Feb. 12, 2018:  The North Branford Land Conservation Trust (NBLCT) recently lost a valuable founding member, an avid proponent for open space, and a wonderful friend. Edmund Robert "Bob" Gregan served the NBLCT continuously since its founding in 1968, a period of 47 years; beginning as a vice president of the organization and continuing as a Director.

Gregan earned his B.S. in Landscape Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1962. He was the Chief Landscape Architect for the City of New Haven until his retirement in 1999, during which time he was recognized as a Fellow in the American Society of Landscape Architects (FSLA).

A resident of North Branford, Gregan served as Chairman of the Land Trust and Conservation Commission. In this position, he was extremely active in the design of many municipal sites, including parks, open spaces and the town center. He was an ardent supporter of land conservation and gave his full attention to projects undertaken by the Land Trust and the Town of North Branford when his expertise was requested. Gregan was incredibly detail oriented in everything he did. He was relentless when undertaking any task, earning the nickname "Bull" by his peers.

One of Gregan's most enduring "gifts" was an architect's plan for North Farms Park soon after the land was acquired from the New Haven Water Company by the Town in the mid-1970s. The design, enjoyed by many today, includes recreation fields, a pavilion, a parking area, a bridge over the Branford River and trails through woodlands that cover all of the land east of the river.

In 2010, when the president of NBLCT, Edward Pantini, died, Gregan was instrumental in rejuvenating NBLCT and ensuring its continuation. The organization has since grown from a small group of six to more than a hundred members, with an active Board of Directors, and more than 250 acres of protected open space. Gregan's energy and enthusiasm for protecting our land and for the people of North Branford was compelling to all that knew him. He will be greatly missed.

NBLCT is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to acquire and maintain open space and to promote the conservation of land and natural resourceswithin the Town of North Branford and environs. If you are interested in helping to preserve and protect open space in North Branford and for more information about NBLCT, go to www.nblandtrust.org or visit us on Facebook.

Reporter's Note: Edmund Robert "Bob", Gregan 81, passed away January 31, 2018.