Lakes Region Conservation Trust completes conservation of Mt. Pleasant property

The Lakes Region Conservation Trust is peak bagging again. After a successful fundraising campaign, this spring LRCT, headquartered in Center Harbor, purchased a 127-acre parcel on scenic Mt. Pleasant in Tuftonboro and Wolfeboro. This new conservation land joins a parade of mountain tops, forest lands, and waterfront parcels in the Lakes Region that are permanently conserved by LRCT for the benefit of the public.

The Mt. Pleasant parcel includes a well-trodden trail to a granite outcrop with stunning views of Lake Winnipesaukee, the Belknap and Ossipee Mountains, and other mountains beyond. In addition to its recreational value, this purchase permanently protects important watersheds, habitat for a variety of flora and fauna, and even the remnants of an early settler community. How’s that for peak bagging.

The parcel, located off North Line Road at the Tuftonboro-Wolfeboro town line, was purchased at a discounted price from the property’s owners. Many individual donors joined the fundraising campaign to raise the $286,500 needed for purchase and stewardship, significantly aided by a $75,000 grant from the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program and a $25,000 gift from the Land Bank of Wolfeboro-Tuftonboro. “The Mt. Pleasant project is a wonderful community project,” said Land Bank President Don McBride, “that will protect significant habitat, water quality, and scenic resources and provide great opportunities for recreation for families today and into the future.”

Now that acquisition of the property has been completed, LRCT is busy making plans to improve the trail on Mt. Pleasant that leads to its spectacular view. There never seem to be enough trails, and enough views, and LRCT is thrilled to be able to add these to its collection.

For more information on LRCT’s work, please visit the website at lrct.org.