NEW GLOUCESTER – New Gloucester Fairgrounds on Bald Hill Road would be developed into a community center, ball fields and other recreational facilities under a concept presented to residents Wednesday.

Taylor Engineering of Auburn laid out its vision for the 32-acre former racehorse training ground the town bought two years ago. The session was called by the Fairgrounds Committee, which has been meeting for 18 months to develop a plan for the property once known as Trotters Park.

Besides a community center and ball fields, the plan includes an amphitheater, skating rink, picnic area, gardens, trails, a bandstand and a small boat launch to the Royal River.

Several residents favored building a ball field for the town’s senior Little League team. The town has roughly 280 children participating in ball programs, which rely on two privately owned fields and two town fields at Rowe’s Station Park and Memorial School.

Mark Lambert of the New Gloucester Little League board of directors said “the problem (now) with two fields on private land that house half the town’s ball players” is that landowners can change their minds.

“We need permanent ball fields in the town and we need them yesterday. We are vulnerable to Fortin Construction,” he said.

Fortin Construction of Auburn is proposing to develop 23 house lots on 60 acres where the previous landowner had allowed construction of a ball field maintained by the Little League for years. Fortin is trying to develop an open space in the subdivision to keep the field intact.

Volunteer coaches, mostly parents, help maintain the four ball fields.

Resident Larry Zuckerman urged that a multi-use field be included to serve his polo club. He cited the historic significance of continuing equestrian events, which would not be compatible with permanent structures on the center field area of the track.

“Polo fields are in tough supply,” he said. “This is the last bastion of rural area between Lewiston and Portland. More people have horses here.”

The committee agreed to seek a compromise to serve the community.