What is Docks to Doorways?   

It is a grassroots, volunteer-led initiative to further the economic and ecological vitality of the Belgrade Lakes region. The primary vehicles are restoring water access from Great Pond to Belgrade Lakes Village, rejuvenating the village by purchasing and improving two properties in the middle of the village, and building a Lakes Resource Center to provide educational and community space in the village.

 

 

 

When will the docks be open?  

We are raising funds as fast as we can to complete the payments on these two properties.  Our ambitious goal is to open at least one dock at the Resource Center lot (the former Damren lot) this summer, and to open docks at the post office lot next summer. But that is dependent on raising the dollars needed.

 

 

How many docks will there be? 

We are still working on the design, but our intention and hope is to have generous docking areas both at the Maine Lakes Resource Center and (reminiscent of the former marina’s capacity) at Mill Stream Park.

 

 

Who can use the docks?   Will it cost me anything?  

 The docks will be open for all to use.  No fees will be charged. 

 

 

What’s going to happen to the Post Office? 

The Post Office will stay where it is, and get a facelift.  We plan to build a porch along the side and add seating and retail space behind it.  And Mill Stream Park will occupy the space where the marina used to be.

 

 

Where can we park? 

 Parking will always be a problem in the village’s narrow isthmus.  Some parking will be available at the Maine Lakes Resource Center, and parking in front of the post office will be maintained.  We would be interested in working with Town officials to address longer-term parking needs of the village, and have discussed doing so as part of the streetscaping initiative that the Town has been trying to develop.

 

 

Who is behind this? 

A group of BLA (Belgrade Lakes Association) volunteers got this idea going in 2009.   As plans took shape, BRCA (Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance) and Colby College joined as lead partners.  Community participation and support are also essential components, and D2D now includes local residents, town officials, business leaders, representatives of other conservation groups, and major donors. Tom Klingenstein, a Great Pond summer resident, has generously provided support for a fundraising planner and campaign manager.

 

 

Why do you need so much money to do this?  

The fundraising budget includes property purchase, site improvements including green space constructed to model best lake protection practices, a new energy-efficient building, and an endowment for operations.  It is critical to raise endowment funds so that the rejuvenated properties can be kept up after they are built.

 

 

How is the Town of Belgrade involved?   Is this going to become Town property? 

A representative of the Select Board is invited to serve on the Steering Committee, and the Town Manager attends some meetings.  We feel it is important to keep town officials apprised of what is going on with this project.  However, no town funding is being used or sought for this project. There is no plan or intention for these parcels to become town property.

 

 

What is the impact of the project on the tax base?

The two lots purchased by the BLA were subject to $6,104 in property taxes in 2009.  Even if these lots do not yield property taxes once they are in non-profit ownership, we believe the net impact to Belgrade’s economy will be positive -- public access and the year-round resource center in the village will drive additional business activity that will improve the lake-based economy of the town as a whole.

  

 

Why should I care about this if I don’t own lakefront property? 

Certainly people with lakefront properties, whether summer or year-round residents, stand to benefit most from the docks portion of the project.  But the Maine Lakes Resource Center will offer year-round educational programs and other activities that all area residents can take advantage of. By focusing attention on water quality in the Belgrade Lakes chain (and other Maine lakes by extension), this project will strengthen the foundation of our region’s economy—for all residents —which relies on clean and attractive lakes.  Our volunteers who are making this happen come from the whole spectrum of area residents, and we are excited about the positive changes this project can bring to our community.

 

 

What’s going to go on at the Maine Lakes Resource Center? 

The Resource Center will serve as a model of building on the waterfront, with site design and plantings that minimize runoff and other effects on lakewater.  People can learn about – and see—how to treat their own lakefront properties in ways that are helpful to clean lakes.  The building itself will feature displays about lake ecology and other natural resources in the area, will have a field lab with opportunities for hands-on science learning, will offer a meeting/class space for up to 80 people, and will house offices for the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance, the Belgrade Lakes Association, and the Maine Congress of Lake Associations.  

 

 

When will the Maine Lakes Resource Center be open? 

The Maine Lakes Resource Center will be open early July 2011 with the docks at the new Center to open shortly thereafter. 

 

 

 

Will there be new docks this summer on the Post Office property? 

We have several new docks scheduled to be installed in mid June 2011 with public access to the right (South side) of the Post Office.

 

 

 

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