| Friday, January 3, 2003 HIGHLAND TRAILS TO BE STARTED | ||
Seven projects are planned in the preserve, ranging from building a new trail in Rome to removing abandoned items during the first phase of transforming the hilly area into a recreational region with signs, small parking lots and maintained trails. Altogether, the Highlands is expected to cover about 6,100 acres in Vienna, Rome, New Sharon and Mount Vernon when all property acquisitions are completed. The project started taking shape in the late 1990s when the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance proposed to safeguard the acreage from development with financial assistance from the Land for Maine's Future Board. So far, the board has pledged about $2 million in funds for land purchases and the alliance has raised approximately $910,000 for the same purpose. Negotiation for the last remaining major purchase, several hundred acres of blueberry fields atop Vienna Mountain, continues with the owner, Allen's Blueberry Freezer of Ellsworth. The alliance, the group promoting the Highlands project, in December was awarded $66,365 from the Land for Maine's Future Board to begin readying the woods, fields and ponds for increased pedestrian activity. Alliance presidednt Denny Phillips said the 2.1-mile Round Top Trail will be built in Rome from Watson Pond Road to the summit of 1,130-foot Round Top Hill. A five-vehicle parking lot will be made at the trail head. " (The Maine Conservation Corps) will help us. They've done some work for us in the past (on another project)," said Phillips. Most of the corps members, who will be paid, are college students or are college age. Sanders Hill Loop Trail in Rome, an existing 2.5-mile trail to the top of Sanders Hill, will be improved. A trail-head parking lot for three vehicles also will be cleared. Each of the trails will be marked with paint and several signs will be posted. Phillips said most vehicle access to McIntire Pond in New Sharon and Boody Pond in Vienna will be blocked when boulders are placed at the entry points of rough roads that lead to the remote water bodies. All-terrain vehicles have eroded parts of the two roads, he said. " We still need to raise $90,000, and that's turning out to be the toughest part," said Phillips. The alliance had set a $1 million fund-raising goal in 1998. Individuals and foundations have contributed most of the money, he said. Tim Glidden, director of the Future Board, on Thursday applauded the ongoing efforts of the alliance, and uniqueness of the Highlands project. " I definitely think the Kennebec Highlands is unique in the sense that it is clearly of statewide significance, and it was put together by a local grass-roots group. And those folks were able to do it on a large-scale project," he said. The group over the next several years can seek additional state funds to develop trails and for other assorted work in the Highlands, Glidden said. " They can get up to 5 percent of the appraised value (of the property)," he said. But available state money could dwindle in the future because of tight budgets and competition for funds. Phillips said old refrigerators, tires, abandoned vehicles and a bulldozer will be removed this year from sections of the Highlands in Rome and Vienna. Aside from the paid workers from the conservation corps, alliance members and volunteers are expected to help with the task, he said. While the land is set aside for preservation, traditional uses such as commercial blueberry growing and lumber harvesting will continue. The Highlands will be managed by the state Bureau of Parks and Lands, which is the deeded owner of the property. Dan McGillvray — 621-5642 — dmcgillvray@centralmaine.com | ||