State Grants Ipswich $350K to Protect Drinking Water
IPSWICH, MA — The Town of Ipswich has been awarded a $350,000 state grant to help fund the purchase of a conservation restriction on the former Candlewood Golf Course, a 26-acre property critical to safeguarding the town’s public drinking water supply.
The funding, announced June 26 by the Healey-Driscoll Administration, is part of $700,000 distributed through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ (EEA) Drinking Water Supply Protection program. Ipswich and Fall River split the total grant allotment equally.
The project is a collaborative effort between the Town’s Open Space Program and Greenbelt. The funds will be used to protect the land from development and revert the former golf course back to a natural ecological state, with a specific focus on wetland restoration.
According to Open Space Manager Asma Syed, the property sits directly within Zone II, a critical aquifer recharge area adjacent to both the Essex Road Well and the Fellows Road Well. These two public wells supply drinking water directly to Ipswich residents.
“Protecting the land with a conservation restriction helps ensure that the property remains undeveloped, reducing the risk of contaminants entering the groundwater,” Syed said. “While the property does not drain directly into a reservoir, its location within the well recharge area makes it an important component of the Town’s drinking water protection strategy.”
Environmental defense
State officials emphasized that conserving such spaces provides vital environmental defense mechanisms. Beyond protecting water quality, restoring the land’s natural wooded wetlands, marshes, grasslands, and intermittent streams will directly improve the area’s climate resilience.
Syed explained that healthy wetlands act like “natural sponges,” capturing and storing water during wet periods and releasing it slowly over time.
“Restoring the former golf course will improve the landscape’s ability to infiltrate rainfall, recharge groundwater, and maintain streamflow during dry conditions,” Syed said. “This helps make the local water supply more resilient during periods of drought while also reducing runoff and improving water quality.”
Rep. Kristin Kassner praised the grant as a vital lift for local sustainability efforts, noting that Ipswich faces acute pressures as the community at the end of the Ipswich River.
“This grant is more than an investment in infrastructure — it is an investment in the long-term resilience of our region,” Kassner said. “It will expand our opportunities to safeguard drinking water, strengthen our ability to manage drought, and protect the natural resources that define and sustain our communities.”
Town Meeting approval
The future of the project now rests with local voters. According to Syed, the next step is to secure approval at the Special Town Meeting this fall. Voters will be asked to authorize the purchase of the conservation restriction by utilizing the new $350,000 state grant in tandem with funds from the Town’s open space bond.
“We hope that voters turn out to support the protection of this incredible piece of property,” Syed said.
If the measure passes, Greenbelt will execute the acquisition process with the current landowners. Once the property is secured and the restriction is finalized, Greenbelt will coordinate with the town and state regulatory agencies to develop comprehensive wetland restoration and trail blueprints.
Once open to the public, the land will be designated for “passive recreation,” allowing for low-impact outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, and birdwatching.
Town officials noted that future trail networks will be carefully mapped out to preserve the landscape’s sensitive habitat, balancing public access with the primary mission of protecting the aquifer.
