Earth Peoples Park facts for kids

Earth Peoples Park was a special piece of land in Norton, Vermont. It covered about 592 acres (2.4 km²) of swamp and forest. From 1970 to 1994, this land was a place where people could live freely. Today, it is known as Black Turn Brook State Forest and is owned by the State of Vermont.

A Park for Everyone

The idea for Earth Peoples Park came from a famous park in Berkeley, California, called People's Park. Some money to buy the land in Vermont was even collected at the 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Festival.

The land in Vermont was bought and managed by a non-profit group called Earth Peoples Park Inc. The official papers for the land said it belonged to "all of the peoples of the earth." This meant anyone could visit, camp, or even live there without paying rent.

The park was in a very remote area of Vermont, close to the border with Canada. Because of old land mapping mistakes, the actual border line was a bit different from where people thought it was.

How the Park Started

In early 1970, the land was bought for $38,000 from a mail-order catalog. The people looking for the land wanted a very large property that was also cheap. They also liked that it was far away from towns, meaning fewer neighbors to bother.

The land was partly logged and had a river running along its eastern side. It was a snowy and out-of-the-way place. At that time, fewer than 5,000 people lived in all of Essex County, Vermont.

The original idea was that the land would be open to anyone who wanted to visit or live there. It was a place where people could stay for as long as they wished, completely rent-free.

At first, getting to the park was tricky. Visitors had to make several turns off the main road. Many people accidentally drove into Canada! Later, a new private road was built, making it easier to reach the park. This new road is now called Black Turn Brook Road.

Life at the Park

Life at Earth Peoples Park was very simple, especially in the early years. There were no modern utilities like electricity, running water, or telephones. People used wood, kerosene, or propane for heating and cooking. Candles or kerosene lamps provided light. Drinking and bathing water came from a nearby brook or the Coaticook River.

Winters were especially tough. Heavy snow often blocked the dirt roads, meaning people had to walk a half-mile from the highway. Snowshoes and toboggans were very useful items.

Despite the challenges, many people enjoyed living there. They liked being away from the busy world. Over time, more people moved in, and they built different kinds of homes. These included cabins, A-frames, canvas teepees, old school buses, and even an eight-sided log cabin.

During warmer months, more visitors came to the park. There were often gatherings for events like the summer solstice. The park's remote location, thick forests, and access to the river made it a popular spot for people looking for a different way of life. Sometimes, concerts were held to help pay for the park's taxes and mortgage.

Changes and New Ownership

As the years passed, the people living at the park changed. Some of the older residents moved away. New people arrived, and sometimes this led to new challenges for the community.

In October 1990, the land was taken over by the federal government. At first, the government planned to sell the land. However, they discovered that the park had very special natural resources. Because of this, the land was saved from being sold.

After discussions with state officials, including then-Governor Howard Dean, an agreement was made. The land would be given to the State of Vermont. This decision honored the original idea that the land should be "public" and open to everyone.

Earth Peoples Park Becomes a State Forest

On October 5, 1994, a special ceremony took place. Governor Howard Dean, along with other important people like Wavy Gravy and Ben Cohen (from Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream), were there. The land was officially given to the State of Vermont.

Today, the former park is still open for people to visit. You can go hunting, fishing, or camping there. It is now called Black Turn Brook State Forest and is managed by the Vermont Department of Forests and Parks. Camping is allowed, but vehicles cannot drive directly to the campsites, and no permanent buildings are permitted.

Another Earth Peoples Park

In the mid-1970s, the Earth Peoples Park Inc. group also bought another piece of land. This was an 83-acre (0.34 km²) forest in Del Norte County, California. It is located on Chrystal Mountain, inside Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. This California property is also still open to visitors.