Jay board to discuss possibility of leasing French Falls Recreation Area

JAY — Selectpersons will hear a presentation Monday night on entering a lifetime lease with the Androscoggin Land Trust for property in the French Falls Recreation Area.

The trust acquired nearly 1,250 acres of forested land along the Androscoggin River in Canton and Jay in 2014 to permanently conserve it for public use. The French Falls area at the end of French Falls Lane in Jay is part of the conservation area.

The trust bought the land from Verso Paper Corp. with funding from Land for Maine’s Future, Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program and numerous private foundations, according to the trust’s website.

Trust Executive Director Michael Auger will meet with selectpersons at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at the Jay Town Office to discuss the possibility of taking over the French Falls area, Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said.

The land to be discussed includes the parking area, the mowed area, the ball field and the former ice skating rink area.

Trust representatives are interested in working with the town to allow continued use of the recreation area for the community, she said.

Because of the funding for the acquisition, the trust is proposing a lifetime lease of the land rather than direct ownership, she said.

Auger will explain this opportunity and discuss what, if any, restrictions might be placed on the property.

If the board favors pursuing the lease, a question allowing the board to enter into the agreement could be included on the April town meeting warrant for voter approval, LaFreniere said.

She has asked selectpersons to think about how they would like to see the land used, including the possibility of access to the Androscoggin River and what, if any, restrictions may apply.

[email protected]