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Bath Trails Receives Support from National Parks ServiceA Committee of KELT will inventory and link hiking trailsReleased December 8, 2008 BATH- The National Park Service (NPS) recently announced that Bath Trails has been selected to receive assistance from the NPS’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program. It was selected from the most competitive field of requests ever received by the agency and was one of only 12 new projects accepted in New England, New York and New Jersey.
Bath Trails (a committee of the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust) is a partnership of Bath City government, local schools, non-profits, individual hikers and bicycle riders, and private businesses, with a mission set on the creation, connection, and maintenance of a network of multi-use trails for recreation, transportation, and a healthier community. There are a number of formal and informal trails, sidewalks, walkways, and other bicycle and pedestrian pathways located in Bath. These pathways connect the south end of the city to the north, weaving through the downtown, neighborhoods, historic districts, and to schools and recreational facilities. Bath Trails’ hope is to connect and formalize many of these trails to ultimately create an accessible network of trails to be celebrated by citizens and visitors alike. The first project is to create a multi-use trail over 4 miles long running from Thorne Head Preserve at the north end of High Street to the Bath YMCA. Two properties owned by the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust and several city owned properties will form the core of the natural area along the trail. This plan also includes establishing a handicap accessible trail at Thorne Head and a mountain bike course adjacent to the Bath YMCA. "The National Park Service is proud to support such capable partners and is eager to help contribute to Bath Trails", Julie Isbill, National Park Service Rivers & Trails Program, Northeast Region. Bath Trails hopes the trail will provide benefits of health, habitat protection, recreation, historic and environmental education, transportation, and scenic enjoyment for the community.
For more information on the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program, please visit www.nps.gov/rtca. For information about Bath Trails contact Steve Balboni, Director Parks and Recreation, City of Bath at 207-443-8360. Partner information City of Bath; Kennebec Estuary Land Trust; Hyde School; Bath Cycle and Ski; Healthy Maine Partnership; Bath YMCA, Lower Kennebec Region School Unit and several citizen bike and trail enthusiasts. 12/10/08 Article in the Times Record
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Through the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program, the National Park Service helps communities and neighborhoods preserve their important local resources, protect river resources, develop new trails and greenways and create new open space. These projects are locally-led with RTCA staff supporting local recreation and conservation leaders. This year, 23 projects were selected as Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance recipients in the 8 states across New England and New York and New Jersey. In 2007-8, RTCA efforts helped over 100 communities leverage $ 13 million in funds for targeted projects.