The Nature Link Project

Conservation, Housing, & Access

A collaborative conservation project preserving the largest unprotected parcel of land in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

Project Brochure (PDF)

Zoom Recording from RLF’s 5-22-2025 public presentation

Zoom Recording from RLF’s 5-12-2025 public presentation

Slides from RLF’s 5-7-2025 public presentation at the Lincoln Library (PDF)

Slides from RLF’s 4-14-2025 presentation to the Select Board (PDF)

How You Can Support the Project

Rural Land Foundation of Lincoln (RLF) is excited to be partnering with Farrington Memorial (Nature Linc) and the Panetta Family to bring a creative land conservation and housing project to the town. The Nature Link Project seeks to permanently protect more than 77 acres of forest, fields, and wetlands in East Lincoln, create a new 20-home mixed-income neighborhood (meeting an important town need for increased housing diversity), create 1.5 miles of new public trails, and ensure Nature Linc’s continued ability to operate their program in Lincoln for years to come and create new, safe access to their site.

This project will conserve the largest remaining parcel of undeveloped and unprotected land in Lincoln. 

Residents at Town Meeting will vote on a public CPA funding request and zoning for the new housing at a Special Town Meeting on June 25th. For this project to be successful, we need your support at Town Meeting!

Additionally, we hope that you will make a generous donation toward the land conservation component of this project. As with all acquisitions of open space, we have a moment in time to continue Lincoln’s legacy of protecting land in coordination with other important town needs. Make a pledge below by filling out the form, or print and mail this PDF pledge form. 

The Nature Link Conservation Project Pledge Agreement

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The Nature Link Conservation Project Pledge Agreement
The Rural Land Foundation (RLF) and residents of Lincoln are working together to preserve approximately 65 acres of the 75 acres of Farrington Nature Linc property off Page Road and Cambridge Turnpike (The Nature Link Conservation Project). The RLF is seeking financial gifts that will be used to help acquire property, conservation restrictions, trail easements and similar property rights that comprise The Nature Link Conservation Project. As part of the project the RLF will negotiate, enter into and perform contracts, make expenditures, and incur financial obligations.
Recognizing this and in consideration thereof, I/we hereby irrevocably pledge the sum of:
$25 minimum.
Pledge Duration
If such gift will be given over a period of more than one year, please indicate number of years (max 3). For multi-year pledges, RLF assumes donations will be split evenly over the designated period of time.
Such gift will be made at the time provided below. I/we recognize that the RLF will rely on this pledge in conducting its activities described above and in seeking pledges from other contributors, who will in turn also rely on this pledge. This pledge shall be binding upon my estate, and I hereby direct my legal representatives to carry out my obligations under this agreement.
Payment of this pledge shall be made by delivery of a check or transfer of marketable securities to the RLF within 90 days’ notice that it intends to exercise its option to purchase with respect to the property interests that comprise The Nature Link Project. Should the RLF not exercise its option to purchase the Farrington Nature Linc property interests as part of the project, this pledge will become null and void.
I/we understand that my/our gift to The Nature Link Conservation Project will be deductible for federal income tax purposes to the maximum extent provided by applicable law.
All pledges and contributions will be held in strict confidence.

Your Information

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Agreement
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Project Details & Partners

This conservation project is the result of a multi-year collaboration between the Rural Land Foundation of Lincoln (RLF), Farrington Memorial Nature Linc, and the Panetta Family.

RLF, founded in 1965, has led creative land development in Lincoln, continually balancing the importance of open space with other Town needs, including housing. Nature Linc’s parent organization Farrington Memorial has been operating in Lincoln since 1912. Nature Linc’s mission since 2011 has been to provide children from low-income, urban communities with equitable access to and immersive engagement in nature. The Panetta Family has been on the land for generations and previously farmed much of their property.

With this project, RLF, Nature Linc, and the Panetta Family seek to permanently protect more than 77 acres of land in Lincoln in a way that provides a conservation benefit to Lincoln, meets an important town need for increased housing diversity, and ensures Nature Linc’s continued ability to operate their program in Lincoln for years to come and creates new, safe access to their site. This project will conserve the largest remaining parcel of undeveloped and unprotected land in Lincoln.

This project protects more than 77 acres of forest, wetland, and field habitat on the Nature Linc and Panetta Family properties, located off of Route 2 Eastbound. Both properties are identified as Land of Conservation Interest in the Lincoln Open Space and Recreation Plan. Together, these parcels represent the largest area of undeveloped and unprotected woodlands and wetlands in Lincoln.

75-Acre Nature Linc Property

  • 65 acres of land permanently protected
  • New 1.5 mile trail along the western edge of the property, connecting the new housing development to the Osborne Conservation Area
  • 10 acres for Nature Linc’s core programmatic use, with restrictions to maintain similar land use intensity

20-Acre Panetta Family Property

  • 12 acres of upland and wetland habitat permanently protected
  • 20 new homes in a mixed-income neighborhood

The City of Cambridge, the Town of Lincoln, and the Conservation Commission are all crucial land conservation partners for this project. The City of Cambridge’s Water Department has helped protect hundreds of acres of land in the Cambridge Reservoir’s watershed in Lincoln. Additionally, Lincoln residents have consistently supported conservation projects at Town Meeting, particularly through the Community Preservation Act Fund.

Why Conservation Matters & Public Access

Land conservation matters. Not only is it one of the most impactful ways to address climate change and carbon sequestration at the local level, land conservation also protects contiguous habitat, which is critical for the survival of many wildlife species. Lastly, much of the land to be protected is within the watershed for the Cambridge Reservoir. 

An important part of this project is the creation of more than 1.5 miles of public trails connecting the new housing development to the Osborne Conservation Area. The new trail connection will allow pedestrians to walk the entire length of the site and continue to Trapelo Road. East Lincoln’s trail network is less extensive and connected than in the rest of town, and this project will greatly improve public access in this area. 

Housing Diversity

This project seeks to meet a need in Lincoln for increased housing diversity. Currently, RLF is working with CIVICO, a developer, to plan a mixed-income neighborhood of 20 homes. The houses are proposed to be part of the North Lincoln Overlay District. The housing development will provide densely clustered single-family houses, 15% (3) of which will be income-restricted. The average house size will be 1,850 sq.ft. All houses will incorporate elements of green design, meet Lincoln’s new energy stretch code, and comply with dark sky best practices.

All costs of the housing development will be paid for by the developer. Private donations and public funding directly support only the conservation component of the Nature Link Project.

Panetta Family Property & Farm Stand

One of the project goals is to preserve Gerard’s Farm Stand on Route 2, which is an important part of Lincoln’s agricultural legacy. Rezoning for the farm stand will be included in the North Lincoln Overlay District Vote.

Financing the Project

The total land conservation acquisition cost is $3.1M.
Public Funding Requests $950K from the Town of Lincoln Community Preservation Act Fund (CPA)(Town Meeting Vote)
$800K from the City of Cambridge
Private Fundraising Pledges (to date) $500K from Rural Land Foundation (RLF) and Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT)
Amount still needed from private donors: $850K

Residents at Town Meeting will vote on the public CPA funding request, the zoning for the North Lincoln Overlay District, and zoning for the Farm Stand. For this project to be successful, we need your support at Town Meeting.