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Putting a Reborn River on the Map

December 01, 2009 - AUGUSTA -- In creating what they believe to be the first map of publicly accessible trails and lands in the Augusta area, organizers wanted it to be more than merely a road map for hikers.

"(We) wanted to create something more than a simple map. We wanted a map and a work of art," said Tom Reeves of Gardiner, who presented the idea for creating a local trail map to the Friends of the Kennebec River Rail Trail back in 2001. "So the map is designed so, yes, you can take it along in your knapsack or pocket and use it as a guide to explore all these trails and lands. Or you can just have the map for the story it tells about the region, and for the artwork."

The map, called "Kennebec Trails: Augusta to Gardiner and Beyond," centers on the Kennebec River and the 6.5-mile Kennebec River Rail Trail through Augusta, Hallowell, Farmingdale and Gardiner. But it also includes trails and publicly accessible lands in Chelsea, Manchester, West Gardiner, Richmond, Vassalboro, Windsor and Swan Island.

"We wanted to create a local guide for trails and recreational facilities so people would have a map and perhaps visit not just the rail trail, but also these other places," Reeves said. "We hope to tell people Augusta and the surrounding communities are destinations worth visiting, and have decent trails."

The map features artwork by Judith Herman of Gardiner and old postcard photos and historical information about trails in the area.

Stephen Engle did most of the mapping. Thousands of volunteer hours went into creating the map over several years, and many organizations contributed funding to cover the $25,000 to $30,000 cost, Reeves said.

Proceeds from sales will go to the Friends of the Kennebec River Rail Trail, to be used to help maintain the trail.

Reeves recently did a presentation on the map to the Augusta City Council.

Augusta Mayor Roger Katz said the map appeared to be extremely well done and includes trails that many local people might not know about.

Reeves hopes the map motivates people to get some exercise and also celebrate the recreational opportunities provided along the revived Kennebec River.

The river, he said, has been transformed since the 1970s from a dumping ground for municipal sewage and industrial waste to a beautiful recreational resource.

"The challenge for us in the 21st century is that we, physically, do not move," Reeves said. "In the beginning of the 20th century, we'd typically walk three to four miles a day. Now, 100 years later, we walk, on average, about 1,400 feet a day. As a result of that lack of movement, there have been all sorts of negative consequences, like obesity and all the illnesses associated with that. So the map is designed to give a mental picture of a very different way of moving about our environment and show you don't have to travel a great distance to enjoy public lands, lands that are very beautiful."

The map is available from retailers in Augusta, Hallowell, Farmingdale, Gardiner, Randolph and Manchester. It is also available online through the Friends of the Kennebec River Rail Trail site, www.krrt.org, or by e-mailing railtrailnews@krrt.org.

The map sells for $7.95. It is also free to anyone joining the Friends of the Kennebec River Rail Trail with a membership of $35 or more.

By KEITH EDWARDS, Kennebec Journal November 28, 2009


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