Enjoying the Rail Trail
Photo: Melanie Taylor Coombs
By Lawrence Furbish, Sanford Trails Committee Chair
The Sanford Springvale News recently asked readers to comment on what they loved about Sanford and every one of the submissions mentioned our trails system. Each year the Trails Committee reports to the Mayor and City Council on its activities for the year. Here are some highlights from our 2024 Report.
Committee members put in over 540 volunteer hours of service working on the trails. After the 2024 major spring storm, there was extensive damage on all our city trails and our volunteers turned out with their chain saws and loppers for a couple weeks of cleaning up debris. It is because of the dedication of our committee members and volunteers that our trails network is as fine as it is.
Each year the Committee sets priorities for various projects on all of our trails, and this year we made the Rail Trail our priority as it is our premier and most-used trail. Bull Pine Tree Service trimmed and chipped brush and trees along the sides of the trail from Hanson’s Ridge Road to Carpenter’s Bridge. Stuart and Torno did a major regrading and added additional gravel to upgrade the trail. Use of the Rail Trail has increased dramatically since this work was done. In winter, the Sno-Goers snowmobile club grooms the Trail for hikers, cross country skiers, and snowshoers.
The High School Loop Trail was completed last year. The two new legs create a loop with Alumni Blvd. and the Mousam Way bike path. The SRTC welding students with their instructor, Adam Hartford, came up with a very creative design and modified the three gates near the High School retaining their ability to stop motor vehicles but allowing easier and more friendly access to walkers and bicyclists.
The upgrade of the kiosk and trailhead on William Oscar Emery Drive was completed. It celebrates the various types of trees producing lumber that have been important to Sanford and New England’s history. It is now more noticeable and attractive, even more important when the Mousam Way Promenade is completed.
The safety of trail crossings came under review in conjunction with the Safe Streets for All initiative. We applied for and received a $3,000 Pence Grant to improve the signage for crossings at Hansons Ridge Road, Oak Street, Main Street and Pleasant Street.
We received wonderful news that the State has agreed as part of its reconstruction of the Powers Bridge to build an underpass beneath the bridge to allow passage beneath Route 4. This is a key to our long-term goal of extending our trails system down past the Sewer Department’s birding ponds and on to connect with the Eastern Trail.
The Native Plant Trust, Three Rivers Land Trust, and the Trails Committee received approval for a grant to develop a trail from the Community Forest on Oak Street to the Rhododendron Preserve. This will greatly improve access to this beautiful, but not-often visited preserve.
Our trails are a great asset to the city, and we hope you are all able to find a little time and get out there to enjoy them.
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