KILLINGWORTH, Conn. — After fighting for its future for nearly two years, Deer Lake, one of Connecticut’s most treasured natural resources, has been saved.
For decades, the 255-acre property in Killingworth has served as both a conservation greenway and a wilderness camp retreat. So in 2022 when it was initially slated for commercial redevelopment, the community, state and country stepped up to save it.
“It is the beating heart of an environmental ecosystem,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
It took a year and a half, 1,600 donors across 87 Connecticut towns, 34 states and five countries for a total of $5 million. Even that wasn’t enough.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Deer Lake poised to be preserved as pristine Connecticut natural resource for generations
“They didn’t stop after we reached our first milestone which was to acquire the property. We had a heavy debt burden but people kept on giving,” responded Ted Langevin, the CEO of Pathfinders Inc.
Pathfinders Inc. is the non-profit that purchased the property with a little help from the state and federal government. It can now operate the property debt free.
“It took a Hail Mary to save this place from development but we knew we needed to throw another one because we had this huge mortgage we had to pay off,” remarked Connecticut Attorney General William Tong.
Deer Lake, which was owned by the Boy Scouts of America, went up for sale in 2022 as part of nationwide property liquidation largely to pay for child sexual abuse settlements in the wake of scandal and bankruptcy.
Pathfinders had to compete with wealthy real estate developers who could have turned Deer Lake into a shopping mall, or condo complex.
“When I heard that this beautiful treasure was potentially going to be sold for development I was aghast. I was appalled,” described Blumenthal.
The Deer Lake property has served, and will continue to serve, as a vital greenway, rare bird sanctuary and environmentally sensitive wetland that feeds clean water all the way to Long Island Sound.
The wilderness day camp on the property will also continue to operate teaching kids of a new generation about a love of the earth.
Pathfinders Inc. said, going forward, their next big goal is to work with their legal team to figure out the best way to permanently protect this property from any future re-development so Deer Lake is never at risk again.
Matt Caron is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at mcaron@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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