A Gift from Cedar Community

On August 28, 2023, the Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation (CLCF) received the gift of a conservation easement on 100 acres of pristine woodland, prairie and lakeshore frontage from Cedar Community.

Cedar Community is one of Wisconsin’s largest not-for-profit senior living communities. Founded in 1953 with one man’s gift of land, a determined vision, and thousands of volunteer hours, Cedar Community’s original benefactor, William Koehl, donated his farmland to help establish a place of purpose, dignity, and compassionate care for older adults. Cedar Community’s founder, Rev. Louis Riesch, envisioned a place of natural beauty and quality care for Washington County seniors. In 1957, Cedar Community opened its first “home for the aged”. Soon after, services expanded — providing nursing home care to those needing skilled nursing and around-the-clock care.

In 2021, Cedar Community President and CEO, Nicole Pretre, revisited conservations with CLCF about the possible donation of a conservation easement. Nicole wanted to balance the ability of using and enjoying the land, while honoring its past and keeping it in its natural state for generations to come. Cedar Community is committed to compassionate living and healthcare services and to the preservation and protection of the original gift of land.

The now protected 100-acres on the Cedar Community campus contain relatively untouched, mature hardwoods. These woods are surrounded by a well-established prairie, multiple wetlands, and lakeshore frontage. Almost the entirety of this property is within the Primary Environmental Corridor which is defined by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) to contain the best woodlands, wetlands, and wildlife habitats in the region.

CLCF is incredibly grateful to Cedar Community for protecting this amazing resource. This truly is an amazing gift.