Farmington selectmen plan to accept formally a donation to improve a lot near the entrance to town Tuesday at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting, clearing the way for what was once an eyesore at the entrance to downtown to become a landscaped park.

Farmington resident and longtime community donor Richard Bjorn has offered to pay to landscape the property at the corner of High Street and Farmington Falls Road.

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New Park: A town-owned lot on High Street in Farmington near the intersection with U.S. Route 2 is due to become a town park. Town officials plan to accept a donation from local merchant and resident Richard Bjorn to pay for the work. Staff file photo by Kaitlin Schroeder

Bjorn, president of Kyes Insurance Agency, has a history of making donations to the town, such as partly funding the new Farmington police station garage and buying new seating for the Farmington Recreation Center.

Officials tried to sell the land, valued at $53,000, but voters at town meeting decided to hold on to the property.

The initial sketch of the park, by Robert Zundel, of Treeline Landscape, shows a mix of trees and bushes, a small parking area attached to High Street and a circular walking path as part of the plans for the triangular lot. Town Manager Richard Davis said previously that the town has flexibility in carrying out the landscaping designs.

The agenda for Tuesday’s meeting also calls for the board to vote on committing the town to maintenance of the lot. Selectmen had previously questioned whether ongoing maintenance costs association with the new park would overtax the busy public works department.

The entire agenda for the meeting is available on the town website farmington-maine.org.

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