The Waltham Land Trust works to ensure that all residents in the City of Waltham have access to safe green space and all of its benefits in their local community. The Land Trust's mission is to create a legacy of land conservation in Waltham by promoting, protecting, restoring, and acquiring open space. The Land Trust envisions growth in public appreciation of natural resources, native habitat preservation, and increased biodiversity, in an ever changing and growing community. The mission is a direct response to the needs of the community to balance development pressure with land protection. Waltham has experienced an acceleration of large-scale development resulting in high density land use patterns, dwindling of open space parcels, and environmental degradation. The Land Trust seeks to ensure that community green space and its benefits are available to all residents, especially those who live in high density areas. To counter these development trends, the Land Trust: 1.) advocates for land protection; 2.) builds, maintains, and fosters, the use of an extensive network of safe trails through various parcels; 3.) involves the public in volunteer stewardship and trail-building projects; 4.) provides guided recreational opportunities for families and youth within the City's green spaces ensuring these are open to all residents; 5.) presents environmental education programs to the public; and 6.) raises public appreciation for, and investment in, open space.