207-232-7174 info@cemenemba.org

Pine Ridge Improvement Project

CeMeNEMBA, in cooperation with Waterville’s Parks and Recreation Department, Kennebec Messalonskee Trails and Inland Hospital recently completed a trail improvement project in the city-owned Pine Ridge Recreation Area located on 150 wooded acres in the heart of Waterville. This most recent project was made possible with support from Inland Hospital, Live Healthy and Greater Waterville PATCH, the local Healthy Maine Partnership, as well as in-kind donations from CeMeNEMBA members and other trail groups including the local snowmobile club.
Since the trails opened to the public in the summer of 2010, the recreation area has become a destination for people of all ages, interests and abilities from local communities and beyond.  This project involved excavation work and bridge building which helped improve an additional two miles of trail to the popular network. The trail improvement and water removal project required the services of a hired contractor and excavator to repair areas that were substantially damaged by natural elements and inappropriate usage. The excavator improved the surface of the trail, installed culverts, and created rock barriers to keep out unauthorized motorized users. Volunteers from CeMeNEMBA, other trail groups, and the community helped build bridges, water bars, and “bog boards”. 
Matt Skehan, Director of Waterville’s Parks & Recreation Department noted his appreciation for the recently completed work: “In today’s economy we sometimes find it difficult to simply maintain what we have, let alone make (major) improvements to existing facilities and structures. Without help from groups like CeMeNEMBA, KMTrails, and Inland, many of our parks and trails would not get the attention they deserve. We’re lucky to be in a community where folks care enough about their surroundings that they’re willing to volunteer their own time to make things better for all of us.”