The Provincetown Conservation Trust has a rare opportunity to protect an important woodland within the Provincetown Greenway. Situated at the very end of Atkins Mayo Road, the 0.64-acre parcel is an ideal choice for conservation protection. The woodland abuts other conservation land as well as the Old Colony Nature Pathway, areas identified by the state as critical habitat for several threatened species. Any addition to the Provincetown Greenway enhances the value and protection of the entire corridor, and at the same time increases the opportunity for human recreation. Please help us preserve this woodland both for our wildlife and for the expansion of open space for our enjoyment.

In the process, we will also honor a Provincetown hero. This parcel will be dedicated to Josephine Del Deo, the passionate Provincetown writer, painter and activist who successfully fought the development of the Province Lands on Cape Cod. Prior to the establishment of the Cape Cod National Seashore it was Josephine, alongside artist Ross Moffett, who first spearheaded protests against the extensive development proposals - plans which included golf courses and hotels. Later she would go to Washington, DC to testify before a Congressional committee and help President Kennedy pass the National Seashore Act. Without her leadership, Provincetown would look like a very different place.

Campaign Updates

January 8 2026

A Major Milestone Reached—and the Path Ahead for the Josephine Del Deo Memorial Woodland

Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our community, the Provincetown Conservation Trust met its 2025 fundraising goal of $250,000 for the Josephine Del Deo Memorial Woodland. We raised over $50K from individual donors alone in December and received an extraordinary grant from the Priscilla Alden Sears Memorial Fund of the Cape Cod Foundation for an additional $50K. These milestones reflect the community’s deep commitment to protecting Provincetown’s natural landscapes and honoring Josephine’s enduring legacy of conservation.

As we move forward, we want to share where things stand. While we were unfortunately passed over for the MA State Land Grant, which would have covered nearly half the cost of the property, we remain encouraged and determined. In partnership with the Town of Provincetown, we are preparing an application for a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant, which we hope will help bridge a significant portion of the remaining funding needed to secure the woodland.

In addition, the PCT will be applying for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds. Letters of support from our members to the CPC (Community Preservation Committee) are deeply appreciated and can make a meaningful difference in demonstrating the community’s support for this project. If you are willing to write a letter, your voice would be a powerful endorsement of the importance of preserving this special place. See the template letter (please customize to your liking) to email or mail.

Even with these public funding opportunities, private fundraising remains essential. Your continued support will help ensure that we can move forward confidently and be ready to act as funding decisions are made.

Protecting the Josephine Del Deo Memorial Woodland is a shared effort—one that combines community generosity, public partnership, and a collective belief in the value of conservation. We are grateful to have you with us on this journey and will continue to keep you informed as progress unfolds.

The 0.64 acre parcel at 43 Atkins Mayor Road abuts other conservation land as well as the Old Colony Nature Pathway, a woodland trail used by residents and visitors alike for nature walks, hiking, dog walks, and birdwatching. The parcel expands the amount of open space land available for natural resource protection, recreational activities, quality of life and aesthetics, and for increasing the town’s resiliency to the impacts of climate change and the increasingly dramatic weather events associated with it.

The site is located wholly within an area designated Core Habitat by MassWildlife BioMap - the highest-ranked designation for wildlife habitat diversity, quality and persistence. In recent years, more than 120 species of birds have been recorded by local naturalists in and around the parcel.

If you hold a Donor-advised Fund (DAF), please consider recommending a grant to:

Provincetown Conservation Trust
Memo: Josephine Del Deo Memorial Woodland