The John W. Chanler Island Preserve is a 40 acre nature preserve owned and managed by the Genesee Valley Conservancy. The Preserve is located in the village of Geneseo, NY.
Management of the Preserve
Grasslands - In 2005, 24.2 acres of the Preserve was accepted into the USDA Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP). This program lends GVC technical and financial support to establish and maintain native grass stands on the property. These native grasses will provide for excellent bird habitat as well as for other species.
Woodlot - GVC is working to restore the 3.5 acre woodlot on the property. Buckthorn, an aggressive invasive, prevents the regeneration of other plants; decreasing biodiversity. We are slowly removing Buckthorn and replacing them with more desirable species such as Maple and Oak trees. We are also working to make the woodlot safe for visitors by removing Poison Ivy along the trails.
Uses of the Preserve
Please enjoy low impact recreation, such as hiking, dog-walking, and bird watching. Please clean up after your dog. Dogs must be leashed or under owner control.
The Geneseo Central School uses the Island Preserve as a destination for field trips; including classes on GPS navigation, plant species identification, photography, and many others. View photos of a science class.
Geocache
A multi-cache was setup on the property in 2006. Visit our cache page on geocaching.com.
Hours
The Island Preserve is open daily between sun-up and sun-down.
Directions
The Island Preserve is located one mile from the fountain on Main Street in Geneseo.
Vehicle Access:
Head north on Main Street out Route 39 (Avon Rd.). Turn right onto Cavalry Drive (across from the school), park on the side of the Cavalry next to the Island Preserve sign and brochure box.
Walking Access:
Use vehicle access described above or enter at 213 Lima Rd. Start at the trailhead sign. This entrance is on our neighbor's private property; please respect their land and privacy by heading straight to our sign and back to the Preserve.
Prohibited Activities
Please refrain from hunting/trapping, discharge of firearms, motorized vehicles, bicycles, camping, and dumping/littering.
History of the Preserve
The Island Preserve and neighboring residential Cavalry Drive were formerly part of a larger, single agricultural operation. As far back as aerial records are available (1938) these areas were actively farmed. After farming ceased in the late 1990s, the property went fallow and the farm was put up for sale.
Siblings Oliver Chanler and Elizabeth Chatwin stepped forward to purchase the property. Oliver and Elizabeth created an
innovative plan that mixed a managed green space with a limited housing development. The housing development along Cavalry Drive was a lower density than was required by Village zoning law. As a result, Cavalry Drive provides a smooth transition from the high density Village core to the low density of the Town.
The development of Cavalry Drive made it possible for Oliver and Elizabeth to donate 40 acres of this former farm to the Genesee Valley Conservancy (GVC). These 40 acres were given to GVC for the purpose of creating a nature preserve for the benefit of the community: maintaining and enhancing wildlife habitat, providing public access to a natural area, and providing educational
opportunities for students of all ages. In 2004, GVC took title to 40 acres of this former farm and created its first nature preserve. The land was subsequently titled the “Island Preserve” after the ‘island’ woodlot located in the main field.
The Preserve was re-named in 2009 in memory of Oliver and Elizabeth’s brother, John W. Chanler. John was an avid supporter of GVC and an active member of the Geneseo community. John was a founding Board member, a dedicated volunteer, and along with his wife Shelia, a conservation easement donor.
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