Martha Curley

Aquidneck Land Trust

"Preserving Aquidneck Island's open spaces and natural character for the lasting benefit of our community." The Aquidneck Land Trust (ALT) was founded in 1990 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by a dedicated group of local residents to save the natural character, environmental health, agricultural heritage, and economic value of Aquidneck Island. On December 8, 1993, ALT secured its first conservation easement via a donation of the development rights to 2.4 acres of the historic estate of John J. Slocum on Bellevue Avenue in Newport. In 2009, ALT became the first land trust in Rhode Island to be awarded national accredited status by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. Today, ALT has conserved over 2,500 acres across the island and operates 11 miles of publicly-accessible nature trails - the Sakonnet Greenway Trail that runs between the Glen in Portsmouth and Newport Vineyards in Middletown, and the Oakland Forest and Meadow Trail in Portsmouth. The organization is overseen by more than 20 Trustees and guided by over 20 additional Advisory Board members, providing expertise in disciplines such as law, agriculture, finance, real estate, environmental protection, business and land conservation. Furthermore, a small full-time staff manages the complex operations of land conservation, stewardship, community engagement, and fundraising.