Dr. Ann Dorney walks May 2022 through Malbon’s Woods at the Parsons Family Preserve in Skowhegan. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel file

SKOWHEGAN — Two ongoing projects in Skowhegan are the latest additions to a network of trails laid out in a master plan aimed to boost the region’s economy.

Dr. Ann Dorney plants a red maple tree in May 2022 as she works to rewild the Wesserunsett Stream Preserve, which is adjacent to the Parsons Family Preserve in Skowhegan. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel file

Somerset Woods Trustees is working on several trail relocation projects at Wesserunsett Stream Preserve and infrastructure upgrades at Parsons Family Preserve. The nonprofit land trust, based in Somerset County, and the economic development nonprofit Main Street Skowhegan announced the projects in a joint news release Thursday.

“We’re not just protecting land or working independently,” said Rachel Cheatham-McFadden, stewardship coordinator for Somerset Woods Trustees, in the release. “We’re building a lasting legacy of connection and community between our preserves, the people of this community, and the ecosystems of Earth that we all love so dearly.”

At Wesserunsett Stream Preserve, a 40-acre wooded area off Evergreen Drive, near Malbons Mills Road, the trail relocation project is intended to reduce mental and physical barriers for beginner hikers and families, prevent trail erosion and protect wood turtle habitat, the news release said. Work is being funded by grants from Somerset Public Health’s Move More Kids Program and the L.L. Bean Maine Land Trust.

At Parsons Family Preserve, a 27-acre field on Malbons Mills Road, the group is building an eight-vehicle parking lot and a fence that will protect a pollinator conservation project, the news release said.

Several local organizations are using the Skowhegan Area Trails Concept Plan to guide their work, organizers said.

The plan, commissioned by Main Street Skowhegan in 2022, was completed in January. Funding from the Maine Community Foundation supported its development.

“Skowhegan’s location on the Kennebec River with adjacent wooded parcels positions the community as a place for outdoor recreation,” said Kristina Cannon, president and CEO of Main Street Skowhegan, in the release. “We commissioned the trail master plan to not only identify potential new projects, but to also enhance existing trail networks.”

The Millinocket-based Outdoor Sport Institute engaged with more than a dozen Skowhegan area organizations to develop the master plan. Those included the town’s parks and recreation department, Maine School Administrative District 54, Lake George Regional Park, the Maine Appalachian Trail Club and the New Balance Foundation, among others.

The consulting group also surveyed existing trails around Skowhegan, visiting each area and analyzing GIS data.

The plan ultimately recommends specific plans and priorities for 60 miles of new trails, also including bike paths, sidewalks and other related infrastructure.

“By creating accessible trail systems close to downtown, schools, homes and businesses,” the plan concludes, “the partners can elevate Skowhegan from a simple town with recreation to a renowned outdoor recreation hub that draws visitors from across the state and country.”

Among other major outdoor recreation projects in Skowhegan is the River Park, formerly known as Run of River, which includes riverfront development in downtown Skowhegan, whitewater kayaking wave features in the Kennebec River and improved river access. Organizers have already secured millions for its construction, and work on the in-river portion is expected to begin in 2025, pending approval of federal permits.

The Maine Appalachian Trail Club, meanwhile, is building a new headquarters for its trail crew in Skowhegan. Improvements to facilities at Lake George Regional Park, in Skowhegan and Canaan, are aimed to sustainably expand the park’s use, park leadership said earlier this year.

Cannon, of Main Street Skowhegan, said those kinds of projects are expected to result in several benefits for the community — not just economic.

“With the river park, riverfront amenities, and an expanded trail system, we expect to see improved health and wellness outcomes in the region as well as increased sales at locally owned businesses,” she said in a statement.

Advocates like Cannon and Cheatham-McFadden are asking Maine voters to approve a $30 million bond for trail development. The referendum will appear as Question 4 in Tuesday’s election.

“The trail master plan identified a number of future projects in Skowhegan that could benefit from trail bond funding,” Cannon said in a statement. “Skowhegan partners are eager to collaborate and bring these projects to life for the benefit of the community and the economy.”