More than 10 years ago, Jacob Matosky was like the kids speeding around today on their bikes at the Catamount Outdoor Family Center.

"I started here as a camper when I was 8," he said.

Now, as a camp director, Matosky leads the mountain bike camp.

"I love seeing the way the kids interact with each other. Some might come in shy at the beginning of the week, but being on the bike and being active they always have a smile on their face," Matosky said.

But those traditions were close to their last lap. The owners of the family-run nonprofit say they wanted to retire and needed to sell, but hoped to keep the land from being developed. That's when the town stepped in.

"There was no certainty and with the town taking ownership, there will be certainty in the future. It will be preserved as a town forest," Williston Town Manager Richard McGuire said.

McGuire says the town select board approved the purchase of the land and a license agreement was signed. The programs at the camp will continue.

"It's a tremendous asset for the community, it has been all along," McGuire said. "By having the town take ownership, that will preserve that as an asset to the future."

The town will pay $600,000 of the $1.9 million price tag. The Trust for Public Land will pay the rest through grants and donations. Almost $150,000 still needs to be raised.

The town says programs like biking and cross-country skiing will continue but the door will also open for other activities.

"Right now if the public wanted to go for a stroll on the property, that would not be allowed. Under town ownership that would be allowed and there would be no charge for that," McGuire said.

Knowing the trails will stay the same has Matosky coming back to ride for summers to come.

"I'm really happy that the town can take it over and prevent development of it so it can stay around of a while longer," he said.

The town hopes to close on the deal in the fall and will be on a five-year term.