Save Elmwood Forest

06/08/2026

Welcome to new followers - thanks for being here! Here is a short synopsis of what's been happening and what's to come with Elmwood Forest! While it's not at the forefront right now, in time we'll need your help to "speak for the trees"

For more than two years, residents have been working to protect Elmwood Forest, a 22 acre urban forest in Holyoke that helps reduce flooding, improves air quality, cools neighborhoods, provides wildlife habitat, and offers much needed green space in an environmental justice community.

The forest became threatened when the City entered into an agreement to sell portions of the land for a proposed sports complex. Since then, residents have pushed for conservation, but the City has done little to actively pursue preservation options.

There are state conservation programs that have helped protect hundreds of acres across Western Massachusetts, and organizations familiar with land conservation have said similar options could be explored for Elmwood Forest. Yet the City has not sought these opportunities and continues to keep development options on the table.

Many residents have found this frustrating. In the city council, two orders related to Elmwood Forest were effectively closed after months of delay. One sought a public explanation of what would be required to permanently protect the forest as conservation land. The other requested updates regarding the status of the land and ongoing litigation. These were basic requests aimed at transparency and helping the public understand what options exist.

If you are concerned about the environmental impacts of the proposed data center, you should also be concerned about the future of Elmwood Forest. Climate resilience, cleaner air, cooler neighborhoods, biodiversity, and public health all depend on protecting the natural resources we already have.

The time for a larger movement may not be now, but if that time comes, we hope you'll join us in standing up for this important community forest.

05/15/2026

The Land Court has DENIED the City of Holyoke’s motion to dismiss the Elmwood Forest lawsuit.

This does not end the case, but it is a major step forward.

The judge ruled that residents raised a legitimate legal controversy regarding the protected parkland status of the wooded strip within Elmwood Forest and whether the City could attempt to revoke those protections to accommodate the proposed sports complex project.

Importantly, the court recognized that concerns about the project are not “hypothetical.” The decision points to the developer’s public statements, the ongoing acquisition of surrounding parcels, and the practical reality that access to parts of the proposed development appears to require crossing the protected land.

The court also acknowledged that there is still an unresolved legal question regarding whether the park restrictions tied to the land can legally be revoked.

In short:
• The lawsuit survives
• The legal questions remain alive
• The City will now have to continue defending its position in court

This is an important moment for transparency, accountability, and the future of Elmwood Forest.

Thank you to everyone who has continued paying attention, speaking up, attending meetings, and supporting this effort.

If you want to help support the legal fund you can donate here
https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-elmwood-forest-legal-support-needed?utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e225_tv2_tp1_a1demoo4cprqpb&fbclid=IwY2xjawRz3shleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEew3cN3saEt9gmUBw_n-qrkxxTdbvuwQO3zarFYcTHaXnRN9ngpysglwY1qAg_aem_fDfsZ2s4jgS8KfNRR_BjXQ

Holyoke neighbors with concerns with the development of the woods be… Kerry Anne Schoeffel needs your support for Save Elmwood Forest: Legal Support Needed

05/13/2026

"...the court denies the motion to dismiss."

Kerry

05/06/2026

There are state funds to help preserve hundreds of acres in western Mass, and this could be done for Elmwood Forest, yet the City of has not made any movements to secure these funds to protect this important urban forest and keep an offer on the table to sell to a developer for cheap. Why?

The Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded nearly $1 million in grants to protect hundreds of acres of forest land across western Massachusetts.

05/01/2026

With the changing of weather and coming of spring Elmwood Forest’s trees are coming back to life after the winter. New leaves fill the forest with a vibrant green, the sun shines through them, and the birds sing. The new season should feel auspicious, yet it does not since our mayor perseveres in short sided decisions that prove he does not have a vision or a plan for a livable, self-improving, and balanced City.

Just because the City is not rich it does not mean that it can’t invest in itself. Not paying our teachers a living wage and selling off a forest for development at a ridiculously low price are just two of the red flags that point to the chaotic path to destruction that this administration has taken.

04/29/2026

It’s hard to ignore the irony. We’re being told the City of Holyoke's hands are tied when it comes to protecting Elmwood Forest because of an ongoing lawsuit… But that lawsuit was filed to PROTECT the land in the first place.

So a legal effort meant to preserve Elmwood Forest is now being used as the reason nothing can be done to preserve it. This is what happened at Holyoke's Monday night's Development and Government (DGR) Committee meeting.

Two orders filed back in December and January that had sat dormat on the table for months are now gone. Both had directly related to understanding how to protect the forest and what’s happening with the land:

• One calls for a clear, public walkthrough of what it would actually take to designate Elmwood Forest as conservation land.
• The other requests basic updates on the status of the parcels and the ongoing litigation.

These are not radical asks. They are the minimum steps needed for transparency and informed decision making. Yet they’ve been delayed for months, and after Monday's meeting the councilors felt that the orders have been attended to and they are gone. Currently, there are no orders in council anywhere regarding Elmwood Forest.

At some point, it becomes difficult to view this as procedural delay. It starts to look like a lack of real commitment to protecting this forest. If preserving Elmwood Forest were truly a priority, these conversations would already be happening openly, clearly, and without delay.
We will share again Kestral Land Trust's opninion that the city COULD do somehting if they wanted to to preserve the forest.

04/28/2026

If you live or work in Holyoke please take a moment to complete the Office of Conservation and Sustainability survey. As you do, consider urging the preservation of Elmwood Forest as a key priority for strengthening our community’s resilience.

Elmwood Forest is more than open space. It plays a direct role in public health and environmental stability. The tree canopy helps reduce extreme heat, improves air quality, provides a sound barrier from the highway, provides a critial habitat for wildlife, and manages stormwater. These are all especially important in an environmental justice area where green space is limited.

The City is asking for input. This is an opportunity to be clear about what matters. Protecting Elmwood Forest supports climate resilience, community well-being, and long-term environmental health. Your voice can help move that forward.

Consider writing:
"Elmwood Forest should be identified as a priority for conservation. This area provides meaningful environmental and public health benefits, including tree canopy that helps reduce urban heat, improve air quality, and support biodiversity. In a neighborhood that already faces environmental and economic pressures, access to nearby green space is not a luxury, it is essential infrastructure.

The City has a clear opportunity to pursue state programs such as the LAND and PARC grants to support acquisition and permanent protection of this land.

I urge the City to prioritize conservation of this parcel and take the necessary steps to secure its protection for long term community use."

04/27/2026

Tonight, the City Council’s Development & Government Relations Committee is finally taking up key items related to Elmwood Forest after months of being tabled.

And important factor (see attached) A letter from Kestrel Land Trust notes challenges with conservation funding due to parcel size and ownership, but also makes clear that the City itself could prioritize conservation and commit resources if it chose to.

Item 10 focuses on what it would actually take to designate Elmwood Forest as conservation land. However, key voices won’t be present. The Planning Board and Conservation Commission have been advised not to participate due to ongoing litigation.

Item 11 calls for an update from HEDIC on the Whiting Farms Road parcels. This comes after the Purchase & Sale Agreement with the developer was extended to March 2027.

Important context:

These are not public hearings, so there will be no opportunity for public input.
A letter from Kestrel Land Trust notes challenges with conservation funding due to parcel size and ownership, but also makes clear that the City itself could prioritize conservation and commit resources if it chose to.

Also on the agenda:
Item 7 proposes acquiring land for conservation and recreation under Article 97. This could be significant, as land swaps are one way the City could navigate the current lawsuit.

Many are questioning whether these steps reflect a real effort to protect Elmwood Forest, or something else entirely.

https://www.holyoke.org/meetings/development-and-governmental-relations-committee-meeting-april-27-2026/ #/tab-agenda-packet