ROCKLAND — Now that the Bog Trail has been established, creation of another access trail is being eyed, which will allow substantial progress to the Waterfront to Wilderness project, according to Jenny Carter, City of Rockland Sustainability and Community Development Coordinator.

Georges River Land Trust completed a Bogs Trails plan that looked at current and future trails in the Rockland Bog and included a plan for trails on two City-owned parcels on Benner Hill, with a trailhead on Tolman Road. Once created, the trail will connect all the way over Benner Hill to Bog Road, according to Carter.

To set the project in motion, the City will apply for funding to construct the trail system through The Maine Trails Program, a statewide initiative to support the design and development of trails for outdoor recreation and active transportation, created by the Maine Legislature in 2024. Deadline for this grant cycle is Sept. 26, 2025, though the Maine government program is intended to remain until 2034.

On Sept. 8, Rockland City Council voted 4-1 (Mayor Penny York absent) to authorize the City Manager to apply for, and if granted, to expend the funds, up to $250,000 from the Maine Trail Program, for the Benner Hill Trail Development Project for design work, signage and parking improvements.

City Manager Tom Luttrell said that in speaking with the Sustainability Coordinator prior to the Sept. 8 City Council meeting, he learned that “in order to go forward with this Maine Trails Program, we do have to show that we are willing to maintain this trail fiscally every year. We are not sure of the amount, but we think it’s going to be in the $10,000 range. But our TIF dollars will cover the maintenance of the trail.”

Councilor Nate Davis questioned the $10,000 estimate, believing that the proposed trail is short and maintenance costs wouldn’t run so high. Luttrell replied that the actual amount required is unknown, and therefore he’d entered a ballpark figure which could be viewed as a high cap figure if necessary. What was important to the Council discussion is “just to let you know that in the future you may see an order to maintain this trail with TIF dollars,” he said.

Councilor Adam Lachman said during the September 3 Agenda Setting meeting that he was recently on the bog trail.

“It was pretty incredible,” he said.

See previous articles:  

(2021) Overlook Trail to mark first phase of Waterfront to Wilderness Trail in Rockland

(2017) Rockland acquires McLain School, Bog land; names MacDougal land as park

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com