Spotlight on Easement Monitor Frank Kenison
Name: Frank Kenison
Town: Concord, New Hampshire
What is your connection to Five Rivers? I served on the Board of The Concord Conservation Trust at its inception and monitored several of its original easements. (Concord Conservation Trust was founded in 1988 and became Five Rivers Conservation Trust in 2001, eventually expanding to cover 17 towns in our region.)
You volunteer as an easement monitor for Five Rivers. Can you explain what an easement monitor does and why it is such an important responsibility? Easements are the product of an individual’s commitment to preserving land far beyond their ownership. As an easement monitor, I work to ensure that this mission of conservation is honored and the land remains in compliance with the terms of their original grants. In this role, I regularly monitor the easements and identify any encroachments or violations of the easement’s purposes. Five Rivers’ commitment to routine observation is essential to upholding agreements and maintaining an easement’s continued existence.
What motivates you to volunteer for Five Rivers? Volunteering for Five Rivers reminds me of its humble beginnings while allowing me to participate in the organization’s ongoing mission of balancing development and preservation. As a native of Concord, I inherited a passionate appreciation of the beauty of New England and have long aspired to commit my time and experience to the protection of the land surrounding Concord.
What do you see as Five Rivers’ greatest assets? Five Rivers offers lasting benefits to its donors, landowners, and residents of the larger Concord area. Its emphasis on community support has been a pillar principle for the organization and has served them well. Generating community support for conservation projects propels Five Rivers’ mission, ensures public access, and ultimately drives a unifying vision for Board action going forward. Recognition of the need to preserve important agricultural and unique scenic areas encourages a vibrant and livable community.
