The Kennebec Land Trust, which manages the conservation recreation area that's owned by the city of Augusta, is raising money to widen access there to people with disabilities.
The State House complex appears through trees at the top of Augusta’s Howard Hill during a walking tour of the land on April 18. The wooded hill forms a backdrop to the State House. Staff file photo by Joe Phelan
Sue Bell, left, city councilor Dale McCormick and Brian Kent look down on Kennedy Brook during a walking tour of Howard Hill on Friday April 18, 2014 in Augusta. The wooded hill is backdrop to the State House. Staff file photo by Joe Phelan
They did so without $337,500 in voter-approved Land for Maine’s Future funds awarded to assist in the purchase but held up by Gov. Paul LePage’s refusal to issue $6.5 million in bonds approved by voters in 2010 and $5 million approved in 2012. Those bonds include money the Land for Maine’s Future program has approved for 30 conservation projects, including the $337,500 Kennebec Land Trust officials were counting on to help fund the $1.2 million Howard Hill project.