The gift to Skidmore College of a 120-acre
\nparcel of land in Greenfield by Michael and
\nMargaret Roohan, owners of Granite & Marble
\nWorks Inc. of Wilton, has substantially increased
\nthe College’s holdings of undeveloped
\nproperty available for teaching and research.<\/p>\n
The parcel is northeast of the Van Lennep
\nRiding Center and abuts the northern edge of
\na 200-acre parcel donated to the College by
\nthe Roohans in 2011. This donation brings the
\nCollege’s total forested acreage close to 1,000,
\nincluding the Skidmore North Woods that are
\nimmediately adjacent to campus.<\/p>\n
“Few colleges in the Northeast have holdings
\nof woodland properties that are as substantial
\nas Skidmore’s,” said Philip A. Glotzbach,
\nSkidmore president.<\/p>\n
“This new site is in close
\nproximity to the College and will be of great
\ninterest to our faculty and students. We very
\nmuch appreciate the generosity of Mike and
\nMargaret in donating this property to the College.
\nIt will greatly enhance the learning and
\nrecreational opportunities for our community.”<\/p>\n
In a joint statement, Michael and Margaret
\nRoohan said that — in donating the land to
\nSkidmore — they feel they are putting it to its
\n“highest and best use.”<\/p>\n
“Skidmore has long been an important contributor
\nto our local community and a leader in
\nhigher education nationwide,” they said. “The
\ncollege is a model steward of its developed and
\nundeveloped property. Skidmore’s creative,
\nmultidisciplinary approach to using this land for teaching, research and recreation assures
\nthe most valuable use for the greatest number
\nof participants, and most importantly assures
\nthe education of future generations in the care
\nof our natural surroundings.”<\/p>\n
More than 30 courses ranging from English
\nto environmental studies already make use of
\nthe college’s woods, said Karen Kellogg, associate
\ndean for infrastructure, sustainability and
\ncivic engagement.<\/p>\n
“The substantial wetlands on the new parcel
\nwill increase the biodiversity of Skidmore’s
\nwoodland properties and will be of particular
\ninterest to students, staff, and faculty,” she
\nnoted.<\/p>\n
Research projects have focused on everything
\nfrom the impact of invasive species to
\nthe relationship between art and nature. In
\none project, Robert Jones, associate professor
\nof economics, and a team of four students created
\nan online atlas of Skidmore’s undeveloped
\nlands, including detailed information about the
\n200-acre parcel donated by the Roohans.<\/p>\n
The Roohans’ gifts will also play a big role
\nin teaching Skidmore students about land conversation,
\nKellogg said. A stewardship plan for
\nthe college’s undeveloped lands and grounds is
\ncurrently under development by the College’s
\nCampus Sustainability Subcommittee. ”<\/p>\n
“That will tell us how we can best approach
\nsuch matters as use, maintenance, and signage,
\nand how we can think about our wooded areas
\nmore comprehensively,” said Kellogg.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The gift to Skidmore College of a 120-acre parcel of land in Greenfield by Michael and Margaret Roohan, owners of Granite & Marble Works Inc. of Wilton, has substantially increased the College’s holdings of undeveloped property available for teaching…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[57,67,78],"class_list":["post-16786","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-news","tag-business-news","tag-education","tag-greenfield"],"yoast_head":"\r\n