JAY – The North Jay White Granite Park, which boasts extensive views of mountains and trails passing by granite quarries, has grown in popularity since its inception in 2005.

Nearly 500 visitors signed the guest book in 2007 at the park, up from 345 in 2006, according to information provided by Mary Howes, who developed the park along with husband, Tim DeMillo, on their apple orchard on Woodman Hill.

People as far away as New Zealand and Germany visited as well as people from around the state and country.

During October, 184 guests signed their names.

Since 2006, people from 25 states have signed in, Howe said.

Howes and DeMillo created the nonprofit organization with a long-term goal to build a museum and preserve the granite quarry history, and share it with schoolchildren and others.

The couple developed a one-mile walking trail that winds through their orchard and other trails that give glimpses of the granite quarries along the way. One circular walking path passes by a small, white granite quarry on their property.

The largest quarry near the site once produced 1 million paving blocks a year, Howes previously said.

At one time, the Maine and New Hampshire Granite Co. owned the site and employed 318 men and had a weekly payroll of $9,000 in the early 1900s, according to a brochure the couple developed.

The park includes picnic tables and granite benches.

The couple is awaiting word on a grant application to the State of Maine Recreational Trails program.

“This will allow us to put a large gazebo near the quarry and expand the hiking trails,” according to the annual report.

presented to selectmen last week.

They also plan to install informational signs along the trails.

Kites are available to those want to fly one, and there is a disc golf set for visitors to try their hand at, she said.