SKOWHEGAN — Trails projects planned for this year at two Skowhegan preserves received a funding boost recently from the Move More Kids program.
The $20,000 award to Somerset Woods Trustees will enable the land trust to start implementing recommendations in the Skowhegan Area Trails Concept Plan, completed in 2023 by Outdoor Sport Institute for Main Street Skowhegan. Additional project funding was provided by the L.L. Bean Maine Land Trust Grant Program administered by Maine Coast Heritage Trust.
“We are pleased to announce that the Move More Kids program provided a $20,000 match grant to Somerset Woods Trustees that supports an increase in outdoor recreation activity in the Skowhegan area. These funds will enable Somerset Woods Trustees to begin implementation of the Skowhegan Trail Plan, which presents a collaborative vision for improving and enhancing trails to bolster outdoor recreation, community health and wellness, and economic growth,” Somerset Public Health Assistant Director Kristie LeBlanc said in a Somerset Woods Trustees news release.
At Wesserunsett Stream Preserve, accessed from Evergreen Drive, Somerset Woods will relocate portions of trail and improve trail surfaces and bridges so that trails are more accessible and sustainable.
“The Move More Kids support will allow Somerset Woods to make trail upgrades that highlight the unique features of Wesserunsett Stream Preserve and create a trail suitable for a broader range of users,” said Somerset Woods Executive Director Jennifer Brockway.
The nearby Parsons Family Preserve, on Malbons Mills Road, will benefit from improved parking and interpretive signs celebrating the habitat restoration project underway since 2021.
“Volunteer Ann Dorney has invested hundreds of hours in restoring the plant community at Parsons Field for the benefit of pollinators, birds and wildlife. We’re excited to showcase her work as an example of the importance of restoring nature in our own backyards,” said Brockway. “The grant support from Move More Kids and L.L.Bean will enable us to create a more welcoming space for the community to visit to enjoy time outdoors, learn about our work, and visit neighboring trails.”
Work will begin in June, once the trails have dried and storm cleanup from the hard winter is completed.
To join the Somerset Woods volunteer trail crew and help with stewardship projects like these, or for more information, email [email protected] or call 207-679-7306.
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