Here in Vermont the Town would have to agree to buy the land after it was appraised. VLT or another land trust would agree to help fund the acquisition of the land for the town and they would get a conservation easement that would protect the property in perpetuity, even if the Town one day decided to sell the land, it would never be developed. The land trust may ask the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board to fund part of the cost as well, and they would co-own the conservation easement. This all takes time, but it is how dozens of town forests have been established in this state and the process is very well established. It would surprise me if this hasn’t been looked into at this point.