WELLS — A new, small, “pocket park” is in the works for the town of Wells, to be located at the intersection of Mile Road and U.S. Route 1.

The land is near the entryway to the town’s beaches. “We would like to use the land for a park, a gateway park to the beaches,” Town Manager Jonathan Carter said.

Currently, the parcel is owned by the state, it was acquired two to three years ago to conduct road work on Mile Road. Two projects were conducted there, Planning Director Michael Livingston said, one was widening the north bound lane and installing a traffic island, and another was to redo traffic lights.

Not all of the acquired land was needed for the project so the town is hoping to purchase the “excess land,” he said.

According to Carter, when the state acquires land ownership under such circumstances it must hold onto it for about two years. Now that the time requirement is over, the Board of Selectman unanimously voted on July 18 to authorize offering the state up to $5,000 to purchase the land. Carter said the state requires a minimum fee of $2,500 to cover administrative costs.

Plans for the  park include installing flag poles, benches, landscaping and installing a stone wall with “Wells Beach” embedded in the stone, Livingston said.

Livingston said he has already sent the town’s offer to the state and is prepared to negotiate further if necessary.

Carter said the matter will be on the November ballot.

— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324, and dmendros@journaltribune.com.