posted on: 2/12/2024

The Ekola family of Cross Farm Road donated an 11.19-acre conservation easement to the City of Dover through its Conservation Commission earlier this month.

Through the easement, the city will ensure this valuable conservation land will remain protected forever. The property is close to Blackwater Brook and is connected to an existing conservation easement. The area is known for its diverse wildlife, and the conservation easement will further expand the area’s wildlife corridor. In addition to wildlife, the conservation easement area contains prime farmland soils.

Earlier this week, Mayor Robert Carrier, Open Lands Committee Chair Anna Boudreau, and Resilience Manager Jackson Kaspari honored Nancy Ekola and the Ekola family this week for the donation. The Open Land Committee, a subcommittee of the Conservation Commission, oversees easement monitoring for the city.

The easement donation coincides with the Planning Board’s initial phase to update to the Conservation and Open Space Chapter of Dover’s Master Plan, which will establish objectives to further this type of work for the next ten years. The city greatly appreciates the Ekola family’s generosity and commitment to conservation.