OWLS HEAD, Maine — Town officials and representatives of a local land trust celebrated with sparkling cider Monday afternoon after signing an agreement to preserve a more than 10-acre parcel donated to community.
“We look forward to a long and successful partnership,” Land Trust Executive Director Pam Dewell said at a ceremony held during the selectmen’s meeting to sign the conservation easement being granted to the Georges River Land Trust.
The 10 acres was donated to the town this year by Owls Head resident Todd Swinton. Selectman Linda Post said the easement with the land trust will guarantee that the land remains forever preserved.
Kathryn DeMarosian, chair of the Owl’s Head Conservation Commission, pointed out that the land had been in his family for 110 years. In honor of his family, the Plaisteds, the property has been named the Plaisted Preserve.
The 10.6-acre property, which stretches from North Shore Drive to Rockland Harbor, is woodlands with a mix of spruce, pine and maple trees. There also are pockets of wetlands and small vernal pools and the property drops steeply to Broad Cove, which enters Rockland Harbor.
Ultimately, hiking trails will be created on the property, which is restricted to low-impact, daytime recreation activities.
Town residents voted at the August annual town meeting to accept the gift.
DeMarosian said the land trust has provided significant guidance to the town’s Conservation Commission.
“The Georges River Land Trust has helped to build the Conservation Commission into a viable organization,” she said, adding that she hopes this will lead other residents to come forward if they want land to be preserved for public use.
After the paperwork was signed by the town and land trust, the trust opened up bottles of sparkling cider and poured drinks for the selectmen, Conservation Trust board members and other residents gathered at the event.