We have written a lot about Scout Camps for sale on this blog, but Scouting organizations are the only organizations facing hard decisions about selling their camp properties, or pieces of their camps. Here is a story about such an organization, Camp Lion in Salem, Massachusetts.
Camp Lion is under contract to sell 15 acres of their 70 acre camp to developers planning to expand a Walmart and other additional retail space according to the article “Camp at heart of land furor“.
From the article it sounds like the camp’s board is sensitive to the concerns of individuals and “…plan to put the money from the sale of the property into an endowment that would allow them to extend their charitable work, which grows harder as their members age and the economy founders.
‘It’s difficult to have the members to put in the time for charitable endeavors,’ said George Brennan, a Camp Lion past president.
In 2007, Camp Lion’s total revenue was $37,525 and expenses were $23,790, according to the most recent tax filings available. All the, critics have voiced concerns that this could be the first of several to sell the camp off.”
We would suggest critics ask Camp Lion to put a conservation easement (PDF) on the remaining property to permanently protect the property and alleviate critics concerns.
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Mis-leading title – should read “Camp Lion in Massachusetts sells part of camp used by scouts, youth groups, et al.”
You don’t know the half of it.
See the facts here:
Camp Lion Story
http://lynnlions.blogspot.com/
another good website to check out is http://www.springpondwoods.com that talks about the area and issues
I believe you should update your post on this and then try to help us preserve this wonderful area for the camp children and for others who use the area AND for the wildlife. If you read the story you refer to above, Mr. Paul Crowley drastically under-estimated how much people care about this camp. They love this area and are willing to fight for it. Can you help us?
The Salem Planning Board approved this massive project, despite public outcry against it. Three or more people have filed a Complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office against the seller of the property ( a non-profit orgainization, Camp Lion) and the City of Lynn has filed a lawsuit against the City of Salem (Planning Board) and the developer.
The ‘Lynn Lions (Camp Lion) Story’ shares many important facts. In one of these facts, the Articles of Organization for Camp Lion of Lynn, Mass, Inc., a non-profit organization, registered with The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, states:
“to maintain a tract or tracts of wild woodland for the purpose of providing ample opportunity for recreation in the open air;”
Also, according to a state map source OLIVER, Camp Lion is mapped as a Non-profit Open Space, under Conservation/ Recreation layer.
However, in current day, the camp ground is under a purchase and sale agreement to turn a portion of the land into retail stores for Lowe’s and a Super Wal-mart expansion. Both retail stores will need to acquire wild wooded area and blast the ledge, in proximity to wetlands that reach Spring Pond, the City of Peabody’s water supply.
Children NEED to explore nature in order to appreciate and preserveit.
Please visit springpondwoods.com for further information.
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