Property Profile - Edith Read Conservation Area

In April 1957, the Attleboro Girl Scout Council, in search of a permanent location for its yearly summer day camp, made plans to purchase the old Bright Spot Gardens, (also known as Valentine's Corner) on North Worcester Street in Norton, MA. It consisted of 44 acres of fields and woodlands and was crossed by the Wading River.

The camp property having an address of 79 N Worcester Street was to be named in honor of Edith Read, whose daughter, Miss Barbara Read, was then president of the Attleboro Council.

Edith Read became associated with Girl Scouts when she was accepted as a Council member in March 1926. She was a member of the camp committee and treasurer from March 1929 through 1933. She was appointed second deputy of the council in March 1936 and made commissioner in 1937, in which capacity she served until February 1943. Up until her death in 1948, her primary interest was in securing a suitable campsite to cater to the needs of Attleboro Girl Scouts. She and her husband, Rufus Read, gave land on Hodges Street in Attleboro (present site of St. John's School) for a scout house. However upon acquisition of another property on 4th Street, that need no longer existed and money realized from the sale of the Hodge Street property was earmarked by the Reads for use in the purchase of a campsite.

After countless inspections by health personnel, Girl Scout personnel, several businessmen, conservationists, a rather lengthy title search, and all the other procedures that go with buying property, the sale was approved.

During this time, additional gifts had been coming in and were eventually used for the Cooper-Bullock Bridge, the Nellie Fuller Lodge, and the Virginia Nerney Memorial Fireplace. The outdoor fireplace was donated by the Kiwanis Club, and the pool was built by the Lions Club. Tables and benches were donated by Sigma Phi Gamma Sorority, and a stove for the lodge by Frank Tappan. Mrs. John Wolfenden gave a refrigerator for the lodge.

Ground was broken on May 20, 1958 and the camp opened for its first session on July 7, 1958.

Source: Girl Scout Museum at Cedar Hill archives

March 2018

As a Girl Scout Camp, Camp Edith Read provided local youth with more than 50 years of outdoor education, camping, and opportunities to connect with nature and each other since it opened in 1958. When the Girl Scouts decided to sell the property in 2016, the Town of Norton recognized an opportunity to extend those same opportunities to residents of all ages.

The Town secured funding with assistance from a 2017 State funded LAND grant (65%), and approval of the remaining costs through 2018 Norton Fall Town Meeting (35%), to finalize the purchase of the property form the “Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, Inc.” for permanent conservation and public passive recreation purposes. Camp Edith Read comprises 46+ acres of land which includes upland, wetland, floodplain, and Wading River. The property contains Priority Habitat, BioMap Core and Supporting Natural Landscape and was identified in a prior Open Space and Recreation Plan as a priority for preserving and protecting conservation areas, creating wildlife corridors, and improving access to waterbodies and waterways.

Additionally, the town has made improvements to open the site as an outdoor facility for the public. To date the Town has made improvements and repairs to the existing onsite lodge (Environmental Center) and lean-to structures, trails, parking areas, and scenic overlooks.

The focus of the Camp Edith Read Preservation Campaign was to open the facility for public access to promote and foster:

• Outdoor recreation for all
• Environmental education
• Hiking on the fitness and nature trails
• Fishing and paddling on the Wading River
• Camping and other outdoor programs for continued support of local scouting troop

The Town of Norton identified the following purposes for acquisition of Camp Edith Read:

1. Norton intends to create a wildlife and passive recreation corridor. Currently, there are over 200 permanently protected acres along the Wading River corridor. Camp Edith Read provides a critical linkage to protecting the river corridor between West Main Street and Richardson Ave.

2. This parcel fits into a larger block plan that involves connecting the Solmonese Elementary School with the Attleboro YMCA, Conservation Restriction land adjacent to Camp Edith Read and the Rose Farm Conservation Area. Currently there are I 05.10 acres of permanently preserved land directly adjacent to Camp Edith Read. There are additionally 94.45 acres of adjacent open space (unprotected-YMCA and Solmonese Elementary School).

3. Norton has a number of ponds and rivers but none have parking or access to the water like this parcel, even 500-acre+ Norton reservoir.

4. Both the girl and boy scouts need safe, natural areas to camp and conduct scouting activities, including use of the lodge. This location is poised to provide all necessary amenities for a camping experience including forests, wetlands, the river and campsites for all scouts and residents of MA

Legal Restrictions

The property is permanently protected open space, for conservation and passive recreation only. It is subject to the standards and guidelines in 301 CMR 5.00: Self-Help and Urban Self-Help Programs, of the Division of Conservation Services, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). Excerpted here are some of the major points:

• 5.06(4): Under the care and control of the Norton Conservation Commission
• 5.09(1): The property must be used at all times for open space conservation and passive recreation purposes only, in accordance with MGL Ch. 132A, Sec. 11
• 5.09(1): The property is permanently protected under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution, and may not be converted to other uses. Municipalities must pursue all feasible alternatives to conversion of grant-funded land. If conversion is finally determined to be the only possible choice, all of the following must occur: municipal approval of the conversion; a two-thirds majority vote of both houses of the state legislature; replacement of the land with new conservation land that is of equal or greater fair market value at the time of conversion, and of equal or greater acreage, ecological value, and usefulness, to be approved or disapproved by the Secretary of EEA.
• 5.09(2): If this property ceases to be used in whole or in part for conservation and/or passive recreation purposes, all interest in the property shall revert to the Commonwealth, unless the Secretary demands specific performance of the grant contract. The Norton Conservation Commission must notify the Secretary of EEA of a change or potential change to an inconsistent use, or, the Secretary of EEA may notify the Conservation Commission that an inconsistent change in use has occurred. The Conservation Commission has 90 days to rectify the use to the satisfaction of the Secretary, or it will revert to the Commonwealth.
• 5.08 (2) and (3): Open to use by all members of the public without discrimination
• 5.08(1): In accordance with the LAND program regulations, the Norton Conser­vation Commission may impose reasonable limits on the type and extent of use of this area and facilities acquired, as necessary for maintenance or preservation.
• 5.06(1): No private enterprise may occur on properties for which the fee simple or encumbered fee is owned by the municipality, except that which contributes to and does not conflict with appropriate public use and benefit.
• Structures are prohibited on properties for which the fee interest is owned by the municipality, except those that further conservation or public passive recreational use of the property.

Through receipt of funding through the LAND grant program, this property is permanently protected under Article 97 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Ch. 132A, §11 -Act establishing the Self-Help (now LAND) grant program

Cit. 40, §Sc -Authority of conservation commissions to hold land for conservation purposes

Article 97 - Prohibits conversion of the property from conservation and recreational use

LAND Project Agreement - Prohibits conversion of the property from conservation and recreational uses. Requires mitigation in the event of conversion. Requires appropriate public access. Recorded with deed.

A Land Management Plan was required as part of the LAND Grant. The LMP outlines the following permitted and prohibited uses, existing conditions, and management.

Permitted: Passive Recreation

Any outdoor activity that occurs in a natural setting with minimum disturbance of the natural and cultural resources and that is consistent with quiet enjoyment of the land including but not limited to hiking, nature study, outdoor education, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, horseback riding, trail bicycling, hunting, fishing, picnicking, canoeing, ice-skating, community gardening in existing fields, swimming in a natural water body with minimal site development, or informal sports activities on an open natural field. For the purpose of eligibility and reimbursement under these regulations snowmobiling may considered passive outdoor recreations if the municipality determines that it is compatible with other activities. Facilities necessary to support passive recreation with a minimum of disturbance to the natural and cultural resources such as natural surface trails and wood roads, and appropriately-scaled parking areas, bathrooms, and nature centers are considered consistent with passive outdoor recreation. Passive out­ door recreation areas may also be managed for sustainable forestry and farming including community farms and forests.

Prohibited: Active Recreation

Outdoor recreation that occurs in parks and requires significant alteration of the natural landscape to provide playground or active sports facilities such as tennis, basketball or other sport courts, ball fields, swimming pools or spray pads, paved bike or walking trails, golf courses, marinas, enclosed dog parks, boat rentals, concession stands, outdoor skating rinks, bathroom buildings, bleachers or stands or other developed facilities needed for active outdoor recreation.

The Conservation Commission has utilized individual volunteer stewards, Open Space Committee and other volunteers to maintain conservation land. Most recently, we have partnered with the Norton Land Preservation Society, a local non-profit conservation group and Alnylam, a local biopharmaceutical company.

The Town is seeking to continue to foster a joint partnership with the Girl Scouts of Southeastern MA, local scouting troops, and MA residents. If you may be interested, please call, email, or fill out the following form below!

Known stewardship issues and potential problems at the Edith Read property have included:

• Invasive species vegetation
• Hazardous Trees & Flooded Trails
• River flooding issues
• Potential for misuse by motorized vehicles
• Vandalism of the lodge and outdoor amenities
• Mis-use of established trails
• Unleashed dogs
• Trash, litter, dog waste

Please know that your support matters and we look to provide the community a place where they can visit to experience nature and the outdoors.

We need your help! Please report any issues and sign-up to join our stewardship team to better assist us with keeping Camp Edith Read alive!

Hello and thank you for making it this far! With recent Town budgets and allocations to various Town departments and operations, the Conservation Commission has been affected with funding various initiatives and maintenance efforts on conservation lands.  

Specifically, management efforts for Edith Read are currently limited to just field mowing of the premises. The Environmental Center has been winterized until adequate funding or support is available to open for available seasonal use.

We kindly request that you fill out this form to show additional support for the Camp Edith Read Environmental Center, to demonstrate there is a need and demand for additional town funding and contributions.  

THANK YOU!

**EDITH READ SUPPORT FORM**