Franc Preserve

In 2013, the Town of Bethel acquired 72 acres of former farm land from the Franc family and designated it as protected open space. The Bethel Land Trust and other volunteers, including Eagle Scout candidates, created 2 miles of hiking trails, installed bridges, nature interpretive signs, and a kiosk. BLT volunteers continue to maintain and improve the Preserve through trail work, invasive species removal, regular meadow mowing, and the planting of native trees and wildflowers. This property is bounded to the East by the Newtown Forest Association’s 76 acre Brunot Preserve. The combined 148 acres of open space, feature more than 4 1/2 miles of linked trails, meadows, new and mature forest, wetlands, and a beautiful stream.