The Webster Woods are a historic, beautiful, and valuable part of our community. They serve many purposes including flood mitigation, climate change mitigation, recreation, and educational opportunities.

The Community Preservation Committee of Newton, following an extensive process, recently approved funding for the city to acquire the woods for their future protection and recreational use. We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, urge the Newton City Council to approve the acquisition of the Webster Woods from Boston College so that they may endure as an important part of our community.

As students and faculty, we use these woods for research purposes, recreation, and a peaceful respite from nearby Boston. It is easy to protect the woods, but will be nearly impossible to bring them back. As alumni and other friends of the city and university, we recognize that the woods are a unique and important part of the character of Newton.

The woods are in the middle of the largest conservation area in Newton. Development would drastically fragment the conservation area, affecting salamanders and other species that travel within the woods, and destroying available nature, recreation, and research space. Further, noise, air, and other pollution resulting from development would spill over into the rest of the Webster Conservation Area, damaging its ecological vitality.

Boston College has orchestrated a disinformation campaign and attempted to mobilize alumni and employees against the fight to save Webster Woods. Furthermore, in new court filings, Boston College has stated that its intentions are to fully develop the entire Webster Woods despite implications otherwise.

We, students, alumni, and employees of Boston College and other local universities are disturbed by these actions and BC's failure to be clear about its intentions.

Therefore, we strongly urge the city council to take action to protect the Webster Woods.

This petition is sponsored by EcoPledge of Boston College and Climate Justice at Boston College.

For questions or to sign on as an organization, please email rosentka@bc.edu or walkersz@bc.edu.