LINCOLNVILLE — Coastal Mountains Land Trust and the Town of Lincolnville have finalized an exchange of two properties, creating a new Town Park and conserving wildlife habitat along the Ducktrap River. Residents of the Town of Lincolnville voted overwhelmingly in favor of this swap in July 2020, and after finalizing the details, the transaction was completed in early June 2021, according to CMLT, in a news release.           

The Town of Lincolnville now owns a 4.34-acre park on Penobscot Bay, located off Route 1 near the Lincolnville / Northport town line. The property was previously managed as a private park, and has an existing volleyball court, horseshoe pits, picnic areas with grills, paths, a parking area, and steps leading down to its stone beach. The Town is currently working on necessary improvements to the park. It is temporarily closed but expected to open later this year.           

In exchange, the Land Trust now owns a 68.8-acre property on the Ducktrap River, near the Tanglewood 4-H Camp. This parcel is nearly surrounded by other permanently conserved land. The Land Trust will manage the property in a natural condition, allowing recreation such as hunting, birding, and hiking in its remote forests. Conservation of this parcel furthers the Land Trust’s long-term goal of protecting the river corridor and habitat for Atlantic Salmon.

David Kinney, the Lincolnville Town Administrator said recently, “The Town is thrilled to be partnering with Coastal Mountains Land Trust with this land exchange and views the exchange as a win-win situation for all involved. The exchange preserves in perpetuity the Ducktrap River corridor along with the river's wild Atlantic sea-run salmon and other significant habitat while also expanding public access opportunities to Penobscot Bay. We look forward to the public's enjoyment of these unique locations for generations to come.”

Coastal Mountains Land Trust has worked since 1986 to permanently conserve land to benefit the natural and human communities of the western Penobscot Bay. The Land Trust has protected over 12,000 acres, offering 50 miles of trails for public recreation.