Outdoor enthusiasts have been invited to attend a ceremony commemorating the protection of more than 5,700 acres of forestland and stream frontage in Franklin County.

A $1.28 million grant from the federal Forest Legacy program combined with other funding was used to buy a conservation easement on 5,774 acres in Madrid Township in January.

The event to celebrate the land trust will be held at noon, Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Phillips Area Community Center is hosted by conservation groups The Trust for Public Land and the High Peaks Alliance who work on the Madrid Township land deal.

Milt Baston, president of the High Peaks Alliance, in a press release, said Friday, “It took at least five years and the partnering of groups and individuals at the local, regional and national level to raise $1.6 million, enabling the state of Maine to purchase this conservation easement from landowner Linkletter Timberlands. The easement ensures logging and public access to traditional use of the forested land.”

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and other elected officials are expected to attend, according to the press release.

The High Peaks Alliance will offer a guided snowshoe walk along the Sandy River section of the Fly Rod Crosby Trail at 10:15 am at the Community Center.

The North Franklin Snowmobile Club will hold a snowmobile ride-in with sleds expected to arrive via ITS 89 at noon at the Community Center.