By Rick Wright

Staff Writer

By the end of November, visitors to Fort Williams Park will see the first signs of a new arboretum.

A 1-acre demonstration site will be cleared  this fall and plants will be started at the site sometime during spring 2011, according to Kathryn Bacastow, chairman of the arboretum steering committee.

Plans are gathering momentum following two site walks last month.

The site walks May 5 and 16 drew nearly 50 people. They were conducted by former Cape Elizabeth tree warden Dr. Rick Churchill. Now retired from Southern Maine Community College, Churchill served as the school’s chairman of the plant and soil technology program for more than 20 years.

“The project is moving ahead in a much more focused way,” Bacastow said.

Ultimately, the arboretum will consist of 15 sites located around the perimeter of the 90-acre park. It will take several years and approximately $3.5 million to finish.

The newly cultivated sites will use existing elevations and terrain. Invasive plants will be removed and replaced with compatible plants, trees and shrubs. They also will include walkways and hardscapes.

The sites will vary in size but the largest one will be the demonstration site.

The purpose of the arboretum is to beautify the park, eliminate invasive species and promote growth of indigenous flowers, shrubs and trees, according to a press release from the steering committee.

 “It’s going to enhance the beauty of this historic park and national landmark,” said John Mitchell. “It’s going to remove invasive plants that have taken over many areas of the park.”

Mitchell, a Cape Elizabeth resident, is a member of the steering committee. He also owns Mitchell & Associates Landscape Architects in Portland.

 In each site, invasive species such as Asian bittersweet, honeysuckle and autumn olive will be removed. They will be replaced by compatible plants such as blueberry bushes, birch trees and junipers, Bacastow said.

The goal of the two site walks was to give people a picture of what the committee is trying to do, said Bacastow, formerly of Cape Elizabeth.

“They were great,” Bacastow said. “It’s much easier to explain the story when people can see what the invasive plants are doing.” 

The invasive plants are spreading rapidly and killing indigenous plants. If left unchecked, invasive plants will take over the entire park and crowd out native species, Bacastow said.

The demonstration site will be built near the northern end of the cliff walk close to Battery Hobart. It will cost about $350,000 to build, Bacastow said.

The group currently is engaged in a private fundraising campaign under the auspices of the Fort Williams Charitable Foundation.

“We see this as a real opportunity for community involvement,” Bacastow said.

No tax dollars from the town of Cape Elizabeth will be used for construction of the arboretum. 

Mitchell said the demonstration site was selected because it’s a very visible location off the main entrance with sufficient parking and because it’s completely entangled with invasive plants.

“Our intention is to clear and plant that site so people can see what the other sites will look like as we move our way around the fort,” Bacastow said.

The arboretum plan was approved in 2008 by the Fort Williams Advisory Commission, Cape Elizabeth Planning Board and town council.

“We agreed that it was a worthwhile project,” said Commission Chairman Maureen McCarthy. “It was a good fit for helping to maintain the fort and take care of the land. It was a win-win.”

 The commission submitted a list of Fort Williams capital needs to the town council last month. The list included a recommendation for the development of the arboretum.

“Once it’s complete, future generations will be able to take advantage of what we’re trying to do here. It may take many years,” Mitchell said.

Led by Bacastow, the group supporting the arboretum is comprised of private citizens and includes horticulture experts, master gardeners, arborists, landscape architects and landscape designers.

 “It’s been a terrific group with a wide range of experience and skill sets,” Bacastow said.

The effort was started by Bacastow and a handful of friends in March 2007. Since the end of January, the project has gained many more supporters because of last month’s site walks and two recruiting tours last fall.

Rick Wright can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 237 or news@inthesentry.com.