WELD – It wasn’t the mountain setting planned for the celebration, but it didn’t seem to matter.

State leaders and residents joined Tuesday to celebrate the conservation of nearly 26,000 acres in the Mount Blue State Park/Tumbledown region.

Townspeople decided five years ago to protect land around the park, the mountains and the hiking trails from development, to keep them for public use for future generations.

Members of the Tumbledown Conservation Alliance sold their dream to state and federal officials, land conservation groups, members of the public and six private landowners.

A partnership was formed, and they worked together either to buy the land outright or conserve it by easement to ensure public access.

Tuesday’s festivities were to be held at the overlook on Center Hill Road, where the mountains and Webb Lake could be seen. An hour before the ceremony, because of rain and predicted high winds, the event was moved inside. People began preparing Weld Town Hall for the event.

Conrad Heeschen of Wilton, a member of Tumbledown Conservation Alliance, attached corn stalks to a post in the hall. Pam Prodan of Wilton, another alliance member, set pumpkins and flowering cabbages in front of the podium.

Mount Blue Park Manager Bruce Farnham worked on a computer to project a picture of Tumbledown to a screen while his wife, Dianna, spread leaves on the floor.

Members of the Trust for Public Land set up food and information tables.

Jerry Nering, owner of the Weld General Store and a member of the alliance, described the mood.

“They’re very happy,” he said.

This is a gem’

Federal, state and private funds were used to protect 7,464 acres inside the park, as well as 18,311 acres on Tumbledown Mountain, including public hiking trails. There were 13 separate real estate transactions, five public funding sources and more than 800 private donations.

The money came from $4.27 million in appropriations secured by the Maine congressional delegation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Legacy Program, grants totaling $2.61 million from the Land for Maine’s Future Program, a $370,000 grant from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, $100,000 from other state funds, and more than $500,000 from private donations.

Both Gov. John Baldacci and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said during their speeches that the area around Mount Blue State Park and Tumbledown Mountain has been listed as one of the best recreation and vacation areas in the U.S.

Both praised the efforts of those involved in making the dream become a reality. Others praised Baldacci and former Gov. Angus King, the state’s congressional delegation, and state legislators and departments, along with conservation organizations.

“I can’t think of another land conservation effort I am more proud of in the state of Maine,” Collins said. “This is a gem.”

The conservation effort is not only about protecting the mountains, speakers said, but also protecting working forests, water and air quality, scenic beauty, wildlife habitat, recreation and tourism, and is about creating jobs.

People’s initial concerns about land’s coming off Weld’s tax rolls were eased once people learned that most of the land was in state tree-growth protection, and that development comes at a cost because it usually means more services will be needed, Nering said. Plus the majority of land was in the township, not the town, he said.

“I think it’s a very good thing,” Weld Selectman Laurie Pratt said. “It’s definitely a beautiful area and I think there is a lot of growth in Weld. It does take it off the tax rolls,” she said, “but it brings people in. It’s kind of a balance.”

By 11 a.m., the hall was filled with people, including a number of children from Weld Elementary School.

Chelsea Frey, 11, sitting next to friend Karen Schwartz, 12, said she thought the conservation effort was good.

“I think it would be good for people,” Frey said. “People don’t really have many places to hike around here.”