New England celebrates major East Coast Greenway milestones
Momentum for the East Coast Greenway in New England was on full display this week as ribbon cuttings in North Hampton, New Hampshire, on Aug. 4 and South Portland, Maine, on Aug. 6 celebrated significant progress for the growing Maine-to-Florida trail network.
East Coast Greenway Alliance Executive Director Dennis Markatos-Soriano and National Greenway Director Allison Burson joined local partners, elected officials and hundreds of supporters to celebrate projects that bring the region closer to a nearly 400-mile model Greenway route from New Haven, Connecticut, through Boston and north to the coast of Maine.
“Greenways have the best infrastructure return on investment,” Markatos-Soriano said. “Completing sections raises the quality of life for regional residents and attracts tourists who aren’t just happy on greenways, they are hungry, thirsty and they often need a place to stay. Where the Greenway goes, the economy grows.”
Thursday, Aug. 6: Eastern Trail, Maine
Markatos-Soriano and Burson joined the Town of Scarborough, the City of South Portland and The Eastern Trail Alliance to celebrate the opening of the Eastern Trail’s “Close the Gap” project. This important 1.6-mile segment closes a gap in the Eastern Trail between South Portland and Scarborough, providing 16 continuous off-road miles for public enjoyment.
Remarks were made by project partners, including Markatos-Soriano, followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
With the exception of a 3-mile gap between Biddeford and Saco, the Eastern Trail is more than 80% complete between Kennebunk and Bug Light Park in South Portland.
“It’s time for us to complete the Eastern Trail and the East Coast Greenway by closing the next gap over the Saco River and beyond to Kittery and Boston south and Augusta and Bangor north,” Markatos-Soriano said. “Just two days ago, we celebrated a similar brand-new section in New Hampshire, so we have the momentum and can grow it if we vote in visionary elected leaders this November who understand the importance of Greenways as a top priority.”
“This trail really represents, as I said, decades of hard work, but more importantly, connectivity to a much larger trail system, and we’re really pleased to be part of advancing the East Coast Greenway,” Scarborough Town Manager Thomas Hall said.
Tuesday: August, 4: New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway
East Coast Greenway Alliance Executive Director Dennis Markatos-Soriano joined state and local partners and officials, including New Hampshire District 3 Executive Councilor Janet Stevens, and local Greenway supporters to celebrate the opening of the 1.6-mile Hampton section of the New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway.
With this addition, the East Coast Greenway in New Hampshire is 66% complete, and the New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway now stretches nearly 10 continuous miles from Portsmouth to Hampton. Remaining segments in Seabrook and Hampton Falls Marsh are slated for construction in 2030 and 2032, respectively.
“This is a big day for the Seacoast. And it’s also a big day for the entire Eastern Seaboard,” Markatos-Soriano said. “I’ve been leading the East Coast Greenway Alliance for 17 years, and the Greenway progress now underway in New Hampshire rivals the fastest I’ve seen in our 15-state corridor. Building out 10 miles over the last few years catapults New Hampshire from last place in percentage complete to the leading pack at two-thirds complete.”
When complete, the New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway will encompass nearly the entire East Coast Greenway route through New Hampshire, providing safe off-road connections south into Massachusetts and north into Maine.
“The New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway Alliance is excited to see the completion of this next phase of the greenway. We now have a beautiful linear park and safe transportation corridor stretching from Downtown Hampton through North Hampton, Greenland, Rye and Portsmouth. We are seeing lots of smiles from those using the trail,” said New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway Alliance President David Allen.
Following the ribbon cutting, attendees were invited to join a group ride to downtown Hampton.
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