An area in Warsaw called The Wayne Township Property was recently acquired by the ACRES Land Trust and is part of 7,000 acres acquired to date.

KOSCIUSKO — Thanks to a recent acquisition of rare prairie in Warsaw, an organization dedicated to preserving land has achieved a significant milestone. ACRES Land Trust recently reached 7,000 acres of land preserved and the non-profit organization reports expectations of many milestones ahead.

“Over the past fourteen years, ACRES has doubled in size in nearly all categories: land owned, staff, endowment and financial support,” said Jason Kissel, ACRES Land Trust executive director. “That’s impressive.”

In the last three years, with donor support, the nonprofit has acquired 1,282 acres on 17 new properties with 10 expansions to existing properties. Included in the recent acquisitions is a seven-acres area in Wayne Township of Kosciusko County considered “rare and ecologically significant,” a patch of native prairie grassland off U.S. 30 in Warsaw.

This local acquisition adds to thousands of other acres of land that the trust has acquired since its inception in 1960.

While celebrating this success, ACRES has embarked on creating a new strategic plan that will allow the organization to focus on determining the best way to sustain its recent growth and to increase investment in managing the land in its portfolio.