PHILLIPS — A midwinter gathering of snowshoers, hikers, hunters, snowmobilers and riders of ATVs is on tap at the Phillips Area Community Center on Saturday, Feb. 21.
The Trust for Public Land and its local partner, High Peaks Alliance, will celebrate the permanent protection of 5,800 acres of working forest and trails around Orbeton Stream in northern Franklin County.
“It took at least five years and the partnering of groups and individuals at the local, regional and national level to raise $1.6 million, enabling the state of Maine to purchase this conservation easement from landowner Linkletter Timberlands. The easement ensures logging and public access to traditional use of the forested land,” Milt Baston, president of the High Peaks Alliance, said.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and other elected officials are expected to join the celebration, which kicks off at noon Feb. 21 at the Phillips Area Community Center, 21 Depot St.
High Peaks Alliance is offering a guided snowshoe walk along the nearby Sandy River section of the Fly Rod Crosby Trail, beginning at 10:15 a.m. at the Community Center.
The North Franklin Snowmobile Club is sponsoring a Snowmobile Ride-In, with sleds expected to arrive via ITS 89 at noon at the Community Center. A snow groomer will also be on display.
Those interested are asked to RSVP by Feb. 13 for the lunch provided by The Trust for Public Land by calling 772-7424 ext. 5 or emailing lisa.preble@tpl.org.
For more information, log on to www.highpeaksalliance.org and for weather concerns, call 772-7424.
The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Nearly 10 million people live within a 10-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year, the agency siad. To support The Trust for Public Land, visit www.tpl.org.
The mission of the High Peaks Alliance is to ensure and enhance public access and opportunities for recreation in Maine’s High Peaks region, which encompasses some 200,000 acres of remote backcountry in Northern Franklin County.
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