Save Libby Hill!
The Libby Hill Forest
The broad path spirals upward, flowing
around massive granite boulders, past stately pines, and ducking out of
sight behind the remains of an old stone wall. A deer bounds across the
trail ahead, white tail raised high in alarm, while squirrels scold and
chatter in the canopy and a red-tailed hawk circles lazily above the trees.
Sun-warmed pine needles release their fragrance, fallen leaves scuff
underfoot, and the traffic noise fades away. Time stands still.
Welcome to the Libby Hill Forest
trails, where another world awaits
just a short stroll from the Gray-New Gloucester Middle School. You can lock
your worries in your car in the lot by the trail kiosk, and quickly immerse
yourself in the tranquil beauty of over seven miles of beautifully designed
and maintained forest paths.
Since 2000 a group of dedicated Gray residents has been working to create and preserve trails on Libby Hill. These trails are truly one of Gray’s greatest treasures, attracting hikers, runners, dog walkers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers in the spring, summer and fall. Winter snows bring cross-country skiers and snowshoers, and (on a separate trail network) snowmobilers as well. Cross-country running and skiing teams from the Middle and High Schools train on the trails, and teams from all over the region come to compete on the challenging terrain. Volunteers lead treks throughout the year to introduce people to the trails, and to teach about wildflowers, forest management practices, animal tracks, or wildlife. Libby Hill boasts no fewer than eight orienteering courses and a number of geocaches as well.
Most of the trails travel across land that has been permanently set aside for public use and enjoyment. This land is owned by Gray Community Endowment, the town of Gray, or SAD 15, and the three owners work closely together to maintain the trails. Over the last eight years over 200 volunteers have contributed more than 1,000 hours of labor to plan, build, and preserve the trail network.
All of this tremendous investment is at risk, however, because not all of the land on Libby Hill is in public ownership. Hancock Land Corp. owns a 29 acre parcel that sits right behind the Middle School, and which is literally the front door to the Libby Hill trail network. The primary access to the trails is on this parcel; without it, trail users would have to circle around to a “back door” which would be far from the parking area and difficult to access. Hancock Land Corp. is anxious to sell its parcel, and if a public buyer cannot be found it will sell the land to a residential developer, who could build up to five houses there. This would be devastating to the Libby Hill trail network.
We must act swiftly to save
Libby Hill from residential development. Won’t you help us?
We now have a unique opportunity to preserve the Hancock parcel for public use, now and forever. In March 2008 the Gray Community Endowment (GCE) signed a purchase and sale agreement with Hancock Land Corp. for the 29 acre parcel. This is the result of eight years of patient negotiation and stewardship, working to represent the interests of the people of Gray.
GCE is a 501c3 nonprofit organization formed in 2000 to help build a better Gray. Gray residents form the board of directors, who plan and implement its activities. Our main focus to date has been strengthening and expanding the trail network on Libby Hill; in 2004, for example, we negotiated a donation of 45 acres of land from the Libbey family. Added to the 70 acres owned by the town of Gray, this created a large parcel of roughly 115 acres that is permanently preserved for public use. We have led efforts to create a forest management plan, to clear and maintain trails, build bridges, sign and map the trails, groom them for cross-country skiing, and build public awareness of and support for the trail system. Through the recently formed “Friends of Libby Hill” GCE is creating a solid core of Gray residents who will serve as stewards of the land for generations to come. Photos, blogs, maps, and up-to-date trail information can be found on the website, www.libbyhill.org.
As a nonprofit organization, GCE
is well suited to leading the fundraising effort to save Libby Hill.
Donations made to GCE are tax deductible. We can even accept
online donations! We have a track record of
developing partnerships and recruiting volunteers to accomplish needed
tasks. And we have a passion for making Gray a better place to live,
starting with saving Libby Hill from residential development.
We Need Your Help!
Gray has a rich tradition of giving; we help our neighbors, our Little League teams, our scouts, our veterans, our churches along with countless other worthy causes. Now we’re asking your help in raising the funds needed to save Libby Hill. This is a lasting investment of your charitable dollars that will benefit you and your family and generations of Gray residents to come.
The purchase price for the Hancock parcel, based on a fair market appraisal completed in March 2008, is $160,000. In the eight years we have been negotiating to buy it this is the lowest price we have ever seen. This land will never be less expensive to buy than it is now. You can help in two ways:
- Provide a short term, no or below-market rate loan to GCE to help remove the property from the market. This will allow us to close the deal with Hancock Land Corp. by June 30, 2008 and give us the time we need to raise the cash for the permanent acquisition.
- Make a cash, tax-deductible donation to GCE to pay off the short term note holders and allow us to secure the land. You can do this online (click here) or mail your contribution to Gray Community Endowment, PO Box 1376, Gray, ME 04039. We will mail you a receipt.
GCE has applied for funding from the Land for Maine’s Future program to help with the acquisition, and the Gray town council has budgeted $25,000 from the Open Space fund to help with the purchase (subject to taxpayer approval). Even if we’re successful in both of these requests we still need to raise tens of thousands of dollars in local match.
It is up to us, the residents of Gray, to close the funding gap and preserve these beautiful trails forever. Send us your tax deductible donation today!