South Portland Land Trust to Open New Clark’s Pond Extension Trail

Contact:
Alex Redfield, SPLT President
alex@sopolandtrust.org
207-475-7235
 

South Portland Land Trust to Open New Clark’s Pond Extension Trail

Contact:
Alex Redfield, SPLT President
alex@sopolandtrust.org
207-475-7235

South Portland Land Trust to Open New Clark’s Pond Extension Trail

The South Portland Land Trust will celebrate the opening of its newest walking trail when it hosts a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 24 (10:00 a.m.) to open the new Clark’s Pond extension trail. The ribbon cutting, being held in conjunction with National Public Lands Day, will take place along a new portion of the trail, located between the Maine Air National Guard and the Irving station (along Western Avenue).

Elected political leaders and City officials will join SPLT volunteers and board members for the ceremonial ribbon cutting. The opening of the extension trail creates a 2.1-mile trail, enabling pedestrians to walk completely around the pond. The completion of the loop trail is the culmination of a nearly 15-year effort to obtain the necessary easements and rights of use agreements from abutting property owners and regulatory agencies. Since the SPLT’s West End Trail committee was launched in 2006, the SPLT previously completed the initial 1.1-mile Clark’s Pond Trail in 2007 and later built the Long Creek, Red Brook, and South Branch trails. Each trail is located within the greater Maine Mall area (a citywide trail map is available at www.sopolandtrust.org) and provides residents, staff at local businesses, and visitors with access to a high-quality outdoor recreation opportunity.

“Everyone at SPLT is thrilled to be able to complete this project and we’re excited to share this really special space with more of our friends and neighbors in South Portland,” said SPLT Board President, Alex Redfield. “The Clark’s Pond Trail is a surprisingly beautiful and quiet walk through a mature and diverse forest, less than a mile from the city’s busiest and most dense residential and commercial landscapes. Thanks to the efforts of SPLT volunteers, the City of South Portland, and the Long Creek Watershed Management District, this natural space will be protected and accessible for generations to come.”

Built almost exclusively by volunteers and funded by SPLT Members, the Davis Conservation Fund, and the Conservation for All program at the Maine Community Foundation, the Clark’s Pond Trail is part of the SPLT’s vision to help make the western part of the city more accessible and more livable for residents and visitors. By creating walkways that connect neighborhoods across the City, pedestrians now have safe and enjoyable access through some of the city’s most natural and scenic spaces. The SPLT hopes its projects will increase environmental stewardship and support the ongoing efforts of the Long Creek restoration and revitalization project.

SPLT members, residents, and area businesses interested in working on the trails, contributing to the mission of the Land Trust as a volunteer or member, or anyone wanting to learn more about SPLT are invited to visit the organization online at www.southportlandlandtrust.org or reach out via email to: info@sopolandtrust.org.

South Portland Land Trust Launches Earth Day Events

South Portland Land Trust is happy to announce their Earth Day 2022 plans, which include a day full of events honoring our city, trails, and planet Earth along with online pre-registration for each event.

We’ll kick off Earth Day, April 2022, with a virtual En-ROADS Climate Workshop. Join Sam Allen, a Professor Emeritus of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT and En-ROADS facilitator, to learn about En-ROADS (Energy-Rapid Overview and Decision-Support)—a global model based on the latest climate science used around the world by governments, businesses, universities, and the public. To learn more about this virtual presentation and to pre-register, visit our Events page here.

On Sunday, April 23, the Land Trust will host a Citywide Earth Day Clean Up with check-in sites located throughout the city. On the East side of South Portland, check in at Mill Creek Park and clean up the Greenbelt toward Bug Light. In the Central part of the city, check in at the lot outside of Dock’s Seafood and clean up the Greenbelt in both directions. On the West side of South Portland, check in at the South Branch trailhead and clean up along the trail. Check in begins at 9:00am. Choose a site to check in at, gather your supplies, learn where to leave the litter, and go! To learn more and pre-register for our citywide clean up, visit our Events page here.

At 1:30pm, join the Land Trust for a Trail Maintenance Project at Clark’s Pond Trail! This is a moderate trail maintenance project that involves spreading woodchips, along with other tasks. To learn more and pre-register for our Earth Day Trail Maintenance Project, visit our Events page here.

As a bonus, the Land Trust will host a Trout Book Trail Walk and Education Session on Sunday, April 24th, at 1:00pm. Join the SPLT and Fred Dillon, City of South Portland Stormwater Coordinator, for a walk around the nature preserve while learning about all of the restoration efforts that have taken place in the area over the years. To learn more and pre-register for this walk, visit our Events page here.

If you have questions about the South Portland Land Trust’s Earth Day activities, contact Dana Bettez, Membership & Engagement Manager, at dana@sopolandtrust.org.

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To learn more about these events, plus other Earth Month events throughout the city, visit southportlandlandtrust.org/earthmonth2022

South Portland Land Trust Supports Land Bond Ordinance

South Portland Land Trust Supports Land Bond Ordinance

Organization encourages residents to vote YES to support the bond referendum

South Portland Land Trust supports the Land Bond Ordinance (#2-21/22) that will appear on South Portland ballots in November. Election Day is Tuesday, November 2. Polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and you can also vote early. Visit the City Clerk for complete details on how to cast your ballot.

What is the Land Bond Ordinance? 

The Land Bond Ordinance will make it possible for the City of South Portland to purchase land within city limits for recreational use, the preservation of natural habitats, climate change mitigation, and long-term environmental sustainability. The Land Bond gives the City the ability to proactively protect open space and ensure smart development. The Land Bond helps to ensure that healthy communities are prioritized just as much as new housing and retail space.

Why does South Portland Land Trust support the ordinance?

The mission of South Portland Land Trust is to conserve open space in the City and link neighborhoods with a growing network of trails. The goals of the Land Bond directly align with the organization's goals to conserve open space in South Portland.

Why is it important to pass the Land Bond at this time?

South Portland faces intense development pressure and it’s critical to protect key pieces of land with substantial value to our community - before the opportunity is lost forever. Over the last ten months, the City has already approved over 5 acres of open space for development.* 

Most importantly, climate change is a real threat to our community. By keeping coastal or adjacent lands undeveloped, we can mitigate the effects of rising sea levels and flooding. In addition, by protecting certain parcels of forested land, we can lessen the “heat island effect” (which makes built-up neighborhoods significantly hotter than ones that include natural features) - a growing concern as extreme temperatures become more common.

Additional reasons it is important to pass the Land Bond now:

• To ensure spaces for outdoor recreation near our homes and schools. The Land Bond will also help the City meet its goal that all South Portland residents live within ½ mile or less from a park or open space by 2035.

• To ensure that we can amend land management practices in the City to enhance carbon sequestration and storage

• To continue to protect, restore, and expand healthy forests and wetlands; create a thriving, inclusive, low-carbon community for ourselves and generations to come.
  

How much will the Land Bond cost?

For a person who owns a home valued at $325,000 (the average value in the City currently) the cost of the bond would be under $17 per year over a period of 20 years (according to data as of 09/15/21.) Residents whose homes are valued at less than $325,000 would pay a bit less; those with homes valued at more would pay a bit more. The amount of the proposed bond is $4.5 million.*

*Information obtained from the Open Space Acquisition Committee (OSAC).

South Portland Land Trust Hosts Trail Clean-up for National Public Lands Day

MEDIA BRIEF 

For Immediate Release 

September 14, 2021

Contact: Michelle Smith

michelle@sopolandtrust.org  

207-838-0511

South Portland Land Trust Hosts Trail Clean-up for National Public Lands Day 
Funding from One Tree Planted will support the organization’s efforts on South Branch Trail

South Portland, Maine - South Portland Land Trust (SPLT) will host a trail clean-up at South Branch Trail on Saturday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to celebrate National Public Lands Day. The trailhead for South Branch Trail is located on Philbrook Road near the eastern entrance to JCPenney at the Maine Mall. The trail clean-up is made possible thanks to generous support from One Tree Planted, a Vermont-based organization that helps to fund reforestation efforts around the globe. 

Trail work will include building new bog bridges, cutting back brush, removing invasive plants, and picking up litter that has accumulated over the summer. Volunteers are welcome to stay for the whole morning or come out for an hour to help. Those interested in helping should email Michelle Smith at michelle@sopolandtrust.org. All volunteers will receive a free t-shirt and refreshments. 

SPLT celebrates National Public Lands Day each year. This annual event is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. For the land trust, it is an important event that raises awareness of the many trails available in South Portland and offers individuals, families, and friends an opportunity to help steward important open spaces in the City. For more information, please visit the Events page at southportlandlandtrust.org.

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About South Portland Land Trust

South Portland Land Trust is a nonprofit organization committed to linking neighborhoods and improving quality of life in South Portland through expanding the city’s trail network, conserving open space, and educating the public on issues related to trails and open space. It holds eighteen properties and easements within the City of South Portland to preserve natural habitats, trail access, and open space for public enjoyment.

Please visit www.southportlandlandtrust.org for more information
Facebook, Instagram & Twitter IDs: @sopolandtrust