefield Roads, this land stretches across two parcels that are bisected by the Fitchburg MBTA line. The property is prime forested upland, and it has been actively managed for forestry since at least the 1980s, creating a diversity of habitats and a healthy understory.

The land sits within a larger open space corridor, with Town-owned lands to both the north and south and a privately owned parcel protected with a conservation restriction to the east. Wildlife such as bobcats, fishers, and owls rely on large spaces like this as they travel in search of prey and nesting spots.

Additionally, these lands are identified as resilient for their potential to allow for aquifer recharge and to protect against inland flooding, helping mitigate climate change effects.

Why Conserve This Land?

Protecting the Campbell Land will:

Provide a buffer against the effects of climate change. The undeveloped woodlands sequester carbon, mitigate the impacts of inland flooding, filter air pollution from nearby highways, and safeguard diverse habitats that allow native species to thrive.
Protect critical groundwater resources. The upland forest filters groundwater and helps recharge an important aquifer.
Maintain an essential wildlife corridor. The property creates a link among several already conserved lands; its protection will ensure this link stays intact.
Provide outdoor passive recreation opportunities. The Town has plans for trails that will link to an extensive trail network through the surrounding area.
Maintain the rural landscape along one of Boxborough’s designated scenic roads.

How Will We Conserve This Land?

March 2022: The Town of Boxborough was given a 120-day window to exercise its option to purchase the property for a price of $1,250,000.
May 2022: The Town voted to acquire the land for open space at Town Meeting, and the Boxborough Conservation Trust raised over $200,000 to help offset the Town’s costs.
September 2022: The Town received the good news that it was awarded a LAND (Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity) grant from the Commonwealth towards their purchase!
October 2022: SVT purchased the property with our revolving fund on October 25, 2022 and we will hold it until the Town can buy the land back from us in the coming months and forever protect it as open space. SVT will hold a conservation restriction on the land to ensure its ecological properties are protected.
December 2022: Success! The Town purchased the property from SVT and will grant us a conservation restriction on the land in the coming months.