WEST ISLAND

Save West Island

Save West Island

By M.L.Baron

With orange stake s placed in the ground and seeing low flying aircraft banking over obviously taking pictures, you know somebody’s up to something. That was the scenario I saw as I routinely walked along the West Island Town Beach back in 1986.

Areal video clip of the reservation taken at about 500ft

I immediately called my long time friend and Board of Public Works member David Szeliga. I told him that we have to find out what’s going on the east side of the island. Sure enough, developers where surveying over 338 acres of pristine land to build over 100 homes. Upon this confirmation, I told Dave who’s a naturalist as well, “How in the hell can we stop these guys from bulldozing half of the island into oblivion?”

This was a monumental uphill battle going against all odds. We organized along with others and formed a grass roots group given the simple name of Save West Island Inc.

The so called “Massachusetts Miracle “ that Presidential candidate Governor Michael Dukakis, heralded to the media, was quickly fleeting. The timing was disastrous for our endeavor. Without the state to back us up with funding to purchase the property from Realty Transfer of New Jersey, the destruction of more than half of the island to development was at a threshold.

The clock was indeed ticking against our favor. Negative elements said it couldn’t be done and that our group was pissing in the wind. We were laughed at as a bunch of tree hugging political fanatics. But our resolve never faltered, if anything, it became even stronger. Save West Island bumper stickers were seen as far away as Worcester. We couldn’t keep up with the demand for T-shirts and promotional videos.

After almost two years of lobbying, fund raising and hard work by our group, it became “politically correct” for those who hesitated to finally join in and support our cause. A long awaited urgent message was received.

In December of 1988 the Save West Island newsletter announced that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has concluded an agreement for the purchase and acquisition of over 338 acres of pristine wetlands and forestry of West Island for 1.6 million dollars. It was one of the largest conservation land acquisitions in the region’s history since the days of the pilgrims. Tears of joy, disbelief, and relief befell the membership at the final meeting of Save West Island Inc. at the Fairhaven Town Hall.

Today the land is known as The West Island State Reservation dedicated to my late dear friend and compatriot David L. Szeliga. The island reservation is a habitat for common, rare, resident and migratory birds.

Save West Island Inc. received the distinguished

National Award “A” from the National Audubon Society for

“Excellence in Environmental Action”.

Fairhaven, MA

Save West Island

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