After 20 Years and $7.5 Million in CPA Funds, Town of Sharon Votes to Save Rattlesnake Hill

Rattlesnake Hill Sharon

Written by Chase Mack

After more than 20 years of work by state and local conservationists, Town Meeting in Sharon voted to preserve over 320 acres of Rattlesnake Hill. At a special town meeting on November 4th, voters in Sharon chose to spend $7.5 million in CPA funds to assist in the purchase of this ecologically important tract of land. The state kicked in $2.5 million, for a total purchase price of $10 million, making this the 3rd largest CPA acquisition of open space by acreage. In terms of dollars, this is the 6th largest CPA open space purchase to date.

Rattlesnake Hill is the largest unprotected open space parcel in town, and contiguous to both Borderland State Park and a Sharon Conservation Commission property. It’s been a target for conservation for decades in town, and a top conservation priority of the state since 1972. At an elevation of 431 feet, Rattlesnake Hill is the highest point between Cape Cod and the Blue Hills, featuring views so expansive that they include the city of Boston. This unique and precious resource is a state-designated “priority protection area”, which means it is a critical habitat for a number of rare plant and animal species. These hundreds of acres also contain irreplaceable forests, wetlands and 11 vernal pools, which protect the town’s drinking water quality and quantity. These scenic lands also offer an opportunity to expand the network of recreational trails from neighboring Borderland State Park. To ensure these benefits remain forever, a conservation restriction will be placed on the property, held by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation - protecting it in perpetuity.

Congratulations to the town of Sharon, the Rattlesnake Hill Open Space Association, Sharon Friends of Conservation, Sustainable Sharon Coalition, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, and all of the local conservation advocates that persisted through the years to make this monumental purchase possible.

Rattlesnake Hill