Conservation Lands & Parks

A legacy of conservation

Durham has a long legacy of conserving historic sites, scenic landscapes, farms, forests, recreational areas, wildlife habitats, wetlands and shorelines, and drinking water supplies. This tradition dates back over 100 years, beginning when Olinthus Doe left his farm on Bennett Road to the Town in his 1909 Will.

The Town of Durham acquired the Chesley Homestead Farm on September 15, 1989 from the Estate of Mary H. Tirrell. This followed a public hearing, special town warrant, and Council approval in the summer of 1989. The Town purchased the property for $3.1 million dollars in bond funds “to preserve its scenic vistas, provide for future municipal purposes and preserve open space in order to provide for healthful and attractive outdoor environment for work and recreation, and to conserve land, water, forest and wildlife resources.” The town renamed the property Wagon Hill Farm.

More recently, in 2003, voters overwhelmingly approved a warrant article authorizing a $2.5 million "Open Space" bond to fund land conservation projects. The seven conservation projects completed between 2003 and 2008, comprising 465 acres, are highlighted in the brochure Scenic Durham. Funds provided by the Town for these and subsequent projects were highly leveraged through state and federal grant programs and augmented by private donations. 

The following properties are owned and managed by the Town of Durham:

Conservation Areas

• Doe Farm
• Ellingwood Lot
• Longmarsh Preserve
• Milne Nature Sanctuary
• Oyster River Forest
• Pike Property
• Spruce Hole Bog Conservation Area
• Stevens Woods
• Stolworthy Wildlife Sanctuary
• Thompson Forest
• Wagon Hill Farm
• Weeks Lot
• Willey Property

Parks & Recreation Areas

• Hamilton Smith Memorial Chapel
• Jackson's Landing
• The Meadows
• Mill Pond Park
• Oyster River Park
• Packers Falls Park
• Tot Lot
• Town Landing and General Sullivan Park
• Wiswall Dam and John Hatch Park 
• Woodridge Park-Father Lawless Fields 

Other Town Properties

• Durham Public Library
• Solid Waste Management Facility

Land Stewardship

For more on Durham's management of town lands visit the Land Stewardship webpage.