Seven Springs is one of the last large pieces of undeveloped land in North Castle. It is a 213 acre parcel located off of Byram Lake Road in the Towns of North Castle, Bedford and New Castle. It is adjacent to the Nature Conservancy’s Eugene and Agnes Meyer Nature Preserve and Merestead County Park. It was the estate of Eugene and Agnes Meyer, owners of the Washington Post and parents of Katherine Graham.
In 1985, Westchester County identified eleven properties in North Castle as vital for open space preservation. Seven already have been developed. Of the remaining four, two are golf courses, one is the Fordham Calder Center, and the last one is Seven Springs. Now, the owner, the Trump Organization, is proposing to build 17 homes on the property; nine homes in North Castle totaling 103 acres, 8 homes in Bedford totaling 80 acres.
This parcel is the number one priority parcel for the North Castle Open Space Committee because it is critical to the environmental quality of the area. Seven Springs is a primary source of water supply to Byram Lake which is the sole source of drinking water for over 10,000 residents of Mt. Kisco, the business center, and Northern Westchester Hospital.
The Seven Springs property is also a critical link in a nature corridor in excess of 1,500 acres that connects Leonard Park and Marsh Sanctuary in Mt. Kisco and runs south through Butler Memorial Sanctuary, Merestead County Park, Westmoreland Sanctuary, and Meyer Preserve in Bedford and North Castle. These large tracts of contiguous open space are an asset to our communities because they: (a) protect our drinking water; (b) provide habitats for a wide range of species, and (c) provide the towns’ residents with miles of recreational opportunities.
Seven Springs is recognized for its historical, cultural, and educational importance. As the former estate of Eugene and Agnes Meyer of the Washington Post, this property is an important historic site that provides a glimpse into the area’s rich past. Seven Springs Main house and barn complex are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. For years prior to its purchase by the Trump Organization, the Byram Hills School System utilized Seven Springs for student environmental research.
Finally, Seven Springs is strikingly beautiful, from its acres of forests to its dramatic rock outcropppings and rolling meadows.
As part of our work to preserve Seven Springs, we are working with Riverkeeper and the Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land is a national organization known for negotiating deals of this magnitude. Purchasing this property will take cooperation and money from North Castle, New Castle, Bedford, Mt. Kisco, the County, the State and probably private donors. It is a large task but we believe that the end result is well worth it.
