(March 23, 2017) After the Lower Shore Land Trust (LSLT) lost its office space in Berlin last year, the nonprofit seized the opportunity to relocate to Snow Hill and expand its outreach.
Last week LSLT Executive Director Kate Patton testified on behalf of a bond bill sponsored by State Senator Jim Mathias (D-38) to help fund the Lower Eastern Shore Conservation and Heritage Center at their new space on River Street in Snow Hill. For 10 years LSLT was headquartered in an upstairs office in Berlin, but when that spot became unavailable a new vision emerged.
“The [LSLT] board saw this as [an] opportunity to have a standalone building very accessible to the public, and an opportunity to invest in Snow Hill,” she said.
If Senate Bill 1053 is approved, LSLT will receive $100,000 towards a $260,000 building campaign begun last August.
LSLT is envisioning the project, which could take three years to complete, would provide an all-ages learning space with classes and exhibits about natural and cultural heritage in the region.
“We’re doing what we can as we finance it,” she said. “We hope to be a good partner and contribute to the positive growth of the town.”
Since moving into their downtown Snow Hill location last July, Patton said LSLT’s visibility has been heightened.
“We’re already having people walk in our office on a regular basis wanting to find out more about us,” she said.
In addition to its principal mission of preserving natural lands, LSLT also seeks to promote vibrant towns as centerpieces of rural communities. In the case of Snow Hill, Patton said her group is excited to partner with the town to further enhance its marketing efforts for waterway activities.
“They’re positioning the town as the outdoor recreation gateway,” she said. “It’s a great resource and this riverfront with the two parks, Sturgis Park that’s next door to our office, and Byrd Park a little bit further down, are just real gems.”
LSLT is hopeful their plans will enhance the drawing power of both parks and the town as a whole.
“We have some activities that we really want to accomplish to make this a first-rate destination,” she said. “We envision [the area] around our office as being a demonstration garden for native landscaping and a place where people can come and learn about best practices for their backyard or for their farm.”
Besides the altruistic aspects of clean water and rural landscapes, Patton said such environmental assets are beneficial for tourism and economic development.
“If this is going to be the outdoor recreation capital, the kinds of people that are coming here are going to appreciate the river,” she said. “If we’re not investing in our towns we’re creating situations where we’re contributing to the fragmentation of our rural lands.”
While senate approval is still pending for the $100,000 in state support, Patton said LSLT has already raised the lion’s share of the $160,000 for the building campaign.
“We’ve had phenomenal support from local foundations, plus significant investment from our board members and private donations,” she said.
Leading the pack are the Mary E. Humphries Foundation at $75,000 and the Richard Hazel Family Foundation at $25,000, as well as $25,000 from Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Cropper IV.
For Patton, who joined LSLT in 2006 and previously operated the Globe Theater in Berlin for 17 years, partnering with Snow Hill feels like déjà vu.
“I’m excited because I was on the ground floor in Berlin during the early days of their revitalization and rebirth,” she said. “I like the potential that’s here because Snow Hill has a lot of attributes that make it unique and special.”
After investing many years in Berlin, Patton is excited to be part of the Snow Hill community and is ready to bring her expertise to the revitalization process.
“It’s having that vision that not everybody can see,” she said. “To be able to look at some of the opportunities that are here right now … for investment in the community, it’s a pretty exciting time.”
Last week LSLT Executive Director Kate Patton testified on behalf of a bond bill sponsored by State Senator Jim Mathias (D-38) to help fund the Lower Eastern Shore Conservation and Heritage Center at their new space on River Street in Snow Hill. For 10 years LSLT was headquartered in an upstairs office in Berlin, but when that spot became unavailable a new vision emerged.
“The [LSLT] board saw this as [an] opportunity to have a standalone building very accessible to the public, and an opportunity to invest in Snow Hill,” she said.
If Senate Bill 1053 is approved, LSLT will receive $100,000 towards a $260,000 building campaign begun last August.
LSLT is envisioning the project, which could take three years to complete, would provide an all-ages learning space with classes and exhibits about natural and cultural heritage in the region.
“We’re doing what we can as we finance it,” she said. “We hope to be a good partner and contribute to the positive growth of the town.”
Since moving into their downtown Snow Hill location last July, Patton said LSLT’s visibility has been heightened.
“We’re already having people walk in our office on a regular basis wanting to find out more about us,” she said.
In addition to its principal mission of preserving natural lands, LSLT also seeks to promote vibrant towns as centerpieces of rural communities. In the case of Snow Hill, Patton said her group is excited to partner with the town to further enhance its marketing efforts for waterway activities.
“They’re positioning the town as the outdoor recreation gateway,” she said. “It’s a great resource and this riverfront with the two parks, Sturgis Park that’s next door to our office, and Byrd Park a little bit further down, are just real gems.”
LSLT is hopeful their plans will enhance the drawing power of both parks and the town as a whole.
“We have some activities that we really want to accomplish to make this a first-rate destination,” she said. “We envision [the area] around our office as being a demonstration garden for native landscaping and a place where people can come and learn about best practices for their backyard or for their farm.”
Besides the altruistic aspects of clean water and rural landscapes, Patton said such environmental assets are beneficial for tourism and economic development.
“If this is going to be the outdoor recreation capital, the kinds of people that are coming here are going to appreciate the river,” she said. “If we’re not investing in our towns we’re creating situations where we’re contributing to the fragmentation of our rural lands.”
While senate approval is still pending for the $100,000 in state support, Patton said LSLT has already raised the lion’s share of the $160,000 for the building campaign.
“We’ve had phenomenal support from local foundations, plus significant investment from our board members and private donations,” she said.
Leading the pack are the Mary E. Humphries Foundation at $75,000 and the Richard Hazel Family Foundation at $25,000, as well as $25,000 from Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Cropper IV.
For Patton, who joined LSLT in 2006 and previously operated the Globe Theater in Berlin for 17 years, partnering with Snow Hill feels like déjà vu.
“I’m excited because I was on the ground floor in Berlin during the early days of their revitalization and rebirth,” she said. “I like the potential that’s here because Snow Hill has a lot of attributes that make it unique and special.”
After investing many years in Berlin, Patton is excited to be part of the Snow Hill community and is ready to bring her expertise to the revitalization process.
“It’s having that vision that not everybody can see,” she said. “To be able to look at some of the opportunities that are here right now … for investment in the community, it’s a pretty exciting time.”