By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — The Casco Open Space Commission (OSC) has all its seats filled and a full plate for the coming year. In other words, not only are there enough members to do the work but also there is a lot of work to do.

The commission will be zoning in on three town-owned properties and determining how those can be developed. The three properities are: Berry Park, the 11-acre parcel adjacent to the town hall that was purchased in 2016; the acreage accessible from State Park Road that was part of a recent timber harvest; and a tract of land with a trail system near Ring Landing Road in South Casco.

“Over the next year, the expectation is to develop the plan and management goals for the Berry Park property,” according to OSC Chairman Eric Dibner.

A few years ago, an ad-hoc Berry Park committee worked on a conceptual plan for the space. However, the commission would like to work on a more detailed plan “and create a vision, a mission for that land,” Dibner said. Most likely the commission will partner up with the town’s parks and recreation committee to brainstorm and develop plans.

Dibner spoke to the Casco Board of Selectmen as part of the agenda item, Committee Reports, during Tuesday’s meeting. The commission “will continue to develop the two properties that the town has set aside” for preservation. “Those are usable now, but, we could make them more friendly for the town,” he said.

Board Chairman Thomas Peaslee asked what plans the member might have for the two parcels. 

First Dibner addressed the parcel located on State Park Road, which abuts Sebago State Park. “After the timber harvest, there is a lot of slash that remains. There is no development — just an opening in the road,” he said. “We could see signage, amenities like seating, and pathway development. Trail-work projects might be done with volunteers or a small crew."

On the Ring Landing Road property, the pathways in good shape. However, access from the road to these trails is problematic. “It has a singular problem of not having a road that touches it,” Dibner said. “The Open Space Commission is looking on how to get access from Ring Landing Road to the preserve. It would probably entail getting rights-of-way.” Dibner also said that another objective would be figuring out ways to inform people that both preserves are there for people to hike, to snowshoe, to enjoy nature.

Selectman Holly Hancock asked, “Have your considered putting signs up — something that indicates that there are trails or just open space?”

Dibner said the commission has discussed signs. “We’ve considered it, but we need a plan first. On Route 302, there is no decent way to get onto the land.”

Hancock said, “Part of the sale [agreement] of the Berry property is [putting up] a sign that indicates it comes from the Berry family. Lucy Jackson is thinking about what the sign should say,” she said, referring to the Berry family member who sold the land to the town.

Earlier, Dibner talked about the possibility of an open seat in the future. “I should say our membership, which is five members, has a member assigned to each seat. But, we expect there may be opportunities in the future to find new members. Of some of the existing members, at least one of them is moving on,” he said. "Anyone who is interested in protecting the natural values and preserving the rural character of the Town of Casco might be a good candidate for the commission when a seat does open up," he said.

The commission meets on the third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Casco Community Center.