July 18, 2019
SPRINGFIELD, VT – Master Planning work is progressing at Lowell Lake State Park in Londonderry and a presentation of concept design alternatives and possibilities will be held July 25, 2019. The Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation (FPR) will host an open house on the Lowell Lake State Park Master Planning Project July 25 from 6:00 - 7:30 PM at the Londonderry Town Hall, located at 137 Middletown Road in South Londonderry, Vermont. FPR has engaged the services of renowned park planning consultants from SE Group and their partners Cushman Design Group, Engineering Ventures and CHM Government Services to help prepare a master plan for the park by investigating options to make improvements for visitor safety, visitor experience, environmental protection, and to explore possibilities for reutilization of cabins that came with the original park acquisition.
Possible design choices will be presented at stations with detailed information available for viewing and opportunity for comment. Stations will be staffed by members of the planning team and staff from the Agency of Natural Resources. A 60-day public comment period will follow the open house, with a master planning overview, park history, concept design alternatives and a detailed survey available through the state park’s web page, https://www.vtstateparks.com/lowell.html.
Lowell Lake State Park was established in 1977 when the former Lowell Lake Lodge property was acquired by the State for recreational access to Lowell Lake. Additional property (the White parcel) was acquired in 1996 with the assistance of the Vermont Land Trust after a private home development on the western shore of the lake received Act 250 permitting but was never constructed. Following this acquisition, a two-year long-range planning process was undertaken to complete a General Management Plan, which was adopted in 1999 and included 14 public meetings. Lowell Lake State Park presently encompasses 356 acres and provides opportunities for fishing, picnicking, hiking, swimming and nature observation.