| Updated: Woodstock Community Gives Thumbs Up to King Farm Future in National Park Since 1986, the Vermont Land Trust has owned the King Farm in Woodstock, an exceptional 19th century hill farm that still has most of its original buildings intact. The property includes 154 acres of farm and forest land and is located close to downtown Woodstock, the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, and the Woodstock High School.
For a time, the King Farm served as VLT’s headquarters and later as its stewardship office until those functions were re-located to Montpelier. Facing the twin problems of managing a complicated and important property from a distance and the need to raise $300,000 to stabilize the buildings, VLT sought to find another organization that could both steward the property and achieve its full potential.
After considering several other possibilities, VLT settled on the idea of conveying the property to the National Park. The National Park currently uses a small portion of the King Farm land to support service programs, including a the High School Youth Conservation Leadership Corps, an innovative collaboration between the National Park Service (NPS), the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps and Woodstock High School, and a “leave no trace” camp for the Student Conservation Association summer trail crew. Public hiking and skiing trails link the King Farm to a community trail network, and Sustainable Woodstock manages a community garden on site.
VLT and NPS wanted to pursue this option only if it had the support of the Woodstock community. In June, 2009, VLT and Community Outreach Coordinator Brian Shupe contacted community leaders, neighboring landowners, and interested parties, and invited their feedback on the proposal. Articles appeared in the Vermont Standard, and background information appeared on VLT’s website. The outreach culminated with an Open House at the King Farm, followed by a community forum at the Woodstock Town Hall on June 30.
The reaction has been almost universally positive. Participants in the community forum wanted to know that the restrictions in Francisca King Thomas’ will limiting uses at the King Farm to agriculture, forestry, education and conservation would continue, and that existing uses would continue and even be enhanced under National Park ownership. A link to Brian Shupe’s final report appears above. At this time, VLT and NPS are pursing a two-track strategy. The immediate task is to ask Congress to approve enlarging the Park boundaries to include the King Farm and to appropriate the funds necessary for the acquisition and renovation of the King Farm. They are currently working with the staffs of Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Bernie Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch to put these items on the congressional agenda.
Once it has received a positive response from Congress, VLT will seek the approval of the Windsor County Probate Court to transfer ownership to NPS. This approval is needed because under the terms of Francisca King Thomas’ will, VLT is to retain ownership permanently. The National Park did not even exist at the time Francisca executed her will and with the changes in circumstances that have taken place since, NPS is now in a better position to achieve Francisca’s desires for the stewardship and use of the property. If all goes according to plan, it will take 18-24 months to complete the conveyance to NPS. In the meantime, VLT has renewed its lease agreements with the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission and Vermont Youth Conservation Corps. VLT anticipates that Sustainable Woodstock’s community gardens project at the King Farm will continue next season, and it is working on a plan for better signage and limited parking to facilitate better public trail access.
This is an exciting time for VLT and the King Farm. If you have comments or suggestions, please e-mail them to Darby Bradley or send them to 8 Bailey Avenue, Montpelier, VT 05602.
Background information about the King Farm and the community conversation process can be found in the documents linked below. Questions and ideas about the future of the farm can also be directed to Brian Shupe or Darby Bradley.
Vermont Land Trust
8 Bailey Ave.
Montpelier, VT 05602
802-223-5234
800-639-1709
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