Dutchess County Grants To Protect 4 Farms

DUTCHESS COUNTY, NY — Four farms in Dutchess County will be permanently protected thanks to $2.2 million from the county's Partnership for Manageable Growth Program.

The funds will ensure the farms will have working agricultural land for years to come and assist a community organization in converting the deteriorated former Bennett College property in Millbrook into a new community park.

County Executive Marc Molinaro said the partnership allows Dutchess to remain a leader in protecting farmland and open space.

"Through our preservation, these four farms will endure as vital parts of Dutchess County's agricultural legacy," he said, "continuing to contribute to our local economy and the charm that makes our community unique."

Molinaro said turning the deteriorating, former Bennett College into a public park "will revitalize an important historical and cultural site located at the southern gateway to the Village of Millbrook and return it to the public realm for future generations to enjoy."

The funded projects are:

Hahn Farm, Pleasant Valley: Owned by the Hahn family since 1798, a 100-acre portion of the 215-acre family will be protected. The family previously donated an easement to protect 98 acres from development. The farm produces, on average, 60 head of beef cattle, 10 pigs, 80 chickens and 60 to 80 turkeys per year.

Heritage Acres, East Fishkill: The Heritage Acres/Fishkill Farm Expansion project property is a 105-acre parcel located south of and across East Hook Road from the Fishkill Farm's core operation. Fishkill Farms was established in 1913 and is an important part of agritourism in southern Dutchess County and distributed products through a community-supported agriculture operation.

Obercreek Farm, Wappinger: Located along the eastern banks of the Wappinger Creek, the farm consists of about 186.5 acres. The grant partially funds the purchase of a conservation easement on 144 acres, protecting the property from development while facilitating the landowners' desire to sell the property as four smaller farms in the future. The farm has fields of vegetables and fruits, which are certified organic, hay fields and woodlands. A community-supported agriculture operation has been active since 2012.

Primrose Hill Farm, Clinton: The 109-acre farm is located in the central-eastern portion of the town of Clinton with extensive frontage on Fiddler's Bridge Road. The historic home, barns and farm fields are highly visible from the road. The farm supports two agroforestry operations: Woodland Farm Products and a Christmas tree operation. In 2020, the farm's owners created a fenced-in, half-acre community garden that was made available to community members. It is used primarily by members of the nearby Pleasant Plains Church to grow food to supplement their food bank.

Former Bennett College Property, Millbrook: The former girls' school and college site is located on the corner of Franklin Avenue and state Routes 343 and 82. The 32-acre property is highly visible and is an iconic symbol at the gateway to the village of Millbrook. The Millbrook Community Partnership submitted a grant application to assist in rejuvenating the property by creating a new public park on the former college campus. Future plans call for the demolition of the existing structures and to work with a landscape architect to design a park that emphasizes the historic and cultural nature of the property.