‘Save Lemoine Point Farm: Conserving the Land for Future Generations’ is a joint project of Small Change Fund and Save Lemoine Point Farm Inc. (SLPF).
Over the past three and-a-half years, SLPF has been working to keep people in the Kingston area informed about the future of the Lemoine Point Farm.
The property had been home to the Coverdale family for over 100 years. Mary Coverdale Winnett Fraser, the last owner, died in April 2022. Her friends say she wanted the Farm to be conserved and protected from development. Nevertheless, the future of the Farm was uncertain. The status of the estate was the subject of an Ontario Superior Court hearing in February 2026.
The City of Kingston had the first opportunity to purchase the property at a fair market price as outlined in the will. SLPF worked to ensure negotiations between the city and the estate led to conservation of this spectacular property.
Meaningful Progress
In February 2026 the Ontario Superior Court approved a negotiated settlement, and the City of Kingston is moving forward with purchasing the Lemoine Point Farm from the estate. Your voices, dedication, and unwavering support led to this important step in protecting the Farm from private development. Thank you!
We applaud the City for its persistence in negotiating the purchase of the Farm and for investing in one of the few remaining natural spaces within the urban boundary. This represents meaningful progress toward preserving this special place on Lake Ontario.
After achieving over 80% of our goal with Small Change Fund — as well as this important milestone in protecting the property from imminent private development — we are now reassessing fundraising as we consider future work requirements for our legal and expert teams.
What happens next?
The Save Lemoine Point Farm group will continue to monitor developments closely and advocate for the permanent protection of the Farm, in accordance with Mary Fraser’s wishes and the strong support expressed by the community. We will continue to keep you informed as more information becomes available.
Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to protecting this ecological, cultural, and agricultural jewel for current and future generations.
Thank you especially to all who have donated in the past! These contributions were essential to the achievements to date focused on ensuring this magnificent and unique property is protected in perpetuity.
Why we need to conserve the Farm:
Preserve shoreline
The Farm has over 1 km of waterfront, the place where the land meets the water. The water’s edge and adjacent land have great ecological value and the waterfront draws people for spiritual and physical refreshment. It is called “the ribbon of life” for a good reason.
Save agricultural land
The Farm was a small-scale farming operation for decades. Continuing to grow food on the Farm can contribute to food security in Kingston. We need to produce as much food as we can close to where we live.
Connect existing conserved lands
The Farm is “book-ended” by two adjacent open-space waterfront areas, the 337-acre Lemoine Point Conservation Area to the north and the 19-acre city-owned Weatherall waterfront fields to the east. Adding the 82 acres of the Farm will create 438 acres of conserved land within the City of Kingston.
Protect biodiversity and species at risk
It is in everyone’s interests to support biodiversity by providing habitat for common species and species that scientists have identified as most vulnerable to extinction. Twenty-three species of conservation concern have already been identified in the Lemoine Point area. The Farm habitats need to be protected.
Several at-risk bird species rely on an ever-shrinking availability of grasslands to survive. The farm has for years provided acres of farmed grasslands that have allowed these species to breed – including the Bobolink, Barn Swallow and Eastern Meadowlark.
Mitigate climate change impacts
Temperatures are rising. Extreme weather events are becoming more common. We need to conserve natural areas within the city to protect us from the harshest consequences of climate change.
Promote community wellness
Green spaces are vital to our physical, mental, and spiritual health. We need nature.
Honour Indigenous roots
Indigenous Peoples, including the Huron/Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe, inhabited this land long before settlers arrived. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report noted that “Supporting Aboriginal peoples’ cultural revitalization, and integrating Indigenous knowledge systems, oral histories, laws, protocols, and connections to the land into the reconciliation process are essential” (Principle # 8). We respectfully believe that the local Indigenous community should be involved in determining the future use of this magnificent property.
