CPC Letter of Support for the Josephine Del Deo Memorial Woodland

Below is a templated letter supporters can use to email or write the Community Preservation Committee. Please tailor this letter as needed. You do not need to include everything, but the template contains all valuable information. You can copy and paste or simply download the Microsoft Word file below.

Email: mperry@provincetown-ma.gov
Mail to:
Deputy Housing Director Mackenzie Perry
Provincetown Town Hall
260 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657

Deputy Housing Director Mackenzie Perry
Provincetown Town Hall
260 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657

Dear Deputy Director Perry and Members of the Community Preservation Committee,

Please accept my strong support of the recent application to the Community Preservation Act (CPA) Fund by the Provincetown Conservation Trust (PCT) and the Town Conservation Commission for the Town’s purchase of 0.64 acres of forest land at 43 Atkins Mayo Road. The PCT intends to hold the Conservation Restriction (CR) on the property.

The Provincetown Conservation Trust has already demonstrated extraordinary commitment to this project, having raised more than $250,000 in private funds toward the acquisition of this parcel. This level of community support underscores the importance of the project and reflects a shared belief in protecting Provincetown’s natural heritage. The CPA funding now being requested is critical to helping close the remaining funding gap and ensuring the permanent protection of this important land.

This parcel is an important wooded link within the Provincetown Greenway—an ecological vision that has been widely embraced by the community. The Greenway preserves a swath of Atlantic white cedar swamps and forested dunescape straddling the former railroad bed and the Route 6 right-of-way, extending from the Truro town line into downtown Provincetown. This green canopy provides essential “urban cooling” and shelter from the temperature extremes of the open dunes to the north and the densely developed commercial and residential areas of town.

The locus parcel lies entirely (100%) within the State’s BioMap Core Habitat, the highest-ranked designation for wildlife habitat diversity, quality, and persistence. More than 120 species of birds have been recorded by local naturalists in and around the parcel. The Greenway has also been identified by The Nature Conservancy as a climate-resilient landscape. Additionally, the State Natural Heritage Program recognizes this area as habitat for rare species, including the Eastern Spadefoot Toad and the Water Willow Stem Borer Moth.

Protecting this parcel within the Greenway is more important than ever. Migratory birds across North America have declined by nearly 30% since 1970 due largely to habitat loss and overdevelopment. In addition to birds, many other flora and fauna thrive here, including species listed as Massachusetts Species of Special Concern, such as the Eastern Box Turtle and the Northern Bobwhite.

The 0.64-acre parcel at 43 Atkins Mayo Road abuts already protected conservation land along the Old Colony Nature Pathway, which is used by residents and visitors alike for walking, hiking, and birdwatching. Its protection will expand contiguous open space, enhance recreational opportunities, preserve scenic beauty, and strengthen the Town’s resilience to climate change and natural hazards.

This parcel also carries significant cultural importance. It will be dedicated as the Josephine Del Deo Memorial Woodland, honoring a Provincetown legend whose leadership helped prevent the development of the Province Lands on Cape Cod. Her testimony before a Congressional committee in 1960 was instrumental in preserving these lands. Without her advocacy, Provincetown would be a very different place, and this dedication is a fitting tribute to her legacy.

I respectfully urge the Community Preservation Committee to recommend as much funding as possible toward this project. With strong private fundraising already achieved, Town support through CPA funding will play a decisive role in securing this woodland for future generations.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this proposal.

Sincerely,