Darien Foundation Awards $100,000 Grant to Improve Public Access and Educational Features at Olson Woods & Piacentini Preserve

DARIEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 16, 2025--

The Darien Land Trust has received a $100,000 grant from The Darien Foundation to advance the Olson Woods & Piacentini Preserve Access Initiative. The initiative aims to increase public access to the 16-acre preserve, strengthen environmental stewardship, and create opportunities for community engagement. Located along the Noroton River, the Olson Woods and Piacentini Preserve (OWPP)—the Darien Land Trust’s second-largest publicly accessible property—features native habitat, abundant wildlife, and mature woodlands.

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Planned Improvements

The grant will support upgrades that enhance access, improve ecological health, and promote outdoor education, such as:

These improvements will help transform OWPP into a more welcoming, and enjoyable natural resource for students, scouts, hikers, and all who value open space.

“This generous grant allows us to open the gates to a spectacular natural resource that’s been hidden from view,” said Amy Sarbinowski, President of the Board of the Darien Land Trust. “We’re immensely grateful to The Darien Foundation for supporting an initiative that will allow more people to enjoy the wildlife and tranquility of Olson Woods and Piacentini Preserve.”

“Although I grew up in Darien, I hadn’t visited the Olson Woods and Piacentini Preserve until last year,” said Ward Glassmeyer, Chair of the Board of The Darien Foundation. “We’re thrilled to partner with the Darien Land Trust to enhance this protected space so that it will be more accessible and welcoming.”

About the Darien Land Trust

The Darien Land Trust preserves and protects land in perpetuity, connects the community with nature and promotes conservation awareness. The organization, established in 1956, is a 501(c)(3), is not affiliated with the town of Darien and stewards over 230 acres across 87 properties.

darienlandtrust.org

About The Darien Foundation

The Darien Foundation is a community-based 501(c)(3) public charity that funds technology and capital projects benefiting Darien, CT. Since 1998, it has awarded more than $7 million in grants supporting youth, public safety, and quality-of-life initiatives.

darienfoundation.org

L-R Ward Glassmeyer, Chair of the Board of The Darien Foundation; Rob Farley, Director on the Board of The Darien Foundation; Stefanie Desai, Director on the Board of The Darien Foundation; Amy Sarbinowski, President of the Board of the Darien Land Trust; Sarah Woodberry, Executive Director of The Darien Foundation; Elizabeth Mathus, Executive Director of the Darien Land Trust; John O’Brien, Treasurer of the Darien Land Trust. Photo Credit: Katharine Calderwood/Calderwood Photography calderwoodphotography.com

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A passenger bus overturned, killing 13 people and injuring over a dozen others on a highway in central Iran, state-run IRNA news agency reported.

The bus was traveling late Monday from Isfahan to the northeastern city of Mashhad when it struck the highway's central guardrail, crossed into the opposite lane and collided with a taxi before flipping over, police said.

Eleven bus passengers and two people who were in the taxi were killed in the crash, while six women and seven men were hospitalized, IRNA said.

Emergency teams, including ambulances and rescue units, were dispatched to the site shortly after the crash.

Iran has one of the world’s worst traffic safety records, with some 20,000 deaths annually. The grave toll is attributed to widespread disregard for traffic laws, unsafe vehicles and inadequate emergency services in its vast rural areas.

This photo released by the Iranian Red Crescent Society on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, shows the scene of a passenger bus crash in central province of Isfahan, Iran. (Iranian Red Crescent Society via AP)