WATERVILLE — The opening of the Waterville Connector Trail from North Street to Head of Falls will be celebrated Saturday with an event for both walkers and those who use wheelchairs.

The National Trails Day event is being hosted by Kennebec Messalonskee Trails, the city of Waterville and Waterville Main Street.

Walkers may gather at 10 a.m. on North Street, at the entrance to the trail connector across the street from the MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Thayer Unit. Those using wheelchairs or with limited mobility may take that 2-mile trail or meet at 10 a.m. at Pleasant Street United Methodist church for a 4/10-mile trek to Two Cent Plaza at Head of Falls.

Health and wellness activities will be hosted at and by downtown businesses from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the event, according to Peter Garrett, president of Kennebec Messalonskee Trails. Garrett will speak at Two Cent Plaza after the trail walk.

“It will be mostly thank-yous and to say how much we are looking forward to this being a major connector (trail),” Garrett said Thursday.

Garrett said the event also will mark the official opening of Two-Cent Plaza, a park and landscaped area by the Two-Cent Bridge.

The connector trail is from North Street to the bridge and includes streets and sidewalks. Starting at North Street, it continues to West, Gilman, Pleasant, Appleton and Temple streets and then on to Head of Falls.

The connector trail is part of a 30-mile trail system that extends through Oakland, Fairfield, Benton and Winslow. Trail construction started in 2004.

Saturday’s celebration marks Kennebec Messalonskee Trails’ 12th year honoring National Trails Day, according to Garrett.

He said the city has played a big part in the trails development. City Manager Michael Roy, Public Works Director Mark Turner, Public Works Engineer Bob Gilchrist, and Parks and Recreation Director Matt Skehan have been invaluable players in the project, he said.

“Without them, it wouldn’t have been completed like it has,” Garrett said. “It has been a partnership between us and them. Basically, they did the work and got it paved and that’s how we usually do things. We don’t have a paid staff. We’re all volunteers and we’d like the towns and city to take ownership of it.”

While the Two-Cent Bridge has been closed for work, it will be open for the Trails Day event.

“People are welcome to go across the Two-Cent Bridge because it’s there and it’s handicapped accessible,” Garrett said.

The Winslow connector, which goes from the bridge to Scott Park and the Winslow schools complex on Danielson Street, was opened on National Trails Day last year. Winslow schools, including the elementary school, are all connected by trails, he said.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

 

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