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BEECH HILL–DUBLIN LAKE
WATERSHED ASSOCIATION
&
MONADNOCK CONSERVANCY
FOR RELEASE:
Thursday, August 3, 2006
CONTACT:
Betsey Harris, 563-8640
Richard Ober, 357-0600
Conservation Groups Acquire
Beech Hill Hospital Property
( DUBLIN) -- Two non-profit conservation groups announced today that they have acquired the former Beech Hill Hospital property in Dublin to restore the prominent hilltop as a permanent conservation and recreation area.
The Beech Hill–Dublin Lake Watershed Association, with assistance from the Monadnock Conservancy, purchased 77 acres and 5 buildings from Beech Hill Hospital, LLC. More than two dozen donors from several towns have contributed to fund the acquisition, restoration, and protection of the property.
All of the buildings and other facilities except the original historic home and two telecommunications towers on the site will be removed. The land will be restored and permanently protected for wildlife habitat and passive public recreation through a conservation easement held by the Monadnock Conservancy. It is envisioned that the historic home and a small amount of land around it will be subdivided and sold, subject to conservation and historic preservation restrictions.
Beech Hill Hospital, a for-profit drug and alcohol treatment center, ceased operations in 2001. A subsequent proposal by the owner to convert the property to a school was turned down by Dublin town officials because of serious environmental and zoning problems. The goal of removing the facilities and restoring the land for conservation has wide support in Dublin.
“We are very happy and relieved that Beech Hill will now be saved from future development and restored to its natural condition,” said Story Wright, Chair of the Beech Hill – Dublin Lake Watershed Association. “ Many people have made wonderful contributions to this project, and there is much more to be done, but we hope that by next year we will have a restored Dublin landmark that we can all be proud of”
“The Monadnock Conservancy is delighted to be a partner in this historic effort to preserve and restore Beech Hill as one of our region’s most important natural and scenic landmarks,” said executive director Richard Ober. “The public benefits of conserving this land for water quality, wildlife habitat, scenic values, and passive recreation will be appreciated for generations to come.”
The Beech Hill – Dublin Lake Watershed Association was incorporated in November 2005 to protect and enhance the natural resources and scenic views of Beech Hill, and to protect the public health and safety of the residents of Dublin through the preservation of Dublin Lake and its watershed. The non-profit Association welcomes contributions and suggestions from all concerned with its mission.
The Monadnock Conservancy is an independent non-profit organization founded in 1991 by local residents. Its mission is to identify, promote, and actively seek protection of significant natural, aesthetic, and historic resources in the Monadnock Region; and to monitor and enforce the protection of lands in the trust. The Conservancy serves 35 towns in the Monadnock Region.
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