The Belfast City Council on Tuesday accepted a local man’s donation of the 94-acre, off-leash dog park he’s spent nearly a decade building off of Route 1.
Charles Beck, owner of the Fristad Trails, offered to give the parcel to the town when he is no longer able to maintain it, so it will remain a public dog park and walking area. The council voted unanimously to accept it.
“This is one of the best gifts of donation to the city, and the people of the city of Belfast, that I’m aware of,” Councilor Mary Mortier said before the vote. “This may be one of the highlights of my service on the council, being able to vote to accept this gift.”
Beck and the city will now work to formalize an agreement for the donation.
The property will become a major new park space for Belfast, according to officials; it will also preserve a swath of undeveloped land near the city’s commercial corridor.
Beck told the council Tuesday that he grew up in Sweden and enjoyed letting his dogs explore public land there. Frustrated by leash requirements in Belfast – dogs can only be off-leash at the Walsh Field dog park – he started working in 2016 to create something similar close to home.
Beck bought 80 wooded acres off of Route 1, behind the Gull Motel and Seascape Motel and Cottages on the city’s east side, and added another 14 acres two years ago.
Named with the Swedish word for “sanctuary,” his retirement project now has about four miles of walking trails, 25 places to sit, a stream and a wading area for dogs. It is open to the public year-round during daylight hours.
He’s removed trees, worked on trails and ponds, improved drainage, removed rocks after winter frost heaves and added signage, according to materials provided to the council.
“I’m at the point here…[of] wondering what would happen to this property if I get hit by a bus, or if my property taxes go up again and I jump off the bridge, or something along those lines,” he said to laughter on Tuesday night.
Not wanting the land to be developed under private ownership, and believing it needs too much maintenance for a land trust to take it on, Beck said he hoped donating the property to the city will preserve it. He still intends to steward it for now, he said.
The city’s parks, trails and recreation committee recommended accepting the property after meeting with him.
The property may also be used for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and bird watching, according to Beck. He has also emphasized that owners are not required to pick up after their dogs, which is a listed condition of the donation in city meeting materials.
“The pictures are worth a thousand words, they truly are, of the dogs bouncing around off-leash,” Councilor Paul Dean said, thanking him for the donation.
Councilor Daniel Miller asked about potential liability if the city accepted the property; city staff and other councilors said those details would be worked out as an agreement is formalized after the vote.
“I can’t see any reason why this wouldn’t work out great,” Councilor Neal Harkness said before the unanimous vote.
