Members and Supporters:
As the COVID-19 crisis continues to expand and evolve, all organizations are required to continually assess the situation and make appropriate decisions. With the release of Governor Baker’s emergency order yesterday some larger regional and state conservation organizations have taken the step to close their properties, in part due to the fact that many of their properties were attracting large number of people and making the appropriate safe physical distancing very challenging.
The Trustees of the Groton Conservation Trust, after careful consideration, are choosing to keep our properties open but are strongly encouraging the public to act responsibly and prudently
,
including
:
- Maintain the physical distancing criteria laid out by public health experts and only consider a hike with immediate family members living with you.
- Choose properties to hike that have a limited number of parked cars. When parking please be respectful of others, including parking away from other cars, avoid blocking cars and keeping your distance from others as you enter/exit your car.
- Discover a new, less traveled property, including the conservation properties owned by the Trust, the town, NEFF and other organizations; we have over 50 properties in town to choose from.
- Leash your dogs and make sure you “pack in and pack out”- take any trash you created with you when you leave.
We want to be clear in our message. The Governor’s emergency order specifically does not prohibit leaving the house or doing activity in public, unenclosed spaces. We believe that one of the few ways to maintain normalcy in our chaotic situation is getting out, exercising and enjoying the open space. This is great for our physical and mental well-being. Everyone needs to treat the COVID-19 crisis seriously and follow all the government-mandated restrictions. At the same time, please follow all guidelines on activities that are currently allowed.
Thank you
