We are dedicated to transforming downtown Bath’s last open riverfront parcel into a vibrant native meadow and community park. This will be a public place where people and nature can thrive together.
About the Meadow Conservancy
OUR MISSION AND VISION
Our mission is to protect land, restore native habitat, and create public spaces where people, plants, and pollinators thrive together.
Through the creation of a native meadow of grasses and wildflowers, we are supporting biodiversity and helping address the decline of pollinators, whose loss threatens nearly one-third of the global food supply. As part of the growing urban meadow movement, this project works to reconnect fragmented habitats and serve as a model for ecological restoration in cities and towns.
The meadow will also function as a place for learning, reflection, and community connection, complementing Bath’s existing waterfront parks with a quieter space for respite and education.
-
With a vision shared by the landowners and a few dedicated residents of Bath, the project was begun in 2024.
The investor development considered for this one-acre parcel was to build four separate dwellings. But the landowners wished to keep the property without development and with a view to the river for the community.
In consideration of this goal, to have a public piece of nature instead of development, the initial purchase of land was made with a reduced purchase price of $700,000, from what was estimated as a commercial price of $1.5 million.
The group that purchased the land became an official community initiative non-profit organization to secure the loan. This group of local residents made a down payment of $400,000 and formed the board of directors to manage the non-profit and begin the work. The meadow was in progress, but not yet financially secure.
-
The second phase, to raise the remaining $300,000 of the land loan ($700,000), must be completed by November 2027.
Outreach projects by the board and volunteers let us begin to see the vision firsthand. A path is cleared and seating created. Partnerships with school organizations begin a plan to utilize the meadow for teaching and learning opportunities.
-
The final stage of construction is the shore stabilization and meadow grading.
This is a substantial goal because of the machinery and specialized work that will need to be done.
Stringent regulations for the safety of the public and the ecology of the river are paramount to ensure a successful future for the meadow.
Join us for this journey!
My husband Bill King often said, “We need to connect the community to the river.” I am hoping that we here now decide to “take care” of this open land and let it be our bridge to the river for generations to come.
— Jayne Palmer
STEWARDSHIP AND COMMUNITY
The meadow will be cared for through long-term stewardship, volunteer involvement, and community partnerships. Ongoing maintenance, ecological monitoring, and public engagement will ensure the land remains healthy, accessible, and resilient well into the future.
The Meadow Conservancy is operated by Kennebec RiverView LLC (dba Meadow Conservancy), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded in October 2024 to protect the only remaining in-town riverfront property along Bath’s beloved river.
Whether you choose to donate, volunteer, or share our work, your support helps secure this land and ensure it remains a public resource for generations to come.
