Island purchase expands state park in the Northeast Kingdom
Island purchase expands state park in the Northeast Kingdom
As part of the deal, a conservation agreement will protect the islands ecology and keep it open for visitors.
By Juan Vega de Soto
May 31, 2024, 6:01 am
The island in Brightons Island Pond has been conserved and added to Brighton State Park. Photo courtesy Vermont Land Trust
For $1.1 million, a state park in Vermonts Northeast Kingdom just got bigger.
Vermonts Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, along with the Vermont Land Trust, announced Wednesday that they had raised the funds to add the 15-acre island in Island Pond Lake, as well as a 3-acre stretch of lakeshore, to the adjacent Brighton State Park.
The purchase brings the island under state management, guaranteeing public access and protecting its natural resources. The lakeshore parcel will be used by staff to get to and from the property.
This is a really unique expansion. We dont offer many islands in our parks, said Gannon Osborn, who manages land conservation projects for the Forests, Parks and Recreation department.
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