Read below for an essay excerpted from 50 Remarkable Years, 50 Remarkable People, Wildlands’ 50th anniversary book honoring the partners and volunteers who have made remarkable contributions to land conservation in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Read “The Next Remarkable Chapter,” our series introduction by President Karen Grey.

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The neighboring towns of Rockland and Hanover share more than a geographic boundary—they both benefit from the contributions of longstanding open space committees.

These committees, and particularly their leaders, have been invaluable allies for Wildlands as we have expanded our presence in these northern Plymouth County towns over the past several years. In Hanover, Mary Dunn and Hal Thomas have ably co-chaired the Hanover Open Space Committee for many years.

Whether patiently building support at the grassroots level for a proposed land acquisition, taking the lead on trail improvement projects, or periodically updating the town’s open space and recreation plan to ensure its eligibility for state environmental grants, the committee and the Town continue to benefit from Mary and Hal’s astute leadership.

Mary and Hal were instrumental in building community support for the Sylvester Field project, a Wildlands/Town of Hanover partnership that preserved one of Hanover’s most iconic landscapes and is to date our most ambitious project in the town.

Purchase 50 Remarkable Years, 50 Remarkable People today: wildlandstrust.org/shop50