Green Run To Preserve Lowell Field on Sunday

cotuit lowell fieldCOTUIT – The Barnstable Land Trust is hosting the Green Run 5K this Sunday to raise funds to help preserve 19 acres of woodlands around Lowell Park in Cotuit.

The land trust preserves open space and organization officials cite environmental reasons for their efforts to preserve Lowell Park.

Some of the ground water under the Lowell Park land flows into a public drinking water well and some flows into Cotuit Bay, according to organizers.

“But we also want to preserve the as-built field because some of the field has encroached on the private land through the years, according to Casey Danhauser of the Barnstable Land Trust. That’s why the Cotuit Athletic Association, the non-profit that runs the Kettleers, is partnering with the land trust on the project.

The Land Trust needs to raise $1.8 million for the Keep Lowell Park Green project by the end of the year. So far in their fundraising campaign, they have raised half the money–about $925,000.

The fundraising has been a community effort with the Cotuit Fire District contributing in addition to the Cotuit Athletic Association.

“It’s a community effort,” she said. “We’ve been at every Kettleer game and donations are still coming in.” She said the Kettleers do not have a lot of money to donate to the cause but the team has let the land trust set up a table at the park during this summer’s Cape Cod Baseball League season.

Danhauser said the organization is trying to gain some extra support with the 5K which will go through the village of Cotuit.

“Anyone who’s been to a baseball game there knows how beautiful the woods are around it and any environmentalist will notice the beautiful wildlife that calls the forest home,” she said.

Danhauser said that people in the neighborhood are also protective of the open space.

“Now we have a whole new branch of people who love running in the neighborhood. It just wouldn’t be the same running through there with houses there instead,” she said.

The 5K kicks off at 9:30 on Sunday at the intersection of Main Street and Lowell Avenue in Cotuit. In addition to the 5K, there will be two youth races as well: a half mile run for kids 7 to 12 and a 100 yard dash for kids under 6.

Danhauser said 200 to 250 runners are expected to participate in the 5K run. “It’s a friendraiser in addition to a fundraiser,” she said.

The recent fundraiser Gifts by the Sea raised $31,000 toward the Lowell Park project.

“This land is so important obviously for the environment but also for the culture of Cotuit. You drive in and you have so much open space from Eagle Pond on the left and you keep going and pass the cemetery, it’s a greenway to Cotuit. So to have houses there where those woodlands now stand would really change how you come into Cotuit and the atmosphere Cotuit now has,” she said.



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