Visiting the Racebrook Tract to see the impact of preservation
A conservation effort began more than a quarter-century ago when watershed lands were being sold off
The trails winding through the Racebrook Tract today are the result of a conservation effort that began more than a quarter-century ago, when the Regional Water Authority began selling watershed land it no longer needed for the public water supply.
The 411-acre tract straddles Woodbridge and Orange, with 181 acres in Woodbridge and 230 acres — along with an ample parking lot — just over the townline in Orange. Long before becoming public open space, the property had been farmland for generations. The New Haven Water Company purchased it from farmers Asa Alling and Sylvester Colburn early in the 20th century, and the stone walls that still crisscross the woods are remnants of their farms. The forest was subsequently managed for decades by the Yale School of Forestry and later by water-company foresters.
When the RWA decided to sell the property, Woodbridge moved to preserve its portion rather than see it developed. The Town ultimately acquired the approximately 181 acres for $3.1 million in three phases: 61.8 acres in Phase I, 66.5 acres in Phase II and 52.5 acres in Phase III. The purchases were completed between 2005 and 2009 with substantial assistance from state open-space grants and other sources. Phase III alone included $464,000 the Town received from Connecticut Light & Power for use of a right-of-way across the property, according to the Town’s 2007–08 annual report.
In July 2001, the Orange Bulletin reported on the proposed Racebrook acquisition (see archive on TownHistory.org “New open space purchase is eyed” — July 17, 2001). As the Town was contemplating the roughly $3.1 million purchase, to be made in three phases over several years, one of the questions was what might happen if the land were not preserved. At the time, officials estimated that the 181-acre property could potentially be subdivided into 65 to 70 residential building lots.
At the July 2001 Special Town Meeting, officials also translated the proposed borrowing into a cost homeowners could readily understand. They estimated that additional borrowing for open-space acquisition would add 0.2 mills to the tax rate, costing the owner of an average $320,000 Woodbridge home about $44 more per year.
Twenty-five years later, the essay and photographs below offer a look at the results of that preservation effort.
Rediscovering the Racebrook Tract — a photo essay
By Michael S. Helfenbein
One of the fun things about hiking a familiar place is when you realize you don’t know it quite as well as you thought and there’s more to discover.
On Sunday, August 9, I headed out for a hike at the Racebrook Tract, a place I’ve visited several times before. This time, instead of following my usual route, I took a different path. A few turns later, the familiar woods felt new.
That’s not too difficult at Racebrook. The preserve is much larger than you might realize — with about 3.6 miles of trails winding through hardwood forest, stands of white pine, wetlands, meadows and along Race Brook (which happens to start on my property several miles north). Four blazed trails offer plenty of opportunities to put together different routes, most over fairly easy terrain.
The main parking area is just off Racebrook Road (Route 114) in Orange, a little north of Route 34 intersection. You can also enter the parcel from the Woodbridge side, with access near Wedgewood Drive and limited parking near the Clearview Drive entrance off Johnson Road.
What I like about Racebrook is the variety. One minute you’re following a broad woodland trail; the next you’re alongside a stream, crossing a small wooden bridge or passing one of the old stone walls that seem to turn up everywhere in the woods around here. Those walls are remnants of the farms that occupied the property before the New Haven Water Company acquired the land in the early 20th century.
And then there are the people — and animals — you meet along the way.
On this particular hike I came across a woman training for a marathon. Her running companion was a leashed miniature mule, which is not something I encounter on most hikes. Just to make the scene a little more memorable, another friend was accompanying them on horseback.
It was a pretty good advertisement for the many ways people enjoy Racebrook.
Hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and fishing in Race Brook and Colburn Brook are all permitted. The wetlands along the brooks also make the property a good spot for birding. Dogs are welcome, but they must be kept on a leash and owners are required to carry out their waste. Motorized vehicles aren't allowed, and mountain bikes need to remain on the trails.
For me, though, the best part of this hike was simply being reminded how easy it is to find something new in a place close to home. I went to Racebrook expecting to do a familiar walk in the woods. I ended up exploring trails I’d overlooked previuosly, finding some beautiful stretches along the water — and meeting a marathon-training miniature mule.
Not bad for a Sunday morning.
For trail information, current alerts, directions and an interactive map, visit Connecticut Trail Finder’s Racebrook Tract page.
