South Portland Land Trust Wins Trail Grant

The South Portland Land Trust has been selected to receive a grant of $139,397.55 for renovating and improving the Long Creek Trail. The grant is from the Maine Trails Program (MTP) administered by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Grants & Community Recreation Program. The program supports motorized, non-motorized, and multi-use trails in Maine and, thanks to passage of the Maine Trails Bond, has $30 million in state funding available through 2034. The MTP's current plan is to have competitions in each of the next four years; the Long Creek grant is part of the first round.

There are several administrative steps that must be completed before a Project Agreement can be signed. MTP's target is to finalize Project Agreements in time for a March 2026 start date.

SPLT chose the Long Creek Trail for its project based primarily on its potential for greater use by Brick Hill and Red Bank neighborhood residents, and others, if it could be made more accessible. As such, the planned improvements include such elements as:

• Lengthening and reconfiguring the trailhead access to make it less steep and safer

• Widening sections of the trail and providing railings where needed

• Providing an information kiosk at the trailhead to create better awareness of the trail

• Providing benches, viewing areas, and interpretive signs

• Replacing the current bog bridges with wider ones

• Improving drainage to mitigate erosion

• Improving the surface of the trail

Work on the application was a group effort, primarily by members of SPLT's Trail Committee, and it took from April to September to complete. The application also had strong support from several organizations in the Brick Hill neighborhood, such as Avesta Housing, Opportunity Alliance, Greater Portland Health, the Developers Collaborative, and 

Richard Berman, the creator of Brick Hill who gave the easement to SPLT for the Long Creek Trail and who stated:

Congratulations to the South Portland Land Trust for their successful grant application to the Maine Trails Program. That grant will be used for the improvement and renovations of the existing trail along Long Creek in Brick Hill and beyond making it more accessible to the general public and to the entire Red Bank neighborhood. Great work, SPLT !

The South Portland Land Trust is deeply indebted to its volunteers and partners for the success of the grant application.

Contact Information

Tex Haeuser, SPLT President
(207) 671-7645
tex@haeuserplanning.com
www.southportlandlandtrust.org

South Portland Land Trust Launches Innovative Climate Action Program

For immediate release

March 6, 2025

Contact:
Tex Haeuser, President, South Portland Land Trust
tex@haeuserplanning.com
(207) 671-7645

South Portland, ME – The South Portland Land Trust (SPLT) is excited to announce the launch of a groundbreaking initiative, starting on April 26th, aimed at  engaging the community in the fight against global warming. The program, titled Climate 2n—Something Wonderful, uniquely combines elements of music, writing, photography, and art to emphasize the need for climate action. 

“Although it may sound like it, this program is not just for artists,” says Tex Haeuser, SPLT President. “It’s for everyday people who want to join others in making a statement against the unchecked pollution by fossil fuel producers and in support of preserving the wonderful experiences we cherish for future generations.”

What sets the program apart is its year-long cycle, running from Earth Day 2025 to Earth Day 2026. Participants can attend any of the 24 events scheduled throughout the year. The timing of the events follows a unique formula of doubling intervals for the first half of the cycle and halving them for the second half. This innovative approach allows participants to experience time in a new and thought-provoking way. As the tag line for the program says, “The universe is mysterious. Climate change is not. We’re on the clock.”

During each event, participants are invited to share short and simple essays, poems, drawings, and other creative works, by themselves or others, that highlight the love, joy, and beauty of our world. We want to express why the future is worth fighting for. These contributions will be compiled into a collection and shared with members of Congress and other leaders. Additionally, participants have the option to include their works in a time capsule, preserving their messages for the future.

The Climate 2n—Something Wonderful program kicks off on April 26th at the Gazebo in Mill Creek Park, as part of the City’s Earth Day Fair.

For more information and to register, please visit the April calendar of the Events page of the South Portland Land Trust website.

SPLT on South Portland Forward

Click below to watch South Portland Forward—featuring SPLT’s Karen Talentino hosting a bird walk in Hinckley Park!

To learn more about South Portland Forward, visit the City of South Portland’s website.