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Land Goes to Pondicherry Park in Bridgton

November 03, 2007 - BRIDGTON -- Two agencies seeking to establish a public park in the center of town completed their final land purchase Monday. Peter Lowell, executive director of the Lakes Environmental Association, announced the purchase of 23 1/2 acres formerly owned by Hazel and Enoch Cook. The land will be part of Pondicherry Park, a project organized by the LEA and the Loon Echo Land Trust.

The proposed 55-acre park would be used for low-impact recreation and education, according to the land trust's Web site. Once work at the park is complete, the land trust will place a conservation easement on the land and donate it to the town. The organizations earlier purchased 11 acres from Nina Keene and 13.6 acres from Eric and Kathleen Worthington.

They expect the final six acres will be donated to the project by the end of the year. Lowell declined to say how much the purchases had cost, although he said the Cooks had sold their land below appraised value and offered the organizations 18 months to purchase it interest free.

Lowell said the total value of the 55 acres is $240,000. The organizations are seeking to raise $570,000 for the project, and have raised $325,000 to date. The additional costs include park design and engineering, construction of bridges and an educational shelter, an endowment to maintain the park, and the creation of trails.

SOURCE: SUN JOURNAL

DATE: 10-23-2007


Lakes:
Regions: Sebago


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