Hepburn Leaves Land for Public Use (DU gathering anyone?)

[DUreader]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-2965243,00.html




OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. (AP) - Four acres of
beachfront property near Katharine Hepburn's
home will become protected land for public use,
according to the late actress' will.

Hepburn, who died at 96 last month at her
waterfront home in the Fenwick section of Old
Saybrook, left 4.17 acres of land to the east of
her driveway for ``exclusively public purposes.''

Hepburn's will was filed Friday with the town's
probate court.

The document, written in 1992, asks that no
memorial service or funeral be held for her.
Instead, the intensely private actress asked that
she be cremated and her ashes interred in the
family plot in Hartford.

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. What a great lady.

Of course, you realize the neighbors are in shock and horror.

[paper chase guy]

2. maybe it was a final revenge on annoying neighbors :)

nt

[DUreader]

3. Wait til we have a DU gathering there, BWAHAHAHA

[supernova]

4. How sweet!

Thanks, Kate! :thumsup: :loveya:

You realized the value of recreation for everyone. Public beach access is becoming a huge problem.

[dwillison]

7. don't get the picnic basket too fast. From Ctnow.com

"Though the will stipulates the land should go to a federal, state or local body or conservation organization for "the benefit of the general public," Hanson said Hepburn intended the land to be preserved and protected and not be used by the public."

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. I don't think the taxpayers will pick up the tab.

I don't see any way that you can have one without the other. It can only be paid for by the public if it serves some public use. A conservation area that serves a public purpose, may be possible, but then even the neighbors would have to stay out. Possible the government can say, thanks, but no thanks.

[MaryBear]

5. All Right, Katharine!

Great legacy.

[MaryBear]

6. Look but don't touch

Her accountant said in the article,

"Hepburn intended for the land to be protected and preserved but not used by the public."

Looks like no DU gathering there.

[dwillison]

8. This would appear to mostly benefit the other property owners/neighbors.

The state will assume upkeep/preservation costs for a piece of property which the public has no access. A possible bonanza for property owners who now have a park in their neighborhood kept up by the taxpayers.

[aquart]

9. The definition of "pubic use" is "no use"?

Was Hepburn a Republican?

[Marlie]

11. No, she was a liberal, very liberal

I read her book and she loved her neighbors. After all,
her ashes are to be distributed there, she wishes it to remain
the same for as long as possible. She as her family before
her has had the property for so many years and it was her
safe place. Don't knock her for wishing it to remain the
same.

[hippiechick]

14. yeh !

She doesn't want the "Kate Hepburn Memorial Beachside Starbucks there !!"

Trees and flowers are better than coffee any day !

O8)


edit for icon

[noonwitch]

12. Once upon a time, the republicans were the liberals

I don't think that she had any party affiliations, although she did tell off the HUAC committee, which very few had the courage to do at the time. And she donated a lot of money to Planned Parenthood and other liberal causes.

[grasswire]

13. Fenwick...

...is very historic and very exclusive in that old, old New England way. I recall there being one small public beach in the area. If only all states had Oregon's laws protecting beaches for public use. It doesn't seem quite fair to block them off.