The South Portlander

An urban hiking trail the South Portland Land Trust blazed around Clark’s Pond, near Maine Mall, received a grant today from the National Parks Service, according to Tom Blake, the land trust president.
The land trust’s goal is for the wooded trail to be used by shoppers, visitors and workers in the area for outdoor recreation. The trust is relying on volunteer mentors to help maintain the new trail. The amount of the grant was not specified.
Here is the press release announcing the grant:

National Parks Service Awards Grant to West End Trails Committee

The National Parks Service has again awarded a grant in support of the West End Trails Project, the South Portland Land Trust’s ambitious initiative to make the western part of the city (including the Maine Mall area) more pedestrian friendly and help protect the pockets of natural areas that exist in the busiest part of South Portland.

This marks the second straight year the Parks Services has given the grant to the Land Trust’s West End Trails Committee. The NPS, through its Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program, will again assist the WET committee by helping to identify what types of aid are needed, and then either supply or locate services for the assistance.

RTCA will also help the WET Committee navigate the planning process, convert ideas into actions, and provide assistance in conceptual planning, organizational development and capacity building. Assistance will again be for one year.

“We are thrilled that we will again have the support of the National Parks Service and the RTCA program,” said Tom Blake, South Portland Land Trust President. “A large part of our WET committee’s success to date is because the RTCA helped us narrow and map our vision and also identify and find the needed resources. We look forward to continuing our work with the RTCA and their liaison, Julie Isbill.”

With the help of the RTCA, the WET Committee recently completed the popular Clark’s Pond Trail, prioritized and mapped the project’s long-term vision, identified needed resources and grants, and organized Long Creek Family Day on Sept. 30.

“Every American should have places to walk and be in nature, right out their back door,” Isbill said.

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