For over 40 years, the Nantucket Land Bank has been guided by our mission of preserving and protecting Nantucket’s open spaces for conservation, outdoor recreation, and agriculture in service to the public. While Land Bank properties typically highlight one or two facets of our mission, Hinsdale Park touches on all three. On any given Saturday morning, you can find families gathering at the playground, people hiking or biking through the wooded trails, and the young and old alike tending to their plots in the Community Garden.
Conservation
This 70-acre park, nestled between busy Milestone and Old South Roads, serves as a welcoming respite in a densely developed part of Nantucket. Having this open space is essential not only for those craving the outdoor refuge it provides, but its pitch pine forest is also a critical habitat for the northern long-eared bat, a species at high risk of extinction in the northeast which resides here on Nantucket. The Land Bank Property Management and Resource Department staff ensure that these rare species thrive through adaptive management of pitch pine barrens, which are an integral feature of Nantucket’s iconic landscapes. This winter, we began forest management work at Hinsdale Park which includes understory thinning and clearing of debris. This work, which promotes healthier trees, regeneration, and fire prevention, will preserve, protect and enhance the ecological integrity of this habitat.
Outdoor Recreation
Along with conserving open space, the Land Bank provides additional active and passive outdoor recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. The Discovery Playground at Hinsdale Park is the product of a STEAM-focused design intended to engage kids of all ages, interests, and abilities. Constructed in 2019, the playground is comprised of climbing structures, zip lines, and even fitness equipment for adults. At first glance, the park may look like it is just a playground, but it has much more to offer. For those who want to venture beyond the playground, there is a trail system just behind the play area which winds through the pitch pine forest, revealing a multi-use area consisting of a mowed athletic field and a labyrinth. Our field crew meticulously maintains these recreational areas as well as the forest to sustain a welcoming environment for humans and wildlife alike. Protecting our native habitats embedded within this high use recreational area enables us to keep our community healthy and connected to the natural world.
Agriculture
In protecting pastoral landscapes and providing additional acreage for cultivation, the Land Bank helps support local farmers and promotes food production by and for the Nantucket community. There are innumerable benefits to consuming locally grown food rather than imported food, not least of which is the smaller carbon footprint due to the elimination of long-distance transport. Furthermore, locally grown food decreases our economic reliance on the mainland. To increase access to locally grown food, the Land Bank opened the Hinsdale Park Community Garden last summer, offering 42 public garden plots for cultivation. While it is satisfying to see the gardeners growing their own vegetables, herbs, and flowers, it is even more rewarding to observe the variegated ways in which humans connect with one another, and the land. Creating an opportunity for novice and experienced gardeners to work side by side has allowed our gardeners to learn and lean on one another, resulting in the first of many abundant growing seasons to come at the Community Garden.
Preserving and Protecting Nantucket for Everyone
Every day, the Nantucket Land Bank works to connect our community with the outdoors through conservation, recreation, and agriculture. The Land Bank continues to provide waterfront access and carefully maintained scenic trails through conservation land, promote local agriculture, and create outdoor recreational opportunities for all. Understanding how the creation of Hinsdale Park has provided so many people an opportunity to enjoy the wholesome benefits of outdoor spaces reinforces our mission to preserve and protect Nantucket’s public land where unforgettable experiences abound. Hinsdale Park is a quintessential Land Bank property, beautifully reflecting all three facets of our mission and in turn a lasting testament to the Land Banks dedication to public access.