Pheeny's Island adventure camp on the docket.
A notice of intent for a proposed ropes course will be discussed tonight at the Conservation Commission meeting to take place 7 p.m. at Town Hall. Scroll through the attached PDF to see what else is on the docket.
Letter to the editor from Mike Masone.
Dear Editor, After reading Kenneth Leavitt’s condescendingly titled opinion piece I was left what apparently is an increasingly common impression of him. He thinks everyone but him is an ignorant bumpkin. His piece implies that after he works his magic on the Reservoir, Norton residents will have something that we can finally be proud of. This notion is insulting. Insulting because he implies that prior to his arrival The Reservoir was used as a combination dump/jet-ski park and that no one took any pride in her. Long time residents of town know that this simply isn’t true. 60 years ago The Norton Reservoir was known for great fishing and clean water. Fed by local rivers and underground springs it became a recreation …
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For proposed construction of ropes based adventure course within 100 feet of Norton Reservoir.
Scroll through the attached PDF to see what else will be discussed at tonight's Conservation Committee meeting.
Conservation Commission to hold meeting April 9.
Ken Leavitt of the proposed Teambuilding Camp on Pheeny's Island has been working with selectmen to finalize a series of benefits for the community, designed to promote local access to the proposed aerial adventure course. In addition, the camp has proposed to lease the town Parks and Recreation property at 237 Mansfield Ave. for the camp’s mainland headquarters which would locate the entire operation in Norton and generate revenue for the Town. Previously they were planning to base their headquarters just over the town line at 888 S. Main St., Mansfield. Specific benefits proposed for residents include 25 percent discounts for pre-booked Norton groups. These groups are proposed to include: Recreation Department programs, Norton Public …
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Letter to the editor from Herbert Ellison.
To the editor: When I purchased my home on South Lakeview Rd. in Norton back in 1990 I did so mainly because of the location. It is on the water, has great views of sunsets, lots of interesting birds and other wildlife, and relatively quiet. The highway (I495) produces some background noise and the sounds coming from the Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts were rather pleasant. That changed in a very negative way after the owners discovered they could make more money with rock bands than with the Pittsburgh Symphony. But I knew that the residential nature of the area, including Pheeny's Island which is just offshore, would not change because it is zoned "Residential". In fact, the island got its name because the Pheeny family …
11:44 am on Tuesday, April 3, 2012
I would remind everyone that the conservation hearing is for conservation issues only! The zoning issues and other associated issues shoudl not be and in fact cannot be discussed or handled by the conservation committee - a point they are no doubt extremely grateful for! :) more ›
Ken Leavitt explains what the camp will be like.
Aimee Kolf and Clara Blodget of the Norton Cable TV show "The Wrap" spoke with Ken Leavitt about the proposed Pheeny's Island teambuilding camp proposal.
Ken Leavitt makes next step towards building aerial course on Pheeny's Island.
The design of the proposed teambuilding camp on Pheeny’s Island has been released. Ken Leavitt is making the next step toward creating a teambuilding camp on Pheeny’s Island with the help of Thierry Granier and Wanda Konopka, the very first developers of aerial adventure course activities. Granier and Konopka, of France, designed D’Arbre en Arbre in Quebec. These types of rope courses have been around in Europe since 1995. In 2001, while looking for new markets, Granier and Konopka decided to introduce their concept to the United States. Granier and Konopka completed the design last week. The course includes two demonstration courses, a kiddie course for ages 7 to 12 and five adult courses of graduated difficulty level from Green to Blue…
Selectman Robert Kimball addresses option to buy the island.
With the continuation of the public hearing on the Pheeny’s Island team building camp looming, residents of Norton are drawing the line of support and opposition. The island is currently up for sale by a private owner who is in talks with Ken Leavitt, former owner of the Powder Ridge Ski Resort. Leavitt’s vision is to create a team building adventure camp on the 5.3 acres available on island with rope bridge courses, zip lines and other challenges. “We are promoting the experience of nature,” he said. To try and ease some concerns brought up by citizens, Leavitt answered the following questions: How will Norton benefit from this? Leavitt said that the camp would provide about 30 jobs in the first year. Twenty of those positions would be …
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4:09 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
The vandalism reflects poorly on the town, even though we don't know that it was anyone from town who did it. It is just unfortunate and makes a difficult situation worse. I hope they catch whoever did do this and they are prosecuted. And I did get a chuckle out of the person who asked me to shut up - fat chance though! I hope this can be discussed calmly and reasonably going forward. more ›
Hearing to address environmental, noise concerns.
The proposed Island Adventure Camp for Pheeny’s Island is drawing a lot of controversy from both sides. Both will be able to discuss this proposal at a public hearing Monday night. Entrepreneur Kenneth Leavitt has his eye on the densely wooded, seven-acre Pheeny’s Island that just happens to be for sale - an ideal site, he told selectmen four months ago, for treetop ropes courses that will challenge individuals of all ages and build teamwork and family bonds. "It's extra safe," he said, describing the double clip carabiner system and the safety lines that traverse the length of the ropes courses. The all-wood construction of the platforms spare the big trees from harm, and shelters, composting bathrooms, and snack bars are made of logs to …
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Would include ziplining, tree rope courses and other obstacles.
It might not rise to the glam level of Survivor: Vanuatu or Jurassic Park, but Norton could have its own team bonding adventure camp smack in the middle of the Reservoir. Entrepreneur Kenneth Leavitt has his eye on a densely wooded, seven-acre island that just happens to be for sale - an ideal site, he told selectmen this week, for treetop ropes courses that will challenge individuals of all ages and build teamwork and family bonds. Leavitt, whose daughter has been attending Wheaton College, is a veteran of the ski industry, but was enticed by the aerial adventure parks that are popular in Europe, and now have appeared in Canada and the U.S. "They feature many obstacles and ziplines, and there are five to six different courses. You get a …
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Mark McKay
9:19 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Well said Mike! more ›