Jones Property, a 20-year Conservation Priority Protected

Block Island, RI—January 7, 2006—Last Wednesday, The Nature Conservancy and the Block Island Land Trust completed a transaction to conserve 40 acres of land just south of Rodman’s Hollow. This property has been a conservation priority for over 20 years and completes the visionary work in this area begun by Capt. John R. “Rob” Lewis in 1972 and added to throughout the years. This unique and spectacular tract abuts Rodman’s Hollow to the north and Black Rock to the west. It is perhaps the most ecologically significant undeveloped, unprotected property remaining on Block Island and one that many people though was already conserved!

In addition to the conservation value of this property it will allow a continuation of the walking trails in Rodman’s Hollow to finally reach Black Rock, (as opposed to walking on the old road). It will also insure that the beach access and parking at Tom’s Cove a popular fishing and surfing spot remains open to the public. Also as a result of this transaction the Town has improved and widened the Snake Hole beach access.

The transaction has four components. First, The Nature Conservancy, with the help of the Block Island Land Trust, purchased 25 acres (two tracts) for $7,070,000, its fair market value from the Jones family. Second, The Nature Conservancy received the outright donation of another two-acre parcel from the Jones family. Third, The Nature Conservancy accepted the donation of a 13-acre conservation easement from Graham and Gay Jones. Finally, Town of New Shoreham, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Graham and Gay Jones and The Nature Conservancy entered into a joint management agreement for the Rodman’s Hollow / Black Rock area that will ensure public access and appropriate public use for the area in perpetuity.

With the generous gifts of land and easements, the total value of this transaction exceeds $12,000,000, the highest value Block Island conservation transaction ever. Of the $7,070,000 purchase price, the Land Trust has agreed to pay for almost half, with The Nature Conservancy to pay the remaining balance. This necessitated The Nature Conservancy to secure a huge loan from their internal revolving Land Preservation Fund. This is their largest debt ever incurred on a single Block Island transaction.

It is important to note that this transaction could not have occurred without the generosity and vision of the entire Jones family. Completed following eight months of negotiations, this 40 acre transaction is equal to about 0.66 percent of Block Island, and brings the total conserved land on Block Island to 43 percent.