Page 21 - NOV2025

November 2025 NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM Page 21 Community
What was once an old sign at the intersection of the Mayhew Turnpike and West Shore Road in Bristol has been transformed into a welcoming garden that high- lights the character and natural beauty of the Newfound Lake re- gion. The project, spearheaded by the Pasquaney Garden Club and supported by multiple community partners, portrays the communi- ty’s efforts to collaborate and show local pride.
The idea began when Bar- bara Carpenter, president of the Pasquaney Garden Club, approached local and state offi- cials with a vision to beautify an overlooked section of land. “The funding was the initiative of what so many had been considering— that this key location for residents and tourists was an intersection that needed to be beautified to reflect the environment and the lake,” Carpenter said.
Her landscaping proposal quickly became a cooperative
effort among state, town, and community organizations. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NH DOT) and the Town of Bristol Department of Transportation played major roles in preparing the site. The state provided hardscaping mate- rials and fill, while the town sup- plied loam, a downed birch tree, and landscape rocks.
Christopher Turgeon, NH DOT engineer, helped review the design and coordinate state ap- provals. “We recognized their goal
of beautifying the area,” Turgeon said. “Barbara was very diligent and patient throughout the pro- cess. It looks great—it definitely meets all the goals we discussed, and it’s wonderful to see it come to life.”
Troy Comeau of the Bristol DOT echoed those sentiments. “Barbara did a great job design- ing the plantings, and the new sign looks amazing,” he said. “We installed the curbing and fence back in July 2020, hoping a local organization would use the space
to highlight the Newfound Lake area. I’d like to commend Barbara on her determination in seeing the project through.”
The new sign itself was de- signed by Alesha Borges of Bliss Studio, who won the town-spon- sored artist competition organized by Christine Goodwin, Bristol’s town administrator. The beautiful sign anchors the space and serves as a focal point for the surround- ing plantings of New Hampshire native perennials.
Support also came from the wider community. Garlyn Man- ganiello, owner of Basic Ingre- dients, provided funding through her LLC. Chris Dyer of All Points Property Maintenance donated and installed the garden mulch, and Our Lady of Grace Chapel offered access to water for the plants, with mowing assistance from a volunteer named Duane.
Carpenter said the design intentionally reflects the local
landscape, incorporating natural elements such as a birch log and native rocks “to evoke a wooded New Hampshire scene.” The gar- den club plans to add more plant- ings in spring 2026, including the state flower, a lilac tree.
For Turgeon, the project un- derscored the value of partner- ship between public agencies and civic groups. “Collaborating with an outside entity was a mutually beneficial experience, and we’d do it again in the future for sure,” he said.
Carpenter called the effort a “successful moment in time when multiple organizations came to- gether and were on the same page.”
The newly landscaped inter- section now stands as a symbol of what can happen when com- munity vision meets cooperation — turning an unused space into a point of pride for Bristol and everyone who passes through.
Community Collaboration Transforms Bristol Intersection into a Gateway Garden
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