cates farm farmland conservation project north carolina

Cate's Farm Farmland Conservation

wave

Unique Places to Save partnered with the City of Mebane to assist with their master planning process that garnered community input for this remarkable rural property as part of their park concept.

Unique Places to Save partnered with the City of Mebane to assist with their master planning process that garnered community input for this remarkable rural property as part of their park concept.

Arcadia Land & Water of Durham, NC sold a 54-acre property north of historic Cates Farm in Alamance County to the City of Mebane. The sale includes a $60,000 donation by Unique Places LLC to Unique Places to Save, to work with the city to develop a park or open space area that will benefit residents and visitors alike.

The property includes conservation easements held by the NC Department of Transportation and was historically part of the Swathmoor-Cates Family Farm, which was a substantial pickling operation in the early 20th century. Much of the remaining Cates Family farmland has been protected through farmland conservation easements in a partnership between the City of Mebane and Unique Places LLC.

With conservation easements in place to protect Mill Creek and other creeks that border the property, and the vision for conservation in place, this property is a natural, sustainable, open space area for the city and surrounding communities to enjoy for generations to come.

 

Learn more about Cate's Farm Park

 

About the Authormichael scisco

Michael brings nearly 20 years of experience to his role as Trusted Conservation Advisor at Unique Places to Save. He has worked to conserve over 200,000 acres across the U.S. while securing over $200M in funding and transacting $500M in land and other real estate.

Learn More

We are a trusted partner for land planners to integrate conservation into their development strategy

 

Learn More
photo of working land conservation for public land

Michael Scisco, February 2026

How Private Land Conservation Strengthens Our Public Lands

Public lands are a cornerstone of the American experience. They provide places to hunt, fish, camp, and work the land, while supporting local economies across the country. But the long-term health and usefulness of those public areas also d...

photo of conservation in housing development

Michael Scisco, February 2026

Conservation Planning for Developers: Building Value While Protecting Land

For decades, the development industry has faced a paradox: how to meet demand for housing, commercial, and mixed-use projects while addressing growing public concern about sprawl, water quality, climate change, and loss of open space.

photo of marsh creek mitigation conservation easement in kentucky

Michael Scisco, February 2026

Marsh Creek | Conservation Mitigation Easement

Total Acres 56.2 Project Year 2025 Located in McCreary County of Kentucky The Marsh Creek Stream and Wetland Restoration Project is designed not only to restore degraded aquatic resources, but to secure their protection and stewardship far ...

Michael Scisco, February 2026

Sandy Branch II | Conservation Mitigation Easement

Total Acres 22.5 Project Year 2025 Located in Chatham County of North Carolina Sandy Branch Phase II Mitigation Site represents a long-term commitment to restoring and safeguarding a working Piedmont landscape while permanently protecting i...