Fairfield is considering spending $950,000 to buy land in Greenfield Hill

Combined, the two parcels measure just over half an acre.

Jun 24, 2024 5:40 PM EDT | Updated Jun 24, 2024 5:41 PM EDT

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield is considering spending $950,000 to acquire two small parcels of land on Sturges Road adjacent to the city’s Perry’s Mill Pond open space in the Greenfield Hill section.

According to Fairfield Conservation Director Tim Bishop, the two parcels are at 798 and 816 Sturges Road, near the Bronson Road intersection, and combined, the pair totals 0.59 acres.

Sign up

“Once acquired, the city’s ownership of the parcels not only adds acreage to existing open space and prevents future development adjacent to city-owned land and the Mill River, my vision is to transform the property into a unique educational experience for Fairfield.” Bishop wrote in a message to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The commission is scheduled to discuss the potential purchase during a meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Fairfield Regional Fire School.

In April, the property owner accepted the town’s $950,000 offer, which was made by First Selectman Bill Gerber, and both the town’s Conservation Commission and Land Acquisition Commission also approve the deal.

The Board of Selectmen and Representative Town Assembly must approve the agreement before it can be finalized.

“The property will be designed and renovated to become the region’s first environmental education center, a nature classroom so to speak,” Bishop said. “Through this Department, I intend to operate the facility similar to how the Parks and Recreation Department operates Penfield Pavilion. The building and grounds would be expected to be used by Fairfield Public Schools and their curriculum Mill River Wetlands Committee (MRWC), Boy. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other nature-based organizations on a reservation basis.”

For more information on the proposed acquisition, click here.