Teatown Lake Reservation has purchased 21 acres adjacent to its preserve on Blinn Road in Ossining, an acquisition the nonprofit hailed as a milestone in securing critical habitat, wetlands and forest.
The property includes a freshwater pond, wetlands, and predominantly forested uplands composed of native maple, birch, beech, and oak, along with a small hemlock grove. Bailey Brook flows from Teatown Lake through the property before continuing to the Croton Reservoir, a source of drinking water for New York City.
The west and north boundaries directly adjoin conserved lands held by Teatown and Westchester County Parks, creating an uninterrupted corridor for wildlife movement and long-term ecosystem resilience.
“This acquisition reflects exactly why Teatown exists,” said Meghan Leverock, Teatown’s conservation and stewardship manager. “Protecting land, water, and wildlife is core to our mission. Every acre matters, especially when it connects and strengthens the landscape around it.”
While a small section of the land includes a garage with a studio apartment and an old artist studio, most of the parcel will remain natural. Funding for the purchase came from a private family foundation.
Teatown owns and manages over 1,000 acres that fall within the towns of Cortlandt, New Castle, Ossining and Yorktown.
The preserve is in the midst of a $26 million renovation that includes adding an education center, renovating the Nature Center, making trails more accessible and relocating parking areas. Visit teatown.org/visitors/visitor-center/ for details on closings during the project.
For more information, visit teatown.org. Follow on Instagram @teatown_lake_reservation or Facebook at Teatown Lake Reservation.
