Town of Jay, Maine Wins the “Ugly Duckling” Contest!
Congratulations, Town of Jay, Maine!
The Town of Jay, Maine has won the Maine Trails Coalition’s inaugural “Ugly Duckling” contest. The prize -- a trail assessment and one week of fieldwork from the Maine Conservation Corps -- is valued at $5,000.
As public interest in and use of Maine trails reaches new heights during the pandemic, the Maine Trails Coalition launched the Ugly Duckling Trail Contest last November to draw attention and funding to the backlog of maintenance facing many of Maine’s trails. Trail improvements funded by the award are expected to be complete by the end of 2021.
Fourteen applicants from around the state, including towns, schools, land trusts, and other nonprofit organizations, applied for help to fix problems that were in many cases exacerbated by dramatic increases in use during the pandemic. Applicants showcased eroded, muddy - and ugly - parts of trails which, with a little work, could be noticeably improved for trail users. Wet and eroding trails also impact waterways, affecting fish and other aquatic organisms. Applications were reviewed by a selection committee representing Maine trail groups and supporters.
“We were looking for organizations that could keep the momentum going and make the most of a small grant,” said Tyler Kidder, Program Officer for the Onion Foundation and a member of the selection committee.” “Applications from Jay and other municipalities really stood out because they have a strong base of both local users and volunteers. They just need a little expertise and funding to deal with things beyond their capacity.”
Jay’s town manager, Shiloh LaFreniere, submitted the winning entry, asking for funding to improve Trail Mix, located at the Jay Recreation Area.
Jay Recreation Area Trail Kiosk
“We are very excited to be selected to receive this support from the Maine Trails Coalition,” said LaFreniere. “We have a great group of volunteers that takes care of these trails, with some support from our Public Works Department. Three local retirees have cleaned up several of the trails in the Jay Recreation Area that are used by the school's cross country teams and members of the public. The trails are a treasure for our community, but we lack the time and funds to address the drainage issues and to build bridges that are needed to assure the integrity of some of the trails.”
The town of Jay will receive a project plan to identify overall rehabilitation needs, and one week of work from a six-person team from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Maine Conservation Corps (MCC) to accomplish initial project priorities -- a value of $5,000. MCC operates an AmeriCorps program with a mission to accomplish conservation initiatives that inspire people and enhance communities. AmeriCorps members serve across the state on conservation and recreation projects.
Randy Easter, volunteer, Jay Recreation Area Trail
“MCC teams focus on sustainable trail building practices to minimize long term maintenance and enhance the user experience,” said Lindsey May, Field Team Program Manager for the MCC and another judge for the contest. May plans to visit the site and develop a project plan before the team arrives this fall.
The Maine Trails Coalition plans to open the contest to entries again in the fall of 2021, with hopes of increasing the number of projects it can support.
