The Bristol Board of Selectmen held a public hearing at the Bristol Town Office July 14 to hear public opinion on a proposed plan to purchase property for use as a public park. The property, approximately 1.7 acres of land at 1180 Bristol Rd., situated along the Pemaquid River, contains a 19th century cape and barn and a detached garage built in the 1970s.
If the voters agree to purchase the property, the selectmen envision turning the land into a public park with benches, picnic tables, and a visitor’s center with literature about local businesses and sites. The cape and barn, both in great disrepair, would be torn down. The site would be connected to the canoe and kayak launch property already owned by the town.
According to the proposed plan, Bristol Parks & Recreation will be responsible for the park’s maintenance, however the owner of the property will be the Town of Bristol. The total cost of the property has been negotiated down to $175,000, pending the outcome of a referendum vote July 20.
None of this, according to the selectmen’s plan, would be paid for with taxes. Instead, $50,000 will be taken from the town’s revaluation capital reserve account and $124,000 from the surplus. The town has already spent $1000 in earnest money.
Those present at the hearing generally favored purchasing the property.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to take over a valuable property,” said one advocate. “We’re fortunate to have the river running through our town. This is something we should take advantage of.”
Other, however, raised serious questions about parking availability, the necessity of razing the buildings, and traffic around the proposed park.
One woman who lived near the proposed site wondered if building the site will deteriorate an already unsafe road. “I’ve nearly had a few fender benders myself already this month, “she said.
Peter Hannah, of Bristol, asked if the selectmen had considered repairing the 19th century barn and home. Selectman chairman Bob Tibbetts estimated that the cost of repairing the buildings would come to around $500,000, almost three times the cost of the land itself.
“We poked around the other day,” Tibbetts said. “A lot would have to be done.”
The selectmen agreed that parking will be an issue, and said they will be in contact with the Maine Dept. of Transportation in regard to building an expanded parking lot.
A referendum on the proposed plan will be held Tuesday, July 20. Also on the ballot is a poll ascertaining public opinion on a proposed wolf-hybrid refuge.
