AUGUSTA -- Cross-country ski racing. Mountain biking. Birding. Hiking. Fishing. Bow hunting.

Those are some of the ways the city hopes, within the next five to 10 years, people could play on 266 acres of wooded land the city owns between Bond Brook and the Augusta State Airport.

And the city could have an additional 54 acres to play with on top of that, though it's not directly connected nor owned by the city, yet.

Leaders of the Conservation Commission presented a set of recommendations Monday for how the city could use the 266 acres of land it owns over the short-term, which they defined as the next five to 10 years.

Chairman Rex Turner told councilors Monday the land, which already has numerous informal trails, should be used as a natural resource-based recreation area. That basically means development of trails, but not sports fields.

Local resident Bill Rogers, an International Skiing Federation official, said the trails already on the site could make a great, and internationally sanctioned, cross-country ski race course, similar to courses in Presque Isle and Fort Kent.

"This property, with almost no effort, meets" the criteria for federation ski races, Rogers said. "By adding a competitive venue aspect, you can bring name recognition to Augusta, make it a destination."

Many of the trails in the area are popular with ATV riders. That particular use -- as well as snowmobiling and any other motorized use of the land -- would stop for at least the next several years if the commission's recommendations are followed.

Leif Dahlin, the city's community-services director, said ATVs have caused extensive environmental damage on the land, and many riders are still using the area.

But ATVers could be welcomed back, Dahlin and Turner said, once a firmer plan for the land is in place, if they organize and agree to regulated use of the property.

"They're using it now. Let's not kid ourselves," Dahlin said of ATV riders. "Unchecked use is causing degradation. You would have to change the culture and reach out to the ATVers to get a club established so we can do things responsibly."

Mayor Roger Katz said the commission's recommendations would go to councilors at their next business meeting.

The city purchased 166 acres, for about $160,000, around Bond Brook last fall. That land abuts about 100 acres the city already owned by the public works garage.

The city could also gain an additional 54 acres of undeveloped land if it accepts two parcels -- both in the general area of Interstate 95 and Leighton Road -- from a company working on behalf of Packard Development, developers of the Augusta Crossing shopping center off Western Avenue.

TRC Environmental purchased the land and did some planting and other work to improve it to meet wetland mitigation requirements placed upon Packard to win approval for Augusta Crossing.

Turner said the Conservation Commission recommends the city accept the donation of the land.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com