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Trail Project to Link Sebago to the Sea

April 02, 2008 - PORTLAND -- In a few years, it might be possible to walk from Sebago Lake to Casco Bay without leaving the woods.

A coalition of towns, land trusts and trail organizations recently began work on a project, known as Sebago to the Sea, which would connect trails in Standish, Windham, Gorham, Westbrook, Portland and Falmouth to create a 26 mile long trail

The initiative is being spearheaded by the Gorham-based Presumpscot Region Land Trust, which recently received grants from the Maine Community Foundation, the Davis Conservation Foundation and the Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust.

The grants "are specifically targeted to moving this thing forward and really targeted toward the first year," said land trust president Richard Curtis.

"Were at the stage right now of building consensus in figuring out how to organize this and manage it," Curtis said. The group have met a few times already, he said, and public meetings are expected to be held this spring.

Curtis imagines the initial stage of the Sebago to the Sea to last three years, after which he hopes most of the trail will be in place.

"If there are gaps in the trail that we can bridge in three years, we would hope to find ways around them," he said.

Curtis and others have also begun the process of mapping the trail.

"Clearly, mapping is going to be a big part of this," he said. "We're looking for a particular route, and looking for gaps in that route, and looking for ways to bridge the gaps."

Much of the trail already exists, said Curtis.

"There are many miles of trails already in place," he said. "We don't have to start the whole thing from scratch."

Curtis believes the trail could have many benefits.

"I think one thing it's going to do it is to attract people who might otherwise go elsewhere," he said. "The trail would keep them here or attract them to here.

"The parts of this trail that already do exist are really lovely," Curtis said. "They're as nice and as lovely as anything you would see almost anywhere. I'd love to gain more public access to all that."

Public reaction has been positive, Curtis said.

"I've been really thrilled at how broad the participation is, and how eager people are," he said. "I'm not sure I've ever come across such an immediate and positive reaction. I think a lot of people are thinking this is an idea whose time is already here and it's time to start making progress on it."

This article first appeared in the Portland Press Herald, March 27, 2008.


Lakes: Sebago Lake
Regions: Sebago


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