Residents will gather for a Special Town Meeting on May 12 at 7 p.m. at King Philip Regional High School to vote on whether the town should exercise its right of first refusal to purchase 65.5 acres at 2095 West Street, across from Cook’s Farm. The property, zoned as 61B recreational land, could be preserved as open space or used for modest recreational improvements, such as walking trails.  According to the Wrentham Open Space Committee Request for Community Preservation Funding, the property has been a part of Cook’s Farm for over 350 years. Cook’s Farm is the oldest continuously operating farm in Wrentham, dating back to 1664; a land grant from the King of England.

Funding the Purchase  

The $2.5 million acquisition would be funded through a combination of the town’s Land Acquisition Fund ($600,000) and a 10-year bond of $1.9 million, repaid through annual Community Preservation Act (CPA) allocations of approximately $200,000.  

Heather Ledbetter, Wrentham’s Land Use Specialist, noted that the Open Space Committee is exploring additional funding options, including grants from the Pawtucket Water Board and the Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity Grant Program. The land serves as a critical watershed for the Arnold Mills and Diamond Hill reservoirs and feeds into the Charles and Blackstone Rivers.  

Select Board Weighs Financial and Community Impact  

The Select Board engaged in a detailed discussion about the 2095 West Street purchase during their March 18 meeting, weighing both the financial implications and the long-term benefits for the town.. King assured residents that this purchase would not interfere with other major town projects, including the Roderick School and the Department of Public Works projects as the funding sources are separate.  

However, Select Board Vice-Chair Chris Gallo raised concerns about the town’s financial flexibility, asking whether committing to this bond would limit future open space acquisitions. Town Manager King clarified that while the Land Acquisition Fund would be temporarily depleted, the town could still pursue other purchases using alternative funding, such as debt exclusions. Select Board Member Bill Harrington added that the Recreation Commission opposed the purchase, arguing that the land’s terrain makes it unsuitable for active recreation fields. Despite this, Open Space Committee Chair Alan Selling emphasized the property’s high conservation value, particularly due to its roadway frontage and role in protecting drinking water resources.  

Select Board Member Michelle Rouse asked if there would be money for other purchases and how highly ranked the property is.  Harrington confirmed that there is money in other accounts and King elaborated that there is also a reserve account for open space and recreation. In response to the property ranking question, Open Space Committee Chair Alan Selling noted that there are some properties like the Big Apple that are ranked higher, but that is due largely to its size - the Big Apple is 186 acres.  Wrentham’s Conservation Agent, Daryl Luce, elaborated that the scoring emphasizes drinking water resources and preserving this property would protect those resources.

In a subsequent interview, Selling noted that this a very attractive property to preserve due to its connection to existing protected open spaces, creating a potential corridor of conserved land in West Wrentham. The property is adjacent to multiple preserved areas, including Franklin State Forest (Miscoe Meadow Brooks), the US Army Corps of Engineers – Miscoe Brook Flood Storage Area, the Cherokee Hill Estates (“Blackberry Hill” Conservation Restriction), and Wrentham’s Preserve at Oak Hill and Whipple Estates.  

Developer Plans vs. Conservation Priorities  

The discussion also touched on what would happen if the town did not purchase the land. Wrentham resident Lisa Bailey (daughter-in-law of Howard Bailey, the developer, who is also a Wrentham resident), said that the developer plans to build 12-15 luxury homes, with lot sizes exceeding two acres each. She noted that these plans would maintain the area’s rural character while generating higher tax revenue from upscale properties. 

However, Leo Immonen, Chair of the Conservation Commission, emphasized Wrentham’s history of acquiring open space—such as Crocker Pond, Joe’s Rock, Birchwold Farm, and Wollomonopoag—and urged residents to act now. “The [Conservation] Commission agreed that it is better to purchase good open space when it is available rather than holding back in hopes that something better might come in the future,“ he wrote in a letter to the Select Board.  

The debate highlighted a key question for voters: Should Wrentham act now to preserve this land, or allow development in hopes of a better conservation opportunity later? It’s a pivotal decision for Wrentham’s future. The May 12 vote will determine whether Wrentham preserves this land as open space or allows residential development. With strong arguments on both sides, residents are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and make their voices heard.  

Voter Registration Details  

Residents must be registered to vote to participate in the Special Town Meeting. Voter registration is ongoing at the Town Clerk’s office, with a special session at the Fiske Public Library on Friday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to Town Clerk Ann Fisk.