Nantucket encompasses a total of 47.8 square miles, and we are proud to say that nearly 50% of the island is protected and preserved by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Nantucket Land Bank and other land trusts and restrictions. With over 9,000 acres, the Nantucket Conservation Foundation is the largest land owner on the island with about 30% of the protected open space. This equals approximately 10 times the land mass of Central Park. Since it was founded in 1963 the NCF has acquired 214 properties. The foundation owns almost 16 of the total 60 miles of beach front on the island and offers over 100 miles of walking trails, all of which is open to the public.
