The Peconic Land Trust has acquired a 1.4-acre commercially developed property on Georgica Pond in Wainscott and plans to restore it to its natural state, the organization announced yesterday. The parcel has been the site of a restaurant, most recently Il Mulino, for more than 50 years.
"Protecting this land will aid in improving the health of the pond and the surrounding natural habitat by removing the building, septic system, and leaching fields that have contributed to the degradation of the pond's water quality," the land trust said in a statement announcing the acquisition.
The money for the purchase and restoration have been donated by Katharine Rayner, who said she has lived on Georgica Pond for 40 years and has witnessed its deterioration. "This project to protect the pond comes from the heart," she said.
"Sometimes it takes years to make a conservation purchase happen. In this case it was literally weeks," said John v.H. Halsey, the president of the land trust. "We are now preparing for the demolition of the structures on the property to set the stage for its restoration. We are deeply grateful to Kathy for making it all possible."
