On April 22, Earth Day, Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) announced a $200,000 matching gift challenge in support of the “This Land Is Your Land: A Campaign for Oak Point Farm.” The match, designed to run through September with the goal of paying down the property mortgage for Oak Point Farm, has reached its goal nearly two months ahead of the deadline. Prior to the match, BRLT owed $600,000 on the $1.4 million property mortgage. Through the matching gift challenge $400,000 has been raised, bringing the total mortgage debt on the property to $200,000. This successful match puts the Land Trust within sight of the campaign finish line.

Oak Point Farm, a 32-acre salt water farm on Hodgdon Cove in Boothbay Harbor, was purchased by BRLT in 2017. Since that time, Boothbay Region Land Trust has completed and paid for a remodel of the 1700s farmhouse, bringing the building up to code for public use as a visitor nature center, as well as equipping it to serve as the new permanent headquarters for BRLT’s operations and educational programming. The renovation included making the building fully accessible to the public through the addition of a new access ramp and accessible parking, widened doorways, and fire safe exits on the first and second floors. Furthermore, a generous private gift allowed BRLT to implement a sustainable energy improvement plan that included installing a geothermal heating system and roof-mounted solar array which make the farmhouse as model for sustainability in the region. Additional upgrades on the property included adding a new visitor entrance and parking area off of Samoset Road, establishing trails throughout the preserve, and completing landscaping to the front entrance of the visitor center with a new native-plants garden, all of which are now complete.

BRLT received 160 donations from households and businesses contributing to the match, and to date has received support from over 325 businesses and households toward the Oak Point Farm campaign.

“We are so appreciative to everyone that has supported this community project,” says Skye Wood, BRLT Development Director. “Every single gift to this campaign has had a big impact, allowing us to keep the project on track and make upgrades for the public benefit along the way. Our donors and volunteers understand the importance of not only land conservation, but free, available access to open space and waterfront for all. None of this would be possible without their tremendous foresight.”

With only $200,000 left on the mortgage, the campaign is nearly at the finish line. Donations to the This Land is Your Land: A Campaign for Oak Point Farm can be made online at bbrlt.org or by calling BRLT at 633-4818.