The Chip Holt Nature Center in Vitale Park on Conesus Lake is a not-for-profit entity built and managed by the citizens of the Lakeville community. In 2008, we began offering interpretive and outdoor recreation programming for local schools and the public. This has grown into our Nature of Things monthly programs and our Summer Nature Camp, supported by Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Town of Livonia.

We have a small Board of Directors, composed of volunteers from the community. To inquire about volunteer opportunities, please email chipholtnaturecenter@yahoo.com

Chip and Kathy Holt​

Chip was the Chief Engineer and executive in charge of directing the conception, development and launch of Xerox's innovative DocuTech product line. In addition, he was a Distinguished Alumni of Drexel University and a member of the Alumni Circle of Distinction. Thanks to Chip's contributions and that of the DocuTech team, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) honored Xerox in 2003 with the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for the creation of DocuTech.

“Perhaps more than any person since Chester Carlson, inventor of xerography, and early company executive John Dessauer, Chip provided technical vision and leadership that transformed the Xerox Corporation,” said Charles B. Duke, colleague of Chip’s, noted physicist, and retiree of Xerox. “Chip was both the architect and initial implementer of the DocuTech product line.”

Chip’s wife, Kathy, described him as “layered” – so very complex you worked down a layer at a time. He loved golf, teaching, history, clocks, all music except jazz (!), the piano, children, sailing, fitness and exercise, telling jokes, fishing, gardening, and more. But at the end of the day, engineering anything and everything was his passion! Chip died September 24, 2005 with grace and dignity – “always a gentleman.”


 An invitation to visit Vitale Park in 2006, extended by Dick Palermo, prompted Kathy to donate a generous capital fund to build the nature center. A love of nature and the outdoors, shared by Kathy and Chip, inspired her to request it be named in his memory. Her enthusiasm for the success of the center extended to work as a Board of Directors member, dedication of her financial support, and supplying some of the furnishings for the center. Spirited by nature, she freely shared her wisdom and experience gained through her varied philanthropic endeavors, especially the Boys and Girls Club of America and the K9 Training program.

In May 2013, Kathy Holt passed away. Livonia and the surrounding communities will continue to enjoy Kathy's legacy through family and student oriented programming. We will forever be thankful for Kathy's dedication in her pursuit of "connecting minds to nature."