The City of Milton takes a definitive stride in conservation, with its City Council voting unanimously to safeguard a parcel of land on Hopewell Road, dedicating nearly 40 acres as protected greenspace. The move, a pivot from the plot's initial destiny as an active park, highlights Milton's deepening commitment to environmental preservation and responsive civic planning.
"This property is a winner in every respect -- environmentally rich, deeply valued by the community and, now protected forever," Mayor Peyton Jamison expressed, as per an article by the City of Milton's official news portal. The site shares Cooper Sandy Creek with Providence Park, stitching a verdant tapestry that now stretches into an 80-acre natural preserve. Amid initial plans that featured ballfields and bustling activity, the land's ecological sensitivity and public sentiment ushered in a revised vision.
Had the land been developed as intended, it would've faced significant ecological strain, compromising the myriad forms of life thriving within and beyond its borders. "You simply can’t match the biodiversity of the Hopewell property," Civil Engineer Scott Reece noted in the report, "from the creek’s vibrant floodplain to the grove of magnificent oaks on the opposite side." The City of Milton redirected the active park plans to another site, more conducive to recreational demand, allowing Hopewell's natural state to persevere unencumbered.
When the secondary property fell through, the City of Milton grasped the moment to employ the 2016 voter-approved Greenspace Bond and redeem the value of their $4.9 million investment. "I am very pleased with the effort made on three fronts: to meet the need for sports at our active parks, preserving greenspace throughout the city and, implementing passive use of our greenspace in many areas, and potentially more, to enjoy nature," City Manager Steve Krokoff affirmed, as cited in the original publication. Proceeds from an anticipated sale will advance the construction of a new sports complex in Deerfield, marrying the needs of growth and the guardianship of nature.
