Kent residents will be deciding this week about a land purchase. A Town Meeting on Thursday is being held in Kent about a nearly half acre of land off Railroad Street. The asking price is $190,000.
First Selectman Bruce Adams says the plan is to construct a visitors center with public restrooms, but the vote at 7pm on Thursday in Town Hall is just the land purchase. The facility would also include showers for people hiking the Appalachian Trail, which runs through Kent. Discussions about the design of the facility will be held at a later date.
The town has received a grant from the state Department of Economic and Community Development to cover the costs. The $500,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant would reimburse the town for the project.
The need for restrooms was prompted by The Kent Village Barn closing its bathrooms to the public. Port-a-potties were set up by the town off Maple Avenue behind the Historical Society's Swift House. The STEAP grant originally was for a parcel of land off North Main Street, but the town lost its bid on that lot. The state approved changing the terms of the grant for this new proposed parcel.
