Campaign Updates

Want to help one or more of these campaigns move forward? Click the Donate Now button below.  We truly appreciate your support – together we will complete this trail!!

The Eastern Trail Alliance is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization (EIN/tax ID number: 01-0523949). Your donations are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.

Close the Gap, a 1.6-mile segment from South Portland to Scarborough: The project team, led by the Town of Scarborough, continues to make progress toward an agreement with CSX to construct a pedestrian bridge over the tracks at Pleasant Hill. CSX recently acquired the freight rail line previously operated by Pan Am Railways, necessitating additional project negotiations. The project team is also working to finalize all easements and environmental permits required to release a construction bid as soon as possible.

Blaze the Trail South, a 11-mile segment from Kennebunk to North Berwick: We are thrilled to inform you that over the summer MaineDOT and the Eastern Trail Management District received a $4 million federal RAISE grant for engineering design and construction for the two end portions of this segment or 2.7 miles of trail total. This will create trail access immediately adjacent to the Kennebunk Savings Operations Center in West Kennebunk and Pratt and Whitney along Route 9 in North Berwick. An asynchronous Public Meeting is currently open to share the design of the 2.7 miles of this 11-mile segment, and to provide the final opportunity for public input before the construction phase in late 2025/early 2026. Click here from now until August 7 to access the public meeting materials.

Berwicks to the Border, a 18-mile segment between North Berwick and Kittery: Thanks to a Planning Partnership Initiative with MaineDOT in collaboration with Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission, in October 2023 we kicked off feasibility work to study route alternatives for the Eastern Trail from the Berwicks to the New Hampshire border. This section includes North and South Berwick, Eliot and Kittery, with a potential spur trail link to York. The analysis and development of route options is ongoing and a public meeting is anticipated for this summer.

To receive state and federal funding, the Eastern Trail Alliance must meet matching requirements with local support. Help make this possible.