RUMFORD — The Strathglass Park Preservation Society is hoping its plan to improve a portion of the park along Hancock Street will move forward at Thursday night’s selectmen’s meeting.

Society member Phil Blampied approached the board in February about trimming vegetation, removing saplings and stumps, and installing a sound-barrier plank fence from Maine Avenue to the walkway on the park side of the stonewall.

Blampied had estimated the cost at $4,000 and said the society would get the money through fundraisers.

Board Chairman Greg Buccina said he was concerned about who owned the area on Hancock Street and said a review of the project by the town attorney seemed prudent.

Blampied said in a phone interview Tuesday that he was hopeful the board is ready to move forward with the project. He said he believed Public Works Superintendent Andy Russell’s budget includes work on Hancock Street.

“I believe there was some interest in removing stumps and some of the brush,” he said.

Blampied said he would be willing to work with the town crew to improve the area.

Also on the agenda Thursday is further discussion of a mountain bike trail system. In March, selectman voted to approve spending $1,500 from the economic development fund to have a company design the 3-mile trail on 83 acres behind the Public Works garage on Route 2.

Red Oakes Enterprises of Rome was given the design contract. The cost of development was estimated to be $15,000 to $17,000, Jim Rinaldo, economic development committee member, said.

Selectman Jeff Sterling said the trail would be an asset to the area, especially with the hotel planned nearby and the boat launch on the Androscoggin River directly across from the hotel.

“This seems like a great opportunity for us to start developing this type of recreational opportunities,” he said.

Buccina had previously said he wished to have the trail project sent to voters for approval.

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