Close the Gap Groundbreaking Ceremony

A small gathering of invited guests was held on Thursday, July 24, 2025 to officially break ground on the Close the Gap project, and to formally recognize the commitment, patience, and perseverance of critical partners and major donors.

Close the Gap Groundbreaking Ceremony“Today’s groundbreaking isn’t just about building a trail segment that will close a critical gap in the Eastern Trail,” said Chelsey Berlin, Executive Director of the Eastern Trail Alliance (ETA) and Eastern Trail Management District (ETMD). “It is about vision, perseverance, and patience.”

“This new segment will unlock the ability to safely commute by bicycle from communities like Saco and Scarborough all the way to Portland,” said Berlin. “It will support healthier lifestyles, foster economic development, and carry forward the remarkable legacy of our founder John Andrews—whose vision and unwavering commitment to the Eastern Trail laid the foundation for everything we’re building today.”

Carole Brush, former Executive Director of the ETA and ETMD, added, “While John Andrews is no longer physically with us, I’m sure he is celebrating right now.”

Close the Gap Groundbreaking Ceremony Shovel Shot Brush continued to outline the tremendous challenges this project confronted and overcame over the course of its planning. This project took a remarkable effort over more than a decade to come to fruition. “Every challenge we faced reminded us that trails don’t just appear. They’re built on collaboration, sustained effort and investment, and a shared belief in the transformative power of trail to bring people and communities together,” noted Berlin.

Representatives of key stakeholders were recognized and present, including:

  • Federal, municipal and state partners— including the Town of Scarborough, the City of South Portland, and the Maine Department of Transportation;
  • Many board members—past and present—of both the ETA and the Eastern Trail Maintenance District (ETMD);
  • Partners such as the East Coast Greenway and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine;
  • ETA staff, volunteers, donors, and advocates, past and present—whose time, talents, and resources helped pave the way, both literally and figuratively, to today – our thanks to each and every one of you!

Site Walk to View Trail Under Construction

While there are so many donors to thanks for making this project possible, several key contributions were recognized, including by the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS), Town & Country Federal Credit Union, the Caiazzo Family, the Phillip Thompson Family, the Avangrid Foundation, IDEXX, the Quimby Family Foundation, the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, WEX, and the Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust.

We are thrilled construction is underway and especially grateful to our partners at the Town of Scarborough, the local project administrator, for their ongoing support and efforts. Construction updates will be posted here.

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