MILLINOCKET (AP) – Gov. John Baldacci on Friday offered a plan to guarantee access to 2,000 acres of public land near Baxter State Park in light of a recent purchase of a larger parcel by a conservationist who has barred hunters and snowmobilers from her properties.

The plan was designed to hold together a delicately crafted land-use compromise that allows Katahdin Lake to become part of the 200,000-acre wilderness park.

Baldacci’s office said he proposed the access solution during a meeting with municipal officials from Millinocket, East Millinocket and Medway.

Four landowners have agreed to continue their policies of public access for recreational users, the governor said, and the Department of Conservation will build a new road connecting acreage optioned by the state to an existing network of logging roads.

The access plan was prompted by Roxanne Quimby’s acquisition of 25,000 acres east of the park, which reopened debate over the Katahdin Lake agreement.

Groups representing hunters and snowmobilers contended that Quimby’s purchase should change the terms of the deal, which set aside 2,000 acres of the 6,000-acre parcel for hunting and other “traditional uses” while the southern 4,000 acres become part of Baxter State Park.

Critics maintained that the 2,000 acres would be useless because they would be accessible only from Quimby’s land.

Baldacci praised the four landowners for their cooperation, saying they understand the “the importance of the traditional uses that are part of Maine’s heritage.”

“With the generosity of J.M. Huber, Prentiss & Carlisle, Herbert C. Haynes Inc. and William T. Gardner & Sons comes our responsibility to treat the lands they are allowing us to use with the utmost respect,” he said.