NANTUCKET – Nearly 100 acres of land known as the Head of the Plains was recently purchased for $7 million dollars by the Nantucket Land Bank.
The land, located east of the Massasoit Bridge, was formerly owned by the Federal Aviation Administration.
At one point, the town had considered the property for a sewer treatment facility but ultimately decided against it.
According to Land Bank Executive Director Eric Savetsky, the land is home to a rare species of grassland.
“It’s characterized by sand-plain grassland habitat,” he said. “Adding this parcel was really important; they would’ve sold the property on the open market and it would’ve become a subdivision which would’ve really degraded the character of that land.”
Savetsky said Head of the Plains was one of the last large properties the Land Bank has its eye on protecting.
Other organizations such as the Nantucket Land Council, Madaket Conservation Association and Madaket Residents Association contributed money towards the purchase, totaling $1.43 million.
Waterfront property is next on the Land Bank agenda, so that the public can always experience the island’s waterways, Savetsky said.
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