SOUTH PORTLAND LAND TRUST
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EVENTS

06/07/2008

Dear SPLT Member,
         You are invited to join us for two events on June 7 in support of our latest projects, a guided site walk for the planned Barberry Creek Woods Trail and trailing clearing for the new Red Brook Trail. The events are being held in conjunction with National Trails Day.

The Barberry Creek Woods Trail will be located in the heavily-wooded area north of Broadway at the intersection with Evans St., while the Red Brook Trail will connect the SPLT’s Clark’s Pond Trail to a planned pocket park alongside Philbrook Rd. across from the Maine Mall.

Participants in the Barberry Creek Woods walk should meet in the small parking lot behind J.P. Thornton’s (15 Evans St.) at 9:45 before going on the guided one-hour walk. Jeff Tarling, the City of Portland’s Arborist and a member of the WET Committee, will lead the site walk. Volunteers for the Red Brook trail clearing should sign in at the parking lot Sappi Paper (179 John Roberts Rd.) at 12:30 before beginning the 1:00-4:00 trail clearing. The SPLT will provide tools; participants are invited to bring lunch and gloves.

 Interested participants should contact WET Committee Chair Tom Blake for more information: teblake@aol.com or 767-5723.

Thank you.

Richard Rottkov
President

 

 

 

05/17/2008

ANNUAL PLANT SALE  At the American Legion 413 Broadway,
South Portland, May 17th. Doors open at 8:00AM for members (perfect time to become one) and to the general public at 9:00AM. Plant sale ends at 1:00PM. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS. KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS THE ONLY MAJOR FUND RAISER FOR THE LAND TRUST.


SEE YOU ALL THERE!!!

 

 

 

10/17/2007

WETLANDS FORUM   The South Portland Zoning Committee is holding a public forum on a proposal to adopt local wetlands regulations that would apply to situations that DEP and the Army Corp of Engineers currently do not cover.  The forum will be held in City Hall Council Chambers on Wednesday, October 17th from 6:30 - 8:30pm.  FMI: Tex Haeuser, Planning & Development Dir. at chaeuser@southportland.org .

Wetlands Proposal   need Adobe Reader to open

 


10/09/2007

PIZZA LOVERS REJOICE—RICETTA’S FUNDRAISER for SPLT SET FOR OCTOBER 9th

Ricetta’s has generously partnered with SPLT to sponsor a fund raiser on October 9, 2007 from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Just bring your family and friends to their South Portland location at 29 Western Avenue. The best pizza in Maine will taste even better when you know that a portion of that day’s lunch & dinner proceeds (including take out orders) will be donated to SPLT!

10/06/2007

 The South Portland Land Trust will be holding their

                     Annual Bulb Sale

Mill Creek Park, corner of Hinkley Dr and Ocean St

                            October 6

                        9 AM to 1 PM.

There will be a high quality selection of tullips, daffodils, crocus and camassia, as well As white Siberian Iris and day lillies.  We are looking for bulb and tuber donations and volunteers.

Please call Helen Slocum, 799-3574 for information
POSTER

 

 

09/30/2007

FIRST ANNUAL LONG CREEK FAMILY DAY

“Bringing Families, Businesses and the Environment Together”

In conjunction with National Public Lands Day

September 30th, 2007

 

10:00               Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Clark’s Pond Trail

                                    Meet at Home Deport parking lot (right, rear location)

                                    Followed by an educational hike of the 1.2 mile trail

11:30-1:00      Public Cook out at Jordan Park (Brick Hill)

12:30-2:30      Activities led by LL Bean

                                    * Fly fishing at Jordan Park

                                    * Kayaking at the Heron Cove boat launch

                        Children’s activities at Jordan Park - Bring a bike! Bring a kite!

1:45                 Public Tour of “The Castle”

3:00                 Annual meeting of the South Portland Land Trust

 EVENT FLYER requires Adobe Reader
SPLT

Gov. Baldacci to Cut the Ribbon, Opening Clark’s Pond Trail

 As part of the festivities for the opening of the Clark’s Pond recreational trail, the South Portland Land Trust will celebrate the occasion and the natural environment when it holds the First Annual Long Creek Family Day on Sunday, Sept. 30 at Jordan Park, located near Clark’s Pond on the grounds of Brick Hill. All are welcome.

Long Creek Family Day, being organized by the Land Trust’s West End Trails committee in conjunction with National Public Lands Day, will feature Gov. John Baldacci at the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony, an introduction of the trail steward (Youth Alternatives), and the first release of an area trail map, as well as a hike, cookout, kayaking and fly-casting, and a tour of Brick Hill’s historic “Castle.”

The event will get underway at 10:00 a.m. when Gov. Baldacci cuts the ceremonial ribbon opening the new 1.2 mile trail around Clark’s Pond to Westbrook St. A second trail, which is handicap accessible and extends from a preexisting walkway to Clark’s Pond Point, will also be officially opened. The ribbon cutting will be staged at the Clark’s Pond trailhead behind the Home Depot store (300 Clark’s Pond Parkway).

The ribbon cutting will be followed by a commemorative first walk along the scenic trail, led by South Portland Land Trust President Tom Blake. A cookout will then be held at Jordan Park (11:30 a.m.), followed by a series of fun activities from 12:30-2:00, including kayaking and fly-fishing, led and generously donated by L.L. Bean, and various children’s activities. A public tour of “The Castle,” which is included among the national registry of historic buildings, will take place at 1:45. The day will conclude when the South Portland Land Trust holds its annual meeting of its members at 2:30.

The public is invited to attend and participate in each activity. For more information, contact the South Portland Land Trust at: 799-5723 or teblake@aol.com.

“The South Portland Land Trust and our West End Trails committee are thrilled to be sponsoring the first annual Long Creek Family Day,” said President Tom Blake. “This is an opportunity for the community to celebrate their support and appreciation for the ongoing revitalization of the Long Creek watershed. Our Clark’s Pond Trail is a showcase for southern Maine, a major step in our long-term vision to make the western part of South Portland, including the Maine Mall area, recreationally and environmentally appealing for our citizens.”

Another reason for the event is to increase public awareness of the importance of environmental stewardship. The West End Trails committee (a community collaborative comprised of representatives from city and state government, local businesses and neighborhoods, area developers and utilities, Land Trust board members and other environmental organizations) is committed to helping restore the Long Creek watershed, including Clark’s Pond and Long Creek. The watershed’s natural environment has been compromised, with its waters far well below government standards for water quality.

In addition to Gov. Baldacci, also participating in the ribbon cutting will be other state elected representatives, city leaders, event sponsors and representatives of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), which recently completed enhancements for the Clark’s Pond trails. Representatives from Youth Alternatives will also be present, announcing their commitment to stewardship of the trails.

The Clark’s Pond Trail was initially cut by 85 volunteers last October and completed in August by AMC’s professional trail crew, with the trail enhancement made possible by a $30,000 federal grant award from the City of South Portland. The trail is part of the ambitious West End Trails (WET) project, an initiative dedicated to improving the quality of life in the western area (including the Maine Mall area) of South Portland. The project’s vision to make the area more accessible and livable includes creating an extensive series of recreational trails, walkways, bikeways and parks that will connect many neighborhoods while traversing some of South Portland’s most scenic and historic locations in the busiest part of the city..

Since its inception in June, 2006, the WET committee has garnered nearly $250,000 in funding for sidewalks and trails. Working with the National Park Service, through an NPS advisory grant, the WET committee has also released a master plan to bring businesses and the community together through the interconnecting trails and parks. The master plan map will be presented as part of the Sept. 30 ribbon cutting ceremony.

Joining Blake to lead the commemorative first hike will be the National Park Service’s Julie Isbill and the South Portland Historical Society’s Kathy DiPhilippo. They will point out significant environmental and historic markers along the trail route, including the former site of an ice house on Clark’s Pond. Those attending the ribbon cutting and/or trail walk are invited to continue with a walk from Westbrook St. to Brick Hill or join up with the celebration at Jordan Park.

The South Portland Land Trust’s annual meeting will include the election of members to the board of directors and other business items. The board of directors will then choose officers for the upcoming year.

The South Portland Land Trust thanks the City of South Portland, LL Bean, the National Park Service, the Appalachian Mountain Club, Home Depot, the Portland Water District, Berman and Associates, General Growth Properties, and Youth Alternatives for helping to make the Clark’s Pond Trail and Long Creek Family Day possible.

 

 

 

06/02/2007    

                  SP Land Trust & City to Team Up for Cleanup pf the Greenbelt, Clark's Pond Trail Volunteers Needed to Help on Saturday, June 2, between 8 a.m.-12 noon
 
The South Portland Land Trust and the City of South Portland Parks & Recreation Dept. will partner for the cleanup of the Greenbelt Walkway and the new Clark's Pond recreational trail on Saturday, June 2. The cleanup, to take place during 8 a.m.-12 noon, is part of the Land Trust's annual commemoration of National Trail's Day.
 
Volunteers are needed to help collect refuse along the Greenbelt's 5.7 miles walkway and the 1.5 mile Clark's Pond Trail. Those interested in taking part should report between 8 a.m. and 12 noon to one of two locations: the bridge in Mill Creek Park or behind J.P. Thornton's (Evans St. and Broadway).
 
Anyone interested in further details can check the Land Trust's website (splandtrust.org) or email or call Richard Rottkov at rrottkov@yahoo.com or 799-5686.
 
The Greenbelt Walkway is located along the Fore River shore and passes through several South Portland neighborhoods.  The off-road trail, popular for running, walking, biking and rollerblading, extends from the Town of Scarborough to Bug Light Park in South Portland. The Clark's Pond Trail traverses the pond's south shore, from beyond Home Depot to Westbrook St. The Land Trust, with the help of 70 volunteers, cut the trail this past October.
 
The American Hiking Society's National Trails Day® (NTD), held the first Saturday of every June since 1992, is America's largest celebration of trails and the outdoors. More than 1000 events are hosted by trail and community groups, public agencies, and businesses from coast to coast.

 

 

05/19/2007

This Years Plant Sale

 

Last Year's Plant Sale
Pictures By
Victor Damian

 

 

 

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