NORTH ATTLEBORO -- Don't let the lack of waterfront fool you -- a 25-foot sailboat will soon be anchored at the World War I Memorial Park.

Karl and Elizabeth Friedland have offered to donate their 1966 Bristol Corsair sailboat to the park, which will be used as a fun, new playground apparatus for youngsters.

The couple has owned the sailboat since 1982 and have many fond memories of sailing around Martha's Vineyard and Block Island.

`` The name of our sailboat is `Fantasy' because it was always my dream to own a boat of this caliber, even as a young boy,'' Karl Friedland said. `` This boat served as our summer cottage at Bristol Harbor for 12 years.

`` It sustained some damage, and I don't feel it is safe to repair and use it again,'' he said. `` But I'm very fond of the boat and it breaks my heart to lose it.'' After inspecting the boat, park commissioners jumped at the chance to add the unique playground piece to the park.

It is not expected to need much upkeep, since the boat is made of fiberglass. The plan is to bury the 7-foot tall boat to its waterline, so that children can hop aboard for a imaginary sail.

`` It's a wonderful contribution to the town, and the park commission was grateful for the donation,'' Park Director Steven Carvalho said.

Friedland said he came up with the idea of donating the boat to the town during a stroll around the park with his wife, Elizabeth.

`` I thought it would be great to extend the life and name of Fantasy to enlarge the imagination of kids who might like to play on a boat,'' he said. `` I'm enthused our Fantasy won't die. The kids will be able to play on it, and we could still sit on it to have a picnic.''

Friedland has spent the last month removing almost 3,000 pounds of ballast -- by the 250-pound wheelbarrow-full -- to make moving the sailboat to the park a little easier.

He is also planning to cut the boat's original mast in half to give the boat a smaller scale that fits in with the park's surroundings.

The park commission voted on Thursday to accept the sailboat, and details will be worked out soon to move it to the park.

Friedland said he can't wait to see it in use at World War I Memorial Park.

`` It will be like visiting a friend. It will do me a lot of good to see kids playing on it,'' he said.