Little Grenadier Island had been in Jon Tucker's family for 55 years. This July, John donated the 2-acre island in Cape Vincent to TILT. Though the Tucker name is no longer on the property deed, the conservation impact of the gift will carry on forever.
A mile offshore into Lake Ontario, Little Grenadier Island is dwarfed by its much larger counterpart, Grenadier Island. Little Grenadier hangs off the southeastern corner of Grenadier like an apostrophe, creating a natural wave break that allows the Grenadier Island Association docks to survive the damaging swells of Lake Ontario (Basin Harbor). Little Grenadier is home to a few trees and a few rustic structures, including a grandiose stone chimney - remnants of a sizable hall that's long forgotten.
Near the confluence of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, Little Grenadier is a paradise for birders and waterfowl hunters. With the Atlantic Flyway directly overhead, the leeward shorelines of this narrow island provide respite for countless birds weary from their long migrations north and south.
John recounts years of laughter and smiles on the Island, with many memories being made from within the duck blind with his closest friends and family. In July, John Tucker finalized the donation of Little Grenadier with the understanding that the Island would be sold by TILT. Notably, the proceeds from the sale are being directed to two of TILT's endowment funds of John's choice. After a few short weeks on the open market, TILT received multiple offers on the property and the sale was completed this fall.
Through nearly two decades of services as a TILT Trustee, John gained an affinity for TILT's Zenda Farms Preserve, with a particular fondness for the annual Arbor Day event at the Farm. John also understood the hard work and resources required to keep TILT's lands and easements in tip-top shape. For these reasons, John elected to have the sale proceeds split and dedicated to TILT's Zenda Farms Preserve Conservation Fund for future tree plantings, and to TILT's Lands and Easements Stewardship Fund.
TILT has opted to place a series of deed restrictions on Little Grenadier. This will ensure that the Island's conservation values remain intact moving into the future.
There are few who truly appreciate the Thousand Islands and all it has to provide as much as John Tucker and it is John's fulfillment of this Legacy Gift to TILT that is deserving of appreciation and sincere reverence.
More on Grenadier Island
This summer, TILT also moved forward with the sale of the 392 acre Grenadier Island Preserve. TILT has owned and managed the Grenadier Island Preserve since 1991. It was TILT's intent to sell the Preserve, utilizing the proceeds for the long-term conservation and stewardship of its preserves and conservation easements across the region. The sale of the Grenadier Island Preserve not only presents an opportunity to fund future management activities on the Island, but a way to return lands to the municipal tax rolls. The Grenadier Island Preserve is protected by a conservation easement held by The Nature Conservancy. The easement limits detrimental use on the land, meaning the Preserve will remain as undeveloped open space to the benefit of the Island's flora and fauna. TILT will continue to serve as a resource and lead participant in the Island's fight against the invasive Pale Swallow-wort plant.
