Leon Levy Preserve

Lake Kitchawan neighborhood, Westchester County, New York

386 acres

Location:

The land stretches south and west from the intersection of Routes 35 and 123, and lies in the watersheds of both the New York City and Stamford drinking water supplies.

History:

1996 – the Bell acquisition had its beginning with a small group of town residents. They launched the ‘Buy Bell' movement.

Westchester Land Trust and the Town of Lewisboro bought the Bell property for $8.3 million, approximately 15 percent below the property's market value in 2004.

The Jerome Levy Foundation contributed $5 million; $1 million each from the Town of Lewisboro and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection; and $500,000 from the Dextra Baldwin McGonagle Foundation.

Westchester Land Trust worked with the Town Board, the town's Open Space Advisory Committee, New York City, and local residents for well over a year and a half on the acquisition

The property was purchased from Lewisboro Associates Co. and Marianne & Tom Reifenheiser.

Habitats:

forest and wetland, ravine with 25 foot cliffs; views of the Hudson

Source:

Westchester Land Trust. April 4, 2005. "Lewisboro and Westchester Land Trust Agree to Create the Leon Levy Preserve on 386-Acre Bell Property Two Foundations Generously Provide $5.5 Million of the $8.3 Million Cost; The Town, Land Trust, New York City, and Local Residents Work Together to Protect One of Town's Top Priorities."

http://www.westchesterlandtrust.org/levypreserve.html

Trails:

4/24/2005.  They have not put out any signs of public land in the area, so we did not stop to investigate the woods in the area.