BETHEL — The Mahoosuc Land Trust will hold a public kick-off for its Step Up for Step Falls campaign from 4:30 to 6 p.m. April 12.

The event will be held at the land trust office at 18 Mayville Road (Route 2) in Bethel.

Step Falls is a 24-acre preserve beside Route 26 in northern Newry, just east of the Grafton Notch State Park boundary.

In 1962, The Nature Conservancy acquired the 24-acre preserve, its first Maine preserve. In October,  the conservancy transferred ownership of it to the land trust.

More than 80 percent of the funds needed for work on the property and stewardship resources were raised due to a gift, 100 percent board participation and foundation grants, Jim Mitchell, executive director of the trust, said in an April 1 news report.

Last fall, the Land Trust received a gift from Richard Bohr in honor of his brother, former Mahoosuc Land Trust president and founder, Ken Bohr, Mitchell said.

This winter, 100 percent of trust board members stepped up with gifts to support Step Falls. Additionally, the land trust has received a grant from the Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust.

The western Maine preserve features an easy walk to the base of the falls and a longer climb to the top, where the view of the surrounding mountains is breathtaking, according to the conservancy’s website about Step Falls Preserve.

At the end of the last Ice Age, glacial melt water carved Wight Brook, the site states. The falls flows over granite crisscrossed with veins of milky quartz.

“For more than a hundred years, residents and visitors to western Maine have visited Step Falls to enjoy its stunning scenery, to swim in one of its many pools, and to enjoy a family outing in this beautiful place,” Mitchell said.

The land trust plans to improve the parking area, update trail signs, rebuild the heavily-used trail to the falls, and delineate the boundary. The trust also will establish a stewardship fund to provide the necessary financial security to maintain the preserve well into the future, he said.

While a large percentage of the funds have been secured, the kick-off event will serve as a final push to involve community members toward reaching the goal by May 15, Mitchell said.

“We are giving all interested members of our western Maine community an opportunity to be involved in this exciting campaign,” he said.

Bonnie Pooley, land trust board president, said the improvements planned for this summer will enhance greatly the appearance of Step Falls.

“Step Falls is beloved by many in this community, and we want everyone to have an opportunity to be a part of this effort,” Pooley said.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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