The fabric of our Village is woven with history, community, preservation, and public service. Throughout its history, small groups of spirited citizens have banded together for the betterment of all citizens: building libraries, creating parks and preserving historic sites. 

We now have an opportunity to purchase an untouched, treed lot in the heart of the village on Route 6A. This land is now part of a proposal to be clear cut and filled with condos and parking lots. This development would forever change the natural habitat and threaten Chase Garden Creek waterway with increased nitrogen pollution. It would increase traffic congestion, compromise safety, and detract from the historic character and charm of the village center and of Old King’s Highway.

Great news! The sellers are on board and working with us to achieve a more desirable outcome. The first goal is to raise $1.5 million to purchase the 40,020 square foot parcel which sits on Route 6A, between the historic Captain Howes home at the corner of Hope Lane and the ice cream shop, across from the Village bandstand, the cemetery and the military training ground. 

We have already raised $1M in pledges and donations. Based on this success, we have an extension beyond May 1st. We still need another $500K to meet the purchase price for the front parcel on 6A. The deadline we have set is June 3. If we meet this milestone, the campaign will be extended another 30 days to early July to raise additional funds to target adjacent land.

The Village Improvement Society of Dennis*, a well-established, local non-profit is collecting the pledges and funds to transact the purchase. The property will be preserved by a protective overlay and placed in the hands of a conservator. The natural streetscape will be improved by cleaning up invasive vines and dead wood.

Please join us in preserving this historic piece of land by making as generous a donation or pledge as you can. If we are unable to complete the purchase, we will cancel pledges and return donations.

If you have pledged for 2024, please get your funds to us as soon as possible. We ask those who can make their donations up front or over a two-year period to please do so.

Thank you for your consideration!

* Village Improvement Society is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Donations may be tax deductible. Please consult your tax advisor.

Campaign Committee

Carole Bell
Sally Bickford
Alice Boyle
Todd Boyle
Kate Byron
Diane Depczenski
Chris Eosco
Kevin Eosco
Leslie Gardner
Tom Gardner
Anne Hadjimina
Sharon Hamilton
Charlie Harrington
Cindy Harrington
Barbara Hawkins
Joe Klein
Victoria Klein
Maureen Kuper 
Ron Kuper
Alan Machuga
Sharon Machuga
Susan Makowski
Becky Maxwell
Chet Maxwell
Katherine Miles Moran
Steve Nelson
Judy November
Paul Prue
Dwight Shepard
Lucy Shepard
Annie Walker 
Dan Walker
Joe Walker
Linda Walker
Kathy Walker