Laurel Ridge, Hopkinton

View of Whitehall Reservoir from Piazza Lane Property, Hopkinton
Piazza Lane Woods, April 2025. Photo by SVT Staff.
Piazza Lane Path Through the Woods, April 2025. Photo by SVT Staff.

Situated on a peninsula that extends into Whitehall Reservoir, the 20.5-acre Laurel Ridge features diverse wildlife habitats, a wonderful trail network, and stunning water views.

The Laurel Ridge property is situated along Piazza Lane and is part of an important corridor of conserved lands in the Hopkinton-Upton area. In addition to storing carbon and mitigating the effects of climate change, this forested land adds a buffer of protection to the pristine water in the Whitehall Reservoir. And with trails that connect to those on Whitehall State Park, the property is already a popular place for hiking, birdwatching, and fishing.

When the landowners offered SVT a chance to permanently conserve this property, we immediately said "yes"! 

In October 2025, SVT was delighted to protect this land with a conservation restriction (CR). This important habitat--and its trail network--are now permanently protected from development.

Visiting Laurel Ridge: The private landowners maintain a website about the property, which includes a map of the trails.
 

Project At a Glance
  • In September 2024, the landowners offered to sell a conservation restriction (CR) to SVT for the bargain price of $150,000.
  • This is a small fraction of the appraised $3.3 million value if Laurel Ridge were to be sold for development.
  • In October 2025, SVT closed on the CR, which is binding on all future owners of the land.
  • The CR permanently protects Laurel Ridge from development and ensures that it will continue to protect the water quality, provide habitat for wildlife, and offer recreational opportunities to area residents.
     

Laurel Ridge Project Map

  • To open the legend, click the ⓘ symbol in the upper left corner of the map.
  • To zoom in or out, click the + or - symbol in the lower right corner of the map.
  • To see a full-screen map, click the top symbol in the menu on the right side of the map.

Property Description

Laurel Ridge is part of a 70-acre forested peninsula that boasts high biodiversity, intact ecological integrity, and important ecosystem functions. 

  • The property itself features high-quality woodlands with diverse shrub and tree species, including mountain laurel, American chestnut, oaks, maple, and Eastern hemlock.
  • The land and the nearby conservation areas provide habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including several Species of Greatest Concern in the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan.
  • Both breeding birds and migratory species find habitat in this undeveloped area.
  • Portions of Laurel Ridge have also been identified as Aquatic Core Habitat by BioMap3, a tool produced by MassWildlife to identify the habitats and lands that are most important to protect for rare species and other biodiversity values.
  • BioMap3 also identifies the abutting Whitehall Reservoir as Rare Species Habitat Core.
  • The high quality of the water in Whitehall Reservoir is facilitated by the surrounding protected lands.
  • The property also provides important natural services, including carbon sequestration, water purification, and flood mitigation.

In addition, Laurel Ridge has an existing trail network that connects to the trails in Whitehall State Park that encircle the Reservoir. The trails are popular with area residents, many of whom may not realize that they are crossing private land. 

Why Protect This Land

The 20.5-acre Laurel Ridge sits on a peninsula of land that extends into Whitehall Reservoir and is located in a region with several important conservation areas: Upton State Forest, Hopkinton State Park, Whitehall State Park, Whitehall Conservation Area, Cameron Woods Conservation Area, and SVT’s Whitehall Woods.

By purchasing a conservation restriction on Laurel Ridge, SVT permanently added another parcel to this extensive conservation corridor. 

  • The CR permanently protects the forest from development so it can continue to sequester carbon and provide habitat for a diversity of wildlife.
  • The protection of the land also adds protection to the water quality of Whitehall Reservoir and two nearby public water supply wells.
  • The CR also permanently guarantees public access to the trails that cross this land and connect to those in Whitehall State Park. The property will continue to be open to the public for hiking, birdwatching, and fishing.

The Conservation Effort

The current owners of Laurel Ridge have long recognized the value of conserving land on this peninsula in order to protect wildlife habitat and the reservoir. In 1993, the landowners began acquiring parcels on the peninsula with the intention of eventually adding the parcels to the regional conservation complex.

In September 2024, the landowners were ready to act on those plans by selling the conservation restriction (CR) to SVT. They approached SVT with an offer to sell the CR for $150,000, a significant bargain over the appraised development value of the land.

SVT acted quickly to accept this offer to ensure the land is permanently protected. Failure to protect the land meant that it could eventually be sold to someone who would prefer to develop it. This would have devastated the ecological features of the land and impaired the water quality of Whitehall Reservoir, and it could have prevented public access to the current trail network.
 

Benefits of a Conservation Restriction

The CR that SVT has acquired is now part of the deed for the property and is binding on all future landowners. The land is permanently protected from development, and the trails will always remain open for public access. SVT will be responsible for enforcing the terms of the CR and ensuring the conservation values of the land remain intact forever. 

Fundraising Campaign

SVT's total project cost for the acquisition of the CR was $174,330:

  • $150,000 purchase price of the conservation restriction
  • $15,330 project costs, including legal fees, real estate transaction, and administrative costs
  • $9,000 long-term stewardship costs to ensure the ecological features of the property remain protected 

To raise this amount, SVT obtained grants from private foundations and conducted a crowdfunding campaign. The SVT Board of Directors also agreed to make a contribution from SVT's internal funds. 

Thank you to:

  • The individuals who contributed to our crowdfunding campaign, which raised $10,825 for the project.
  • The William P. Wharton Trust for a $15,000 grant
  • The Fields Pond Foundation for a $15,000 grant.
  • An anonymous funding source that contributed $80,000 to the project.
  • The Family of George and Doris Meyers for its financial support of this project.