The York Community Garden will become part of the Town Farm, now being planned for the town of York:
New trails, gardens envisioned for York town farm — HDC hopes residents may apply for plots this spring
YORK — An ad-hoc committee of the Historic District Commission envisions gardens and trails at the Town Farm.
Before another summer growing season, the committee plans to present to the Board of Selectmen a process by which residents can apply for a plot of garden at the farm on Long Sands Road. There is currently no formal process, said Commission Chairman Bob Cutts.
“We’re just trying to get things organized and come up with a plan to proceed,” said Cutts prior to a Feb. 18 meeting on the project. “Right now, it sits there, not real attractive.”
The 2.5-acre parcel includes the York Community Garden, located just off Long Sands Road. There are several garden plots, a small dirt parking lot and an overgrowth of sumac trees. The committee plans to clean up the site by getting rid of sumac overgrowth, planting fruit trees, and erecting fencing.
An L-shaped strip of land owned by Central Maine Power runs through the property. It could act as a trail connecting Long Sands Road to Ridge Road, should CMP give permission for its use, said Cutts. The committee is in the process of asking CMP whether the public may use the land.
Committee members were pleasantly surprised to learn, after a January site walk, the Town Farm has more land than they had thought. A map of the land shows a square half-acre parcel next to the CMP land off Ridge Road. Committee member Russell Osgood, who works with a local 4-H Club, has expressed an interest in using this piece of farmable land for club members and as an education piece for the schools, in particular the Coastal Ridge Elementary School, said Cutts.