To preserve, create and improve Edmond’s natural, scenic and outdoor recreational environment.
The Edmond Land Conservancy provides the community a vehicle for participating in the creation, preservation and improvement of Edmond’s green space and works with landowners who wish to donate conservation easements (permanent deed restrictions that prevent harmful land uses). As a 501 (c)(3) incorporated organization, ELC is among the nation’s 1,300-plus nonprofit land trust organizations that operate independently of government. As a member of the national Land Trust Alliance (LTA), the Edmond Land Conservancy adheres to established guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust organization, which is run legally, ethically, and in the public interest and conducts a sound program of land transactions and stewardship. ELC’s establishing goal is to carry out the ”Greenprint”, a vision for Edmond’s future, and to serve as an alternative to the City for the acquisition (through purchase, donation or conservation easement) and maintenance of scenic and recreational green space in Edmond.
Objectives
- Implementing the Edmond Greenprint
- Enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities through assisting in trails, parks and municipal sports facilities projects
- Helping to preserve Edmond’s natural, cultural, and scenic resources – water, forests, open space, historic sites, farmland, and floodplains
- Assist in attracting new environmentally sensitive industry and development
- Identify and pursuing opportunities to acquire rights in property through conservation easements, outright acquisitions or donations.
History
The Edmond Land Conservancy (ELC) was born out of The Edmond Greenprint, a document produced in July 2003 by the City of Edmond’s Green City Task Force. That group of Edmond citizens met regularly for over a year and the Greenprint is a reflection of their findings and recommendations addressing the use of open space in the Edmond area. One critical recommendation was the formation of a land trust to ensure that the Greenprint remained a living, working document.
ELC was formed by several members of the Green City Task Force in September 2003, and received its nonprofit status as a 501(c)(3) entity in March 2004. With the help of seed money from the City of Edmond, ELC put its all volunteer organization together and under its adopted mission statement of: “Working to preserve, Create and Improve Edmond’s Natural, Scenic and Outdoor Recreation Environment,” set about to make itself known in the community and pursue projects consistent with the Greenprint. A few years and nearly 100 acres under conservation easement later, ELC is working harder than ever to further its mission.