PARIS – Some 20 people who gathered to discuss the future of Paris Hill Commons Thursday night came up with a number of suggestions for the area on Baptist Church property.

Paris Commons Advisory Committee member Ted Kurtz requested ideas from the group. Suggestions ranged from building a park with walks, flowers, benches and waterfalls to maintaining the area as it is. Other suggestions were for the area to include a tennis court, a gazebo, skating rink and a lush lawn.

The consensus pointed to making the commons a place where residents and visitors can take a walk or sit on a bench and read. All agreed that any use should blend with the area.

“We want to be sure that what we do is part of a long-range plan,” Kurtz said.

Jean Federico, chairman of the committee, presented a history of efforts on the area.

In 1998, the church contracted with a local landscaper to plant trees for $4,400. In 2000, another contractor pruned and mulched the trees and replaced four for about $1,800.

The church has started a tree fund with donations of $1,633. In 2003, the mowing was turned over entirely to the church.

In 2003, the six-member committee was organized to work on how the commons could best be maintained. The group has three members from the church and three from the town.

The committee wishes to maintain a historical perspective and treat the lawn as a single unit. Members intend raise money by having trees planted in memory of people, and making Christmas ornaments from felled tree burl and wood.

The committee’s short-term projects are to cut the middle tree in front of the church, add fill to level and reseed the lawn, set the lawn back from the road, add peastone for additional parking, remove the large fir tree that is getting bare due to age, and remove one dead elm.

Pine Tree State Arboretum representatives have identified, numbered, measured and rated every tree – work it did free for the committee – and will see if any grants are available.

Many newly planted trees were injured when trucks backed into them at the annual Founders Day celebration.

Residents interested in the project are urged to contact one of the committee members: Wini Mott, Cynnie Burmeister, Julie DeMont, Kurtz, Ron Blake or Federico.