WATERVILLE -- A four-season recreational area to include cross-country skiing and running, hiking, snowboarding and ice skating is being planned on more than 100 acres off Quarry Road.

The project, which organizers say could cost $1 million to $3 million, is being developed on land the city recently bought from Colby College for $125,000.

"This is very exciting because the potential is so great," said John Koons, a Waterville dentist and skier who is helping the city to develop the site. "Five years from now, this is going to be an attraction. It's going to be a draw, not just for Waterville, but for all the surrounding area."

City Manager Michael Roy saw the potential use for the large tract of land that stretches from Quarry Road off North Street to Upper Main Street, and once was the site of an alpine ski slope operated by Colby.

Roy had been searching for land in the city that could be used for recreation. The city wanted to sell the Jade Island restaurant building on West River Road to the restaurant owners but because the city had acquired the property with federal funds, it was required to use the proceeds for purchasing a recreational property of like value.

The city in 1968 bought the fledgling Pine Ridge Golf course and the 145-acre property included the clubhouse, which later was rented to Jade Island.

Roy, a Colby graduate who had skied on the alpine slope as a youth, approached Colby officials about the city's buying the land off Quarry Road for a recreational facility and they were enthusiastic about the idea. In fact, Colby had donated $100,000 to the city over a five-year period, to be used however the city saw fit. The city has earmarked $20,000 for the recreational site for this year and city councilors recently approved using $5,000 of that to buy several abutting acres.

The city and Kennebec Messalonskee Trails group also garnered a $29,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation for trail development, bringing the total start-up money for the recreation area to $49,000. Other grants and donations are being sought for the project, according to Roy and Koons.

Koons is volunteering on the project. He worked to find the right design for the site, traveling all over New England, visiting other recreational facilities and meeting with the company that would ultimately design Waterville's project, Morton Trails, LLC, of Thetford Center, Vt. Koons, a graduate of both the former Coburn Classical Institute and Colby, had skied the alpine slope and worked part-time at the lodge while a student.

"John Koons came up with a terrific vision, really," Roy said. "He put in an unbelievable, unbelievable amount of work to get people to sign onto an idea of a very high-level cross-country ski trail and cross-country running and walking trail."

Koons also has visited recreational sites in Europe where he said people walk their dogs and parents, children, grandparents and others can walk on well-groomed trails in a safe environment.

"It's firm, its packed down, it's predictable and it's reliable," he said.

Koons, Waterville Parks and Recreation Director Matt Skehan and City Councilor Charles "Fred" Stubbert, D-Ward 1, visited the site Thursday where the Public Works Department has been widening and grading the road leading into what will be the recreation area. That road, about 3/4 mile, passes beneath Interstate 95.

"The trails have been designed and we're ready to start construction," Koons said. The 5-kilometer ski trail will be developed first with the hope it will be ready for use this winter, according to Koons. The trail would be cleared and a connection made to the Kennebec Messalonskee Trail system which stretches into Fairfield. Koons said Peter Garrett, president of the trails group, has been a consistent force in developing trails and very supportive of the Quarry Road project. An area on the site also would be cleared for snowboarding and sliding, Koons said. Critical to having ski trails is having snow-making equipment, which is costly.

"That won't happen until we secure funding and that takes close to $400,000 for snow-making system for phase one," he said.

Phase two would include buying the equipment and developing a competition trail as well as outdoor ice rink, lodge and areas for summer activities, including baseball. Waterville Senior High School and Colby would use the trails also.

"We have a real shortage of baseball fields in Waterville," Stubbert, in whose ward the property is located, said. "We have lots of softball."

The Messalonskee Stream also would allow for water activities, such as kayaking and canoeing. In the future, officials would look at possibly having alpine or downhill skiing on the property as well.

The site, to include lighted trails, would be maintained and supervised by the Parks and Recreation Department and a Nordic ski club, which is being formed, will pitch in and help.

"In a city this small as far as geography, this amount of land for a recreational area is pretty exciting," Skehan said.

People interested in joining the club or donating to the project may call Skehan at 680-4744.

Roy credits Koons with developing a plan to help create a destination place for cross-country skiers and other recreation enthusiasts from all over the northeast.

"It does feel great that so soon after we acquired it, someone has come forward with a vision for using it and has put something forward that I think is very, very exciting," Roy said.

He said the City Council has been very supportive of the effort, as they see its potential.

"We can have something to provide winter activity and get people reconnected with our winter traditions that have been very difficult to maintain for various reasons," he said.

Amy Calder -- 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com