Exciting News: A Landmark Partnership for Conservation and Community!

We’re thrilled to announce a groundbreaking new partnership with the Lincoln Rural Land Foundation (RLF). This collaboration marks a major step forward in preserving our cherished site in Lincoln and securing the future of Nature Linc’s life-changing programs for children from low-income, urban communities.

Since its founding in 1965, RLF has been a visionary leader in land stewardship - striking a thoughtful balance between conservation and responsible development. Their mission aligns perfectly with ours, and together, we’re committed to protecting the land we love while expanding access to nature for generations to come.

This transformational project brings together Nature Linc, RLF, and our longtime neighbors, the Panetta family, in a shared effort to permanently conserve approximately 77 acres in Lincoln. Beyond protecting natural beauty, this initiative supports the town’s housing needs by introducing more diversity in housing options - while ensuring that our outdoor programs continue to thrive.

The project includes two components:

1. Housing and Access Improvements
The Panetta family will be selling their land to a developer who plans to build a community of 20 new mostly smaller-sized homes, 3 of which will be income restricted —contributing to Lincoln’s need for more diverse housing options. As part of the development, a long-awaited driveway off Page Road will be constructed, significantly improving access to Nature Linc for all visitors. This entire portion of the  project, including the land purchase and construction, will be fully funded by the housing developer.

2. Land Conservation
The second phase focuses on preserving a significant portion of Nature Linc’s land. This effort will be funded through generous private donations, support from the Town of Lincoln’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC), and contributions from the City of Cambridge Watershed Department.

We couldn’t be more excited about what this means for our community and our mission—and we want you to be part of it! We’re hosting a series of open meetings where you can learn more, ask questions, and discover how to get involved.

Interested in joining this important effort? Contact Wendy at Wendy@NatureLinc.org to learn more.

Thank you for your continued support—we can’t wait to build a brighter, greener future together!