Latest News

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD | Sat, July 12, 2025

Jul. 12—SCARBOROUGH — On the surface, the construction of just over a mile and a half’s worth of trail may not sound like a huge deal for southern Maine. You could also assume a project of that length would be straightforward.

But you’d be sorely mistaken — at least when it comes to the “Close the Gap” project on the Eastern Trail, a venture over a decade in the making that conservationists, transportation experts, and municipal and state officials all believe will have a profound regional impact.

After years of delays caused by everything from difficulty securing easements to a global pandemic, the 1.6-mile project is — at last — starting to take shape, with construction having begun in June.

When the Eastern Trail Alliance launched its first fundraising campaign, it believed the gap could be closed by 2017, at a cost of $4.1 million. If all goes smoothly from here, it will be just 10 years behind schedule and nearly $3 million over budget.

Just getting to this point has required years of determination, patience and perseverance.

“This project is a huge win not only for Scarborough and South Portland, but for the entire region,” said Joshua Reny, South Portland assistant city manager. “The perseverance of all of the stakeholders, partners and donors who brought the project to this critical point deserves acknowledgment.”

THE SPINE

The Eastern Trail, part of U.S. Bike Route 1, runs roughly 65 miles from South Portland to Kittery. While a mere 1.6 miles of fresh trail is being blazed in Scarborough, it will solidify a roughly 16-mile off-road connection between Bug Light Park in South Portland and downtown Saco.

The new section of trail is expected to be completed by November 2027.

“One of the biggest challenges right now for anyone using active transportation is north-south connectivity and doing it in a safe way,” said Chris Chop, transportation director for the Greater Portland Council of Governments. “This project, closing the gap, creates a continuous off-road network that connects recreational areas, downtowns and schools.”

Closing the gap is “a huge deal,” said Chop, who likened the Eastern Trail to U.S. Route 1 for off-road transportation.

In Scarborough, the northern, off-road segment of the Eastern Trail currently ends at the Nonesuch River, where a bridge is being constructed to begin filling the 1.6-mile gap. From there, the new portion of the trail will turn south, then curve east and across some railroad tracks. As it heads east, the path will stretch through a power corridor until it runs into Pleasant Hill Road, where a crosswalk with flashing pedestrian signals will be installed.

From Pleasant Hill Road, the trail will loop around Prouts Pond and north to the Wainwright Sports Complex in South Portland. Wainwright provides a connection to the Greenbelt multiuse path, which extends to Bug Light Park.

Dakota Hewlett, the Maine Department of Transportation’s active transportation planner, described the trail as “the spine for biking and walking” in the region.

“From that spine, municipalities are able to connect to that, into neighborhoods or business areas, downtowns, beaches — all those destinations we can think of in southern Maine,” Hewlett said.

The new link could be “a real game-changer,” said Scott Kunkler, the Scarborough Land Trust’s conservation director.

“The connection goes beyond just recreation,” he said. “It could encourage more people to choose active transportation options for daily commutes or errands, helping to reduce reliance on vehicles.”

FINDING THE TRAILHEAD

It’s difficult to pinpoint when the Close the Gap project officially came to be.

It can be traced to the early 2000s, when the idea first gained traction, or to 2012, when the first fundraising campaign was launched, or to 2017, when formal plans began to take shape.

Read the entire article online here

Allison Carrier | Portland Press Herald | July 11, 2025

Construction is officially underway on the long-anticipated Close the Gap project in Scarborough. In partnership with the town of Scarborough, Eastern Trail Alliance and the MaineDOT, the project will add 1.6 miles of off-road trail to the Eastern Trail, connecting the trail segment off Eastern Road to the northern trail segment near the Wainwright Sports Complex in South Portland.

The new segment will eliminate a key on-road gap, improving safety and accessibility for trail users. The completion of a 1.6 mile “gap” in trail will provide 16 miles of continuous off-road connection from South Portland’s Bug Light to downtown Saco.

The project is the result of several years of work to raise the necessary funds, complete the project design, align stakeholders, and acquire the necessary permits and land rights. It went out to bid in spring 2025 and construction began in June.

Plans for the Eastern Trail first began in 1998, when a group now called the Eastern Trail Alliance held its first public meeting to make a trail connect Scarborough and Saco. Other major milestones were the steel footbridge over Scarborough Marsh that was installed in November 2004, South Portland Greenbelt completed in 2005, and trail extensions to Kennebunk in 2010-2011.

The Close the Gap fundraising campaign began in 2012 with gradual momentum over the past 13 years.

The construction project will be completed in phases…….

Read the full article online here.

Dear Friend of the Eastern Trail,

We are thrilled to share a major milestone with you: construction is officially underway on the long-anticipated Close the Gap project in Scarborough, Maine!

In partnership with the Town of Scarborough and MaineDOT, this project will add 1.6 miles of off-road trail to the Eastern Trail, connecting the trail segment off Eastern Road to the northern trail segment near the Wainwright Sports Complex in South Portland. This new segment will eliminate a key on-road gap and bring us one step closer to a fully connected Eastern Trail.

This progress is the result of years of hard work: raising funds, aligning partners, finalizing trail design, and securing the necessary permits and land rights. The project went out to bid this spring, and construction is underway!

This moment also honors the vision of Eastern Trail founder John Andrews, whose tireless efforts and advocacy laid the groundwork for a long-distance trail through southern Maine. Though John is no longer with us, his legacy continues in every mile we build.

Construction will be completed in phases, and we hope the entire segment will be completed by the end of 2027. For ongoing project updates, please go here.

We are beyond excited to see this vision become reality. We are deeply grateful to the many funders and partners who helped bring this project to life—including the Town of Scarborough, MaineDOT, and generous lead donors like Town & Country Federal Credit Union, Caiazzo Family, Thompson Family, Quimby Family Foundation, Avangrid Foundation, IDEXX Laboratories, WEX, and many more!

Thank you for believing in the power of the Eastern Trail. Let’s keep strengthening and building the Eastern Trail—together!

With Gratitude,

Chelsey Berlin

Executive Director

Join the Eastern Trail Alliance for its August 2025 full moon walk in the Scarborough Marsh. This month’s full moon will be a Sturgeon Moon. The August Moon Walk will now be held Friday, August 8th 7:45 –9:15 pm. The walk leaves from the Eastern Trail’s Pine Point parking area (138 Pine Point Road in Scarborough). Registration is required (no cost – go here to register).

The walk is limited to 25 people and is first come first serve.

Pets and flashlights are not allowed for this event so as to ensure guests are able to best appreciate the marsh and full moon. Please email info@easterntrail.org with any questions you may have.

Visit our EVENTS page for information on other events.

Grab your sneakers and join Eastern Trail Alliance’s Executive Director Chelsey Berlin for a series of laid-back community walks. These free meet-ups are all about fresh air, good conversation, and enjoying the trail together.

Each walk kicks off at a different trailhead, so it’s a great opportunity to walk close to home or check out new spots along the Eastern Trail. Whether you’re an Eastern Trail regular or just curious to see what it’s all about, Chelsey is excited to share with you the best part of her job – meeting people like you out on the trail!

• Thursday, June 26, 2025 –MaineHealth Biddeford – Trailhead, 1 Medical Center Dr, Biddeford, ME. Free Event – Click here to learn more and register.
• Friday, July 11, 2025 – Wainwright Sports Complex, South Portland ME. Free Event – Click here to learn more and register.
• Tuesday, July 22, 2025 – Kennebunk Elementary School Trailhead, Kennebunk. Free Event – Click here to learn more and register.

What to Expect

• This program leaves from the back of the Maine Health Biddeford Campus parking lot. There is ample parking near the trailhead.
• We’ll take a chill, 2.5-ish mile stroll — nothing too intense, just enough to get moving and chat.
• Please leave your pets at home for this program.

Please Note: This is a good-weather only event. Registered participants will receive an email the afternoon before if the program the following day is cancelled.

Register now for the 2025 Maine Lighthouse Ride!

Join us on Saturday, September 13, 2025 for the 22nd annual Maine Lighthouse Ride!

True to its name, MLR highlights the breathtaking views of coastal southern Maine, including multiple lighthouses, rolling terrain, and stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the iconic Scarborough Marsh.

MLR offers four routes to challenge riders of all abilities – 25 miles, 40 miles, 62 miles, and 100 miles!

Go here to Register Now!

Your participation supports the Eastern Trail Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds, maintains, and promotes the Eastern Trail, southern Maine’s premier multi-use greenway.

Turbocharge your ride! By choosing the Become a Fundraiser option during registration process, you can rally your friends, family, and community to support your participation and a great cause – the Eastern Trail.

Today, the Town of Scarborough announced that the Eastern Trail’s Close the Gap trail-building project, a 1.6-mile gap in the trail between South Portland and Scarborough, is officially accepting sealed construction bids!

We’re excited to share this announcement with you, the Eastern Trail community, and are grateful to the Town of Scarborough for their tremendous leadership throughout this process.

This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of Eastern Trail supporters like you and your steadfast commitment to our mission. The Close the Gap project has faced challenges along the way, but thanks to donors like you, we are now at the beginning of the construction phase!

We appreciate your patience and dedication, and we look forward to sharing updates with you as this long-anticipated project progresses.

We are filled with gratitude today for you and our partners at the Town of Scarborough, City of South Portland, MaineDOT, and more – thank you!

Onward and upward!
The Eastern Trail Alliance Team

How did YOU make the most of the Eastern Trail last winter?

Whether you’re snowshoeing, jogging, or riding a fat bike—we want your feedback! It is not too late to take our winter trail-use survey. Your input helps us plan for a better all-season trail experience. Share your trail habits in our quick survey – Go here to take the survey

Dear Friend of the Eastern Trail:

As the new board president of the Eastern Trail Alliance, I am proud to support the Eastern Trail because of the transformative impact it has on my life. The Eastern Trail provides me a spectacular car-free and stress-free commute option to the office. On days that I do drive to work, the Eastern Trail provides a much-needed reprieve from screens during my lunch break.

When not working, walking on the Eastern Trail provides my family the space to connect with each other, our surroundings, and our community.

As a trail user first, I know the incredible impact the Eastern Trail has on individuals, businesses, and communities across southern Maine. Your previous support made the following achievements possible in 2024:

• 3 active trail expansion projects including persistent efforts to close the gap between South Portland and Scarborough; engineering design on 0.7 miles of new trail in West Kennebunk and 2.0 miles in Wells and North Berwick, and an ongoing initial feasibility study from North Berwick to Kittery.
• 850 Maine Lighthouse Ride participants, representing 33 states and spanning the ages from 10 to 87, sold-out this event and raised significant resources for the Eastern Trail Alliance to invest into the trail.
• 20 miles of off-road trail maintained and preserved including routine monitoring and maintenance, and in response to increasingly extreme and unseasonable winter weather.

We need your support to continue this critical work, and your investment to ensure we do not lose access to federal funding for trail design and construction in Kennebunk, Wells, and North Berwick that requires local matching funds. Every dollar goes toward our mission to maintain, build, and promote the Eastern Trail. Will you be one of the trail users and supporters we need to chip in to meet our goals?

In 2025, the Eastern Trail Alliance will continue to ensure that you have a safe and accessible place to walk, cycle, and run in southern Maine. Please join us in making that possible by making a year-end contribution today. Your support is critical to our ongoing work.

Doug Smith
Board President
Eastern Trail Alliance

Trail Manager Patrick Conlon retrieves a safety pylon from the Scarborough Marsh adjacent to the Eastern Trail in August 2024. A trail manager’s work is never done and is different every day!

Dear Friend of the Eastern Trail,

One of the best parts of my job as the Trail Manager for the Eastern Trail Alliance is seeing you and thousands of people like you enjoying the Eastern Trail each year. And wow, do I love my job!

When I see families out enjoying the trail together or folks walking their dogs, I think about what an extraordinary asset the Eastern Trail is to southern Maine. Whether you cycle for daily exercise, walk to clear your mind, or run to meet your training goals, the Eastern Trail provides a car-free, nature-filled environment to make it possible.

You can safely use the Eastern Trail because I remove downed trees, clean drainage ditches, pick up trash, and so much more. Your contribution to the Eastern Trail Alliance helps make my work possible and protects the safety and natural beauty of the Eastern Trail.

Just yesterday, a trail user passed while I was working trail side and said, “I guess your work is never done.” He couldn’t have been more right. The challenges of 2024 tested us in new ways: rising tides, increasingly severe storm surges, and more frequent freeze-thaw cycles caused extensive damage to the Eastern Trail.

The ETA adapted quickly. We launched a new Trail Conditions page on our website to keep you informed and safe. We monitored the trail closely, working with our municipal partners to address conditions and tackle larger maintenance projects. On a tight budget, we kept up with essential repairs – fixing fencing, bollards, signage, and more – and removing graffiti, trash, and pet waste aplenty.

In short, what that trail user said to me is this work is needed – it matters. Please make a year-end gift to the Eastern Trail Alliance today. The challenges of 2025 are already on the horizon, and we need your help to weather whatever nature throws our way. Your support ensures that we can continue to monitor, maintain, and protect this incredible resource. Your generosity keeps the Eastern Trail beautiful and open to all. Please make a generous donation today and help us preserve this vital community asset.

See you on the trail!

Thank you,

Patrick Conlon
Trail Manager
Eastern Trail Alliance