Andover Village Improvement Society
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The Andover Village Improvement Society (AVIS) is a land preservation society in Andover, Massachusetts. Founded in 1894, AVIS is the second oldest land preservation society in the country. Its goal is to acquire land and preserve it in its natural state.
The organization controls 22 reservations totaling about 1,000 acres (4 km²), with 30 miles (50 km) of trails for hiking, skiing, or other passive recreational use. The largest AVIS reservations are Deer Jump and Goldsmith, both at 130 acres (0.5 km²). Motor vehicles, hunting, fires, or camping on these conservation lands are prohibited. Volunteer wardens are responsible for the care and oversight of each reservation.
With the rapid suburbanization and development occurring in Andover since the 1970s, AVIS has played a vital role in preserving Andover's land.
[edit] External links
- Andover Village Improvement Society (AVIS)
- Trustees of Reservations, Massachusetts land preservation group