Blackacre Conservancy, a nonprofit organization managing the 330-acre nature preserve in eastern Jefferson County, Kentucky, has recently expanded its property by 32 acres. The purchase is part of a $4.6 million capital campaign aimed at expanding public access while preserving one of the state’s most significant historic sites.

Expansion Plans

The newly acquired land, purchased for $3.3 million, brings new opportunities for recreation and education. Executive Director Dennis Craig said the organization hopes to add accessible trails, create a fishing program, and reconstruct a historic cabin at the property’s entrance.

The conservancy has many activities for visitors to experience, including tours of the property’s historic home, walking one of the eight miles of trails, interacting with horses and goats, or listening to live music. The first of five summer concerts is scheduled for this Sunday.

History and Mission

The land’s history dates back to the 1790s, when it was one of Kentucky’s earliest settled homesteads. The original family received the land through a Virginia land grant. Several historic structures remain standing today, including a barn built in 1792 and a stone cottage built in 1795.

The preserve exists today because its last private owners, Judge McCauley and Emily Strong Smith, donated the property to the state in 1979 after recognizing that development was rapidly spreading through eastern Jefferson County. The mission to preserve a piece of Kentucky’s history for the people of Kentucky remains just as important today.

Original reporting: WLKY Louisville — read the source article.