Looking Ahead into 2023
Somehow it is almost March- time flies! As we think ahead to the summer season, this is a time of year when many people are out enjoying trails that are hopefully frozen and snow-covered via snowshoe, micro-spikes, cross-country skis, fat bikes, snowmobiles, and more. Trail managers are getting ready for the busy season on many trails in Maine, whether it is hiring seasonal staff, preparing for the spring trail opening process which is sure to include blowdown removal after winter storms.
We wanted to share with you what the Maine Trails Coalition plans to focus on during 2023, and highlight a few of our efforts from 2022.
MTC Focus and Goals for 2023:
Exploring a Statewide Trails Fund supporting long-term maintenance of trails and infrastructure.
Cultivating diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values for trail managers and trail users, fostering and broadening partnerships, and welcoming new voices to MTC.
Reinvigorating a Maine Trails Coalition Gathering, sharing our story to new audiences, and continuing involvement in the 2023 Maine Outdoor Economy Summit.
Advocating for support and funding of the Maine Active Transportation Arterials vision.
Partnering with alliance groups in advocacy efforts related to trails and active transportation.
Further developing the Love Maine Trails Month program and other campaigns that support trail stewardship needs in Maine.
Developing a coordinated effort for data collection and visitor use counting statewide.
Establishing online giving and researching funding opportunities.
In the past year, the Maine Trails Coalition has accomplished the following:
Approved a Coalition Charter document approved in April 2022.
Hired a Project Coordinator at 16 hours a week.
Submitted legislation to the Maine Legislature proposing evaluation of unused rail corridors. The response being the DOT Commissioner created a Rail Corridor Use Advisory Council process to review and evaluate trail section requests.
Released the Maine Active Transportation Arterials document, a vision to connect all of Maine’s 25 largest municipalities and over 2/3rds of Maine’s population.
Successfully promoted an increase to the amount allocated to the State of Maine Recreational Trails Program by $500,000 for 2021 and 2022, which has been extended to full funding for the next two federal fiscal years.
Completed the Ugly Duckling Trail Contest trail rehabilitation project in the town of Jay, transforming a popular section of wet trail into a more durable surface by building an 80’ long x 8’ wide turnpike with the help of the Maine Conservation Corps and local volunteers.
Introduced Love Maine Trails Month (LMTM), encouraging volunteerism and raising awareness of the ethic of care and magnitude of scale required to maintain Maine’s trails. There were 60 official LMTM trail work days, and organizations submitted 3,451+ volunteer hours. MTC also approved the Love Maine Waters campaign which was inspired by LMTM efforts, which now serves as a model for ways we can build on LMTM this year.
Participated in the Maine Outdoor Economy Summit by organizing and facilitating the Managing Increasing Demand for Outdoor Recreation panel, hosting a well-attended MTC Gathering, sharing the Streetlight Maine Trail Count Project and leading a walk.
We look forward to what the rest of 2023 holds as we continue to be the voice for Maine’s trails. Thank you for your support! Let us know why and how you #LoveMaineTrails here.
