The New Buxton Gorge
In 2000, an open space levy was approved via referendum by the Town of Bedford providing critical funding to support high priority open space acquisitions. The Town established an Open Space Acquisition Committee, which included founding members Sam Pryor, George Bianco, Oliver Hazzard, Rosemary Lee and Tina Foster, which began to develop a list of priority properties, evaluating ecological and natural resource protection value as well as passive recreational opportunities. According to former Chair of the Committee George Bianco, “While walking near the gorge at that time, the group happened upon a baby bear - a sighting that had not occurred in Bedford in many years.” Inspired by the sighting and the richness of the natural environment in the gorge and the property around it, the Committee put the property atop its priority list.
As it happened, W. Grant Gregory’s Lakeover Development Company had just acquired what was the old estate of Alexander Morse White, who had been the co-founder of the prominent investment banking firm White Weld & Co. before his death in 1929. Gregory was developing what is now GlenArbor Golf Club on the part of the estate that lies East of Route 684 and immediately North of Bedford Center Road - but the gorge and the property around it are located on the part of the White Weld estate that lies West of Route 684 - and thus cut-off from use as a contiguous part of GlenArbor. Grant Gregory is a titan of industry who devotes what seems like more-than-full-time attention to his philanthropy - and he is a noted Conservationist. He was Chairman of the Board at what is now known as Deloitte, and a founder of DoubleClick Inc, and serves on a list of prestigious corporate boards and advisory councils. And, relating to the environment, Gregory is an expert in ornithology and forestry, and notably serves as the Chairman Emeritus of the National Forest Foundation - which owns and manages more than 10% of all the land in America! - and is a Director Emeritus of the Wyoming Wildlife Foundation.
Reminiscent of when the legendary environmentalist John Muir took President Theodore Roosevelt to see Yosemite on the camping trip that changed America - but on the local level - Sam Pryor took Grant Gregory for a walk to see the ‘Buxton Gorge’ and to reveal his and the Open Space Committee’s vision for Buxton’s preservation. Sam Pryor was a Partner at the prestigious law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, but it seemed his full-time occupation was as a Conservationist, and particularly when it came to anything having to do with his beloved town of Bedford. Pryor served as the Chairman of the Westchester Land Trust and the Town of Bedford Open Space Acquisition Committee, and as a Director of the Land Trust Alliance, Scenic Hudson, New York Audubon, the National Forest Foundation, and the League of Conservation Voters, nationally and in New York State. He was well known for his key role in protecting and preserving important lands, including Sterling Forest and the Shawangunk Gateway Campground, and in his lifetime received the New York Governor’s Award for Parks and Preservation, the Land Trust Alliance’s President’s Award, and the Open Space Institute’s Conservation Award.
As Gregory now recalls, “When we acquired the property I really didn’t know the gorge was there, and certainly didn’t understand the importance of the land and the gorge as a natural resource…until Sam and I took our walk in the woods that day! He pointed out the ancient and rare grove of Hemlocks, and numerous other trees, flora and fauna, spotted some Trout in the Broad Brook up near the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, and explained how the water was running through the gorge - and directly into the Croton water supply. When you walk through the gorge you can hear dozens of different birds singing! The forest is primitive and untouched! It’s a lifetime learning center for kids and adults - and Pryor had impressed that the Town should own the classroom.
From that point forward, I was committed to seeing the Buxton Gorge set aside for conservation, and started to work with the Town, our good neighbors at the Bedford Community Church, and all the other stakeholders, in an effort to achieve the vision of preserving the property for time immemorial.”
Gregory continues, “This was a complicated project. We donated a 5 acre parcel to get the Town vested in the project, and I called on Robert Griffin, who’s known as Grif, who’s one of the six Elders at the Bedford Community Church, to get the Church’s cooperation.”
The Bedford Community Church was started by seven families from Armonk and has been located on the West side of Buxton Road for 50 years. A part of the Christian Missionary Alliance, the Bedford Community Church’s particular bent is, as its name indicates, bringing the word of Jesus and life saving salvation to its community. The Church agreed to allow BRLA riders to park their trailers and walk their horses onto the Buxton Gorge trails, and for the Church’s lot to be available for any overflow from the lot the Town has constructed within the Buxton property. And in 2004, the Bedford Community Church granted a conservation easement to the Westchester Land Trust over 4 acres, on property adjacent to the property owned by Lakeover, for the purpose of providing a buffer to the Broad Brook and woodlands, and to provide the right to construct riding trails and a footpath over to the Lakeover property. In addition, the Church stands ready to formalize their agreement to allow the Town use of some of their facilities, including bathrooms and classrooms, in connection with activities at the Buxton Gorge Preserve. As Grif explains, “Cooperating with our neighbors and serving our community is fundamental to our mission, and working to make the Buxton Gorge a sanctuary for the community fits perfectly as a part of our work.”
Then, as a critical piece of the puzzle, the Bedford Riding Lanes Association agreed to maintain trails on the property at no cost to the Town. Bedford Riding Lanes Association’s President, Wendy Belzberg, states “The BRLA was proud to partner with the Town to make - and keep - the walking and riding trails available to the entire community.” With a deep interest in land conservation, Wendy now serves as co-chair of the Open Space Acquisition Committee, and is currently leading the charge to increase town funds for land acquisition.
With all that development and infrastructure accomplished, the first 56.5 acre parcel was conveyed to the Town under the leadership of Supervisor Chris Burdick in 2020, using open space acquisition funds to acquire the parcels around the gorge from Lakeover. Then, in 2022, Supervisor Calves and George Bianco began conversations with Gregory and real estate broker Dan Ginnel regarding the purchase of the remaining Lakeover parcels, and in 2024 the acquisition and transfer of 30 more acres was completed. In addition to expanding the overall scale of the Buxton Gorge Preserve, this particular parcel provided the linchpin to local community access insofar as this parcel connected the previous parcels directly to the adjoining neighborhoods, making all 86.55 acres available to the community by foot. Additionally, the acquisition of the new parcel will provide a small gravel parking area to enable parking for hikers.”
“It’s incredible to see the path and the progress that has been made through proactive use of legislative tools, committed community volunteers, and the patience to stay the course in pursuit of these parcels,” said George Bianco. Bianco added, “I would love to see a trail head with a conservation kiosk, and the establishment of a ‘Friends of Buxton Gorge’.”
Supervisor Calves declares, “We are thrilled to have finally completed the entire acquisition and to form the Buxton Gorge Preserve. The long-term benefits will serve thousands of Bedford residents for years to come. Our prioritizing targeted open space acquisitions underscores the value we place on the environment and adds to Bedford being an incredibly desirable town to live in.”
Calves continues, “We’re excited to now move into our community engagement phase. Recreation and Parks Superintendent Chris Soi, who is an outdoor education expert, has already had our Parks team develop a 1.25 mile trail that loops around the gorge. This moderate to easy trail is family-friendly and will provide observation opportunities to view the gorge, nature, and wildlife. My hope is to have generations of hikers, explorers, student field trips, horse trots, and outdoor field work available to every resident, of every background. I’m particularly pleased that the Buxton Gorge will be a natural resource in close proximity to one of our most densely populated communities.”
Calves entreats, “Buxton Gorge is Bedford’s backyard preserve. All are welcome and invited to use this treasured space. We’re excited about the Ribbon Cutting on July 24, 2024, as it will mark the historic importance of our Town making this material addition to our open space, and give us a moment to celebrate all the volunteers and community partners who have made this possible.”
The Open Space Acquisition Committee and the Bedford Town Board have accomplished the acquisition of the Tom Burke Preserve 7.5 acres in Bedford Hills, the Leatherman’s Ridge 33.95 acres in Bedford Hills, the Zema Farm 9.5 acres in Katonah, the Vernon Hills 3.3 acres in Bedford Hills, the Ridge Road 17 acres in Katonah, and the Twin Lakes 22 acres in Bedford.