About the West Bay Land Trust

What We Do

The West Bay Land Trust was founded with the purpose of protecting, acquiring, or controlling land, water, wildlife habitats and/or other natural features, areas or open spaces situated in the City of Cranston or surrounding area for the purpose of managing, maintaining, or causing to be managed or maintained by others, the land, water, agriculture and other natural amenities in any undeveloped and relatively natural state in perpetuity.

In a hugely successful effort to fulfill this mission, the West Bay Land Trust and the State of Rhode Island, the Federal government and the City of Cranston, worked together to save the 240-acre Knight Farm property in western Cranston, for the conservation of its unique farmland and agricultural values. The West Bay Land Trust was designated as the Knight Farm steward, charged with ensuring compliance with the conservation easement. The Knight Farm in western Cranston is a rich mix of flora and fauna and stone walls and reforested areas and working farmland. Our mission is to maintain the nature and use of these agricultural assets outlined in the conservation easement. The West Bay Land Trust also supports local environmental projects to ensure that farmland in the City remains vital and available and a viable lifestyle choice for our constituents.

We also provide a retail outlet for our City’s farmers via the Pawtuxet Village Farmer’s Market. We also assisted in the establishment of the City’s first Edgewood Community Garden at Cherry Woods, for folks in the eastern side of the City who have limited access to grow-space.

Who We Are

The current Officers and Directors of the West Bay Land Trust are a dedicated group of Cranstonians, with varied backgrounds and interests and one very strong commonality—to protect the unique farmland and agricultural activities in our City.

This group and some very dedicated friends, have kept the West Bay Land Trust vibrant and relevant. We are always on the lookout for good folks who wish to help out with our activities and provide fresh views and arms! Please use the contact form to get hold of us.

What We’ve Done

Every year, the West Bay Land Trust and our partners sponsor Earth Day clean-ups at the Pawtuxet River Trail and other areas in the City needing attention. The City of Cranston provides the take-away and dumping of collected debris and donations for clean-up supplies are often received from local businesses.

The past year has seen approval from RIDEM to proceed with a walking trail through the Knight Farm property between Laten Knight and Hope Roads. Cranston’s Ward 1 Councilman Steven Stycos has supported this project for several years and a formal Trail Opening later in 2017 is planned.

Over the past two years, the City has seen increasing interest in large-scale solar facilities requesting placement on large farmland tracts in western Cranston. The West Bay Land Trust has been an active voice in the area and assisted in the development of the City’s first Solar Performance Standards. Protections and safeguards are necessary to ensure that sensitive habitats are protected and residents high quality of life in Cranston are maintained.

Should you wish to see a more detailed listing of past activities and accomplishments, please see the History of the West Bay Land Trust.