Sebago to the Sea Collaborative Initiative
The “Sebago to the Sea” project goal is to establish a contiguous recreational trail from Sebago Lake to Casco Bay connecting trails in Standish, Windham, Gorham, Westbrook, Portland and Falmouth. Working with partners within each corresponding town, including the Windham Parks and Recreation Department, City of Westbrook, Mountain Division Alliance, Portland North Land Trust Collaborative, Portland Trails, Presumpscot River Watershed Coalition, Town of Windham, Town of Gorham, USF&W, Falmouth Land Trust, Windham Land Trust, Town of Standish and Portland Water District, the PRLT has convened a group process to establish trail connectivity. First initiated by the Presumpscot River Watershed Coalition, of which the PRLT is a member along with Portland Trails, the PRLT agreed to facilitate this group process. PHASE ONE funders for the project included Maine Community Foundation through the Fund for Maine Land Conservation and the Undapassawona Fund in the amount of $7,500, and PHASE ONE and early stages of PHASE TWO funders include the Davis Conservation Foundation in the amount of $6,000 and the Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust in the amount of $2,500.

The Sebago to the Sea Trail continues to move closer to becoming a reality. The coalition of organizations involved has agreed on a vision for the trail from Sebago Lake to Casco Bay and has split into three regional work teams. These teams are all working to create new trail segments to connect existing trails together. When completed, this will become the Sebago to the Sea Trail. The Mountain Division Trail (along an old rail line) will be part of the Sebago-to-the-Sea Trail, and the State of Maine recently acquired another 5 miles of the rail corridor. This will allow the Mountain Division Alliance and MDOT to extend the trail from Rt. 202 in South Windham down into Westbrook; almost to the rail and foot bridge across the Presumpscot River.

More details to come!!