#walkingtrails — Public Fediverse posts

#Maine - New section of #EasternTrail opens 15 months early

by Katie Delaney
Fri, August 7, 2026

"A new section of the Eastern Trail is now open.

"It's the final link connecting Bug Light in #SouthPortlandME and downtown #SacoME. The 1.6-mile addition to the trail goes through Scarborough and South Portland. Now people can walk, run, and #bike along 16 miles of uninterrupted #OffRoadTrail.

"It's part of the greater #EastCoastGreenway, which goes from #Maine to #Florida.

"Bit by bit, gaps between paths are being filled until it becomes a complete off-road journey along the coast. The new Eastern Trail section is the latest step toward that goal.

"At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, South Portland Mayor Elyse Tipton said it's about more than just connecting trails.

" 'It's about connecting communities and fulfilling a vision that has been years in the making,' she said.

"The project was completed 15 months ahead of schedule.

" 'Which is something frankly just unheard of,' Tom Hall, the town manager of Scarborough, said. 'All the credit in the world goes to this group of folks that got together to really deliver a first-rate project.'

"Avery Seuter, from Wells, was eager to try out the new trail.

" 'First reactions, this is just gorgeous, like you couldn't have picked a better area to come through,' he said, walking along the trail."

[...]

"The executive director of the #EastCoastGreenwayAlliance said their next goal to get closer to completing the Eastern Trail is to close the gap over the #SacoRiver and down to #KitteryME."

Read more:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/section-eastern-trail-opens-15-155200326.html

#SolarPunkSunday #BikeTooter #BikeTrails #WalkingTrails #SpendTimeInNature #SpendTimeOutdoors #EastCoastUS #MaineTrails #RailsToTrails #MaineBicycleCoalition #EastCoastGreenway #AccessibleTrails

More of this, please...!

#Nevada is trying a radical solution to boost #AffordableHousing

A major housing project in Nevada used to be a fairway. Other states should take a swing.

by Sara Herschander
Updated Aug 3, 2026,

An old #GolfCourse in #LasVegas is about to be transformed into the largest affordable housing complex in Nevada’s history.

Except: "If all 16,000 golf courses in America turned all of their land — about 2.3 million acres — into housing with the same density as #DesertPines, it would be enough space to build 22 million homes. If you applied that approach to only those courses that are, like Desert Pines was, municipally owned, then you could still build 4.3 million #affordablehomes which would make an enormous dent in the nation’s current shortage of about 7.2 million affordable homes.

"That’s not to say that every golf course in every land-constrained city ought to be bulldozed to make way for new apartment buildings [Nah. Rewild some of them, turn others into #CommunityGardens and #GreenSpaces]. Golfing, for the record, has made a bit of a comeback lately, much like its most famous star. And even if fairways were still closing at the rate they were a few years ago, there’s no way that they could solve Nevada’s housing gap alone, much less overcome the shortage nationwide. But they can still help close the gap.

"Ramos, who is among the local leaders organizing community meetings around the Desert Pines redevelopment, believes it could be transformative for the community over time. She says that in her neighborhood it’s become a luxury for many families just to live alone with their spouse and kids, rather than doubling up in cramped apartments, pooling together money each month to keep up with rising costs.

"When the Desert Pines redevelopment opens about a decade from now, it will include not just 1,500 housing units, but also a soccer pitch, #WalkingTrails, and a job training center. In East Las Vegas, the temperature often feels more than five degrees hotter than it does in the Badlands’ affluent suburbs, where residents enjoy over nine times as much parkland per person.

" 'This project brings a lot of hope,' said Ramos, who’s especially excited about the prospect of more #accessible, #KidFriendly #GreenSpaces. 'We’re all human. We need equity, respect, and to live with dignity, and that’s why we urgently need #trees too.'

"As it turns out, you can do a lot with an old fairway. Even with all of those bells and whistles, the new development will still likely use less water than the golf course did. And, because the plot of land is already enmeshed within the community of East Las Vegas — close to existing sewer, water, and electricity lines — it will be much cheaper to build there than it would be to try doing so on the outskirts of the city, said Antonio Bermúdez, vice president of McCormack Baron Salazar, the developer working with the city and state government on the proposal.

" 'What I’ve seen so far in the state of Nevada is that the political will is there,' he said, though the question is, 'how do we make this happen not just in Nevada and the city of Las Vegas, but everywhere else where affordable housing is needed.' "

Read more:
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/497523/golf-course-affordable-housing-las-vegas

#SolarPunkSunday #LessGolfCourses #MoreAffordableHousing #MoreGreenSpaces

#CamdenME - #Workshop – #NeedleFelted Mushrooms with Sam Coon

June 6 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Ages 12+
Class fee: $27 Members, $30 Non-Members
Materials fee: $5 paid to instructor
Beginner+

To Register, please call (207) 236-2239. Registration fees are non-refundable. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.3

Description:

"Whether used as a lovely sculpted display, an ornament, or even as a pincushion, needle felted mushrooms are a fun project to create for all levels: those starting out, and those already familiar with the process. Class instruction will include wool types used, needle safety precautions and proper use, how to create a form using core wool, and adding exterior details with #DyedWool. Examples will be provided, such as fly agarics, boletes, chanterelles, and russulas. Students will be able to complete 1-2 mushrooms by the end of the class session, depending on the size and details.

"Sam Coon is a self-taught #FiberArtist, and has been making felt since being introduced to both needle felting and wet felting in 2009.

"Much of her inspiration is gleaned from the natural environment, particularly patterns, colors, and shapes. From there, various types of items are created including vessels, wall art pieces, sculptures, jewelry, and wearable felted items that are nuno felted. In these art forms, she uses wool fibers that have not been spun or woven, such as Merino or Corriedale. In many instances, fabric, silk and viscose fibers are incorporated to change the textural quality of the felt and for added dimension.

"What particularly stands out the most to her, when working with wool to make felt, is that the sculptural qualities of wool are impressive, making creative possibilities seemingly endless. Along with working in the studio, she also regularly teaches needle and wet felting classes at varying locations and age groups.

"This workshop is generously co-sponsored by Camden Riverhouse Hotel.

"#Merryspring is your community nature center offering #WalkingTrails, cultivated #gardens, #wildlife, and #ecology and #horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off of Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza."

FMI:
https://merryspring.org/calendar/workshop-needle-felted-mushrooms-with-sam-coon/

#SolarPunkSunday #FiberArts #Crafting #InspiredByNature #Mushrooms #Wool

More of this, please!!!

#RockportME - #Midcoast nonprofits team up to preserve historic #farmland — and build new #housing

Maine Public | By Nicole Ogrysko
Published November 29, 2025 at 8:31 AM EST

"Two midcoast nonprofits are teaming up to preserve a historic dairy farm in Rockport — and build new affordable housing on site.

#MaineCoastHeritageTrust has owned more than 160 acres south of Route 90 for the last 15 years. The #EricksonFieldsPreserve has #WalkingTrails and a #CommunityGarden, where students have learned to grow produce for nearby #FoodBanks.

Recently, the Heritage Trust secured the farm's remaining six acres across the street, where the old farmhouse and dairy barn are located.

When a family member living in the farmhouse passed away a few years ago, Aaron Englander with the Maine Coast Heritage Trust said the nonprofit began to think about how the property could be preserved for community benefit.

Housing, Englander said, emerged as a clear need. The Heritage Trust acquired the six-acre property and plans to preserve five of them. It has donated the remaining acre to the #MidCoastRegionalHousingTrust, which plans to develop one and two-bedroom apartments.

The housing shortage is being felt throughout the region, said Jonathan Goss, president of the housing trust. Knox County needs nearly 1,300 new homes by the end of the decade.

'Services are being cut back or being lost because of a lack of employees,' he said. 'Everybody knows someone who either grew up here or had been living here who is not able to live here any longer.'

The housing trust plans to renovate the old farmhouse on site for rental housing first, and then construct eight new apartments for working families there later on. Goss said these are families with teachers, public safety officers, nurses and others who earn too much to qualify for subsidized housing, but not enough to afford a median-priced home in the region, which now surpasses $450,000.

Housing development is sometimes pitted against land and environmental conservation efforts. But Englander with the Maine Coast Heritage Trust said this project could serve as a statewide model for balancing those interests.

'[This can] show people that yes, you can conserve wildlife habitat, you can conserve farmland, soils and agricultural know-how, and you can create access to public lands and outdoor educational spaces all in one property,' he said."

Read more:
https://www.mainepublic.org/business-and-economy/2025-11-29/midcoast-nonprofits-team-up-to-preserve-historic-farmland-and-build-new-housing

#SolarPunkSunday #LandPreservation #AffordableHousing #PreservingWildlifeHabitats #Farmland #Conservation #Maine #MainePublic #PublicBroadcasting

Tonight and tomorrow night in #IpswichMA !

#CraneOutdoors: Dunes by the Light of the #FullMoon

Castle Hill on the #CraneEstate

Sunday, September 7, 2025, and Monday, September 8, 2025

About CraneOutdoors: Dunes by the Light of the Full Moon

"Transformed and illuminated by the glow of the full moon, the beach and dunes of Castle Neck are a stunningly beautiful landscape. To experience this special place at this magical time, join us for a unique hiking experience.

"We’ll start with the beauty of a sunset while taking an evening walk along Crane Beach when most visitors have packed up and gone home for the day. We’ll have ample time to take in the 'Cape Ann light' that has been the inspiration of many artists over the years. Then, we’ll then head into the dunes where we’ll explore the trails of Castle Neck under the light of the full moon. You’ll enjoy the quiet of Pitch Pine groves and catch glimpses of the Atlantic as you crest the dunes. You might even see some cranberries in the Neck’s naturally occurring cranberry bogs.

"Please note: Our standard Full Moon Hike is suited to kids aged 12+ and/or who can comfortably hike 2-3 miles. For families with smaller children, or those looking for a slower pace, please look for our CraneExplorer: Family Full Moon Hike offerings, which are shorter and go at a gentler pace.

"Bring water and dress for the weather to maximize comfort. You are welcome to bring a flashlight or headlamp, but we may ask for moments of total darkness to fully enjoy the moon and the shadows it makes on the dunes."

$30pp

https://thetrustees.org/event/441279/

#SolarPunkSunday #LunarPunkSunday #TrusteesOfReservations #CraneEstate #WalkingTrails #MoonlightWalks #Nature
#Massachusetts #MassachusettsEvents #SpendTimeInNature #LandPreservation #LandTrusts

So, the Crane Estate is the place I based my #SolarPunkSunday microfiction piece on. While it doesn't have the #SolarArray of Star Island or a #WindTurbine (yet), it is making good use of a cistern that was installed there by the original owner -- which catches rainwater off the roof for future use! Also, there was a wind turbine on nearby Eagle Hill, but it was damaged in 2018 by an electrical fire, and is being torn down rather then repaired. However, both Eagle Hill and Castle Hill would be good places to catch sea breezes from the Atlantic Ocean!

The Trustees of Reservation Have A Mission…

November 22, 2011

"When Chicago industrialist Richard T. Crane, Jr. built his palatial summer home in 1928, he planned carefully for the estate’s water needs, using state-of-the-art technology-after all, the Cranes made their fortunes manufacturing plumbing supplies. As part of a plan that included wells throughout the estate, he arranged to harvest rainwater from the roof of the Great House and store it in an underground cistern next door.

"Over the years, that cistern was forgotten, says Robert Murray, superintendent of the Crane Estate, as water lines easily brought potable water up Castle Hill. The echoing chamber stood empty, just below the surface, for perhaps 60 years, until plans got underway for a major replanting on the Allee-the storied tree-lined lawn that rolls from the Great House down to the sea.

" 'As we were planning for the Allee restoration, we knew that we had to make provisions for irrigation in the event of a mandatory town-wide water ban,' Murray says. A drought would be the undoing of the substantial investment in new trees along the half-mile landscape. The organization estimates they could collect 180,000 gallons of rainwater a year from the roof-enough to take care of those young trees until they can stand on their own.

"The cistern revival is symbolic of a rethinking of the mission and goals of the Trustees of Reservations, a 120-year-old organization dedicated to preserving and protecting more than 100 special places in Massachusetts-some 20 of which are found on the North Shore. It was one of the first land trust organizations in the country, so shifting its time-honed methods wasn’t a natural move. But in response to changing times that demand more agile environmental action, the Trustees launched its 2017 Strategic Plan to make the organization more relevant in an age of eco-upheaval. The emphasis on the environment is not just a feel-good plan-the Trustees have 75 miles of coastline property that they are the first to admit could very well be radically altered by global warming."

[...]

"These properties feature, in a relatively small geographic area, a range of natural, cultural, and historic resources that are representative of the Trustees’ broader network of properties: historic structures like the Great House on Castle Hill, the Paine House on Greenwood Farms, and the Old House at Appleton Farms; important historical collections; significant natural and planned landscapes; coastal habitats, grasslands, marshlands, and agricultural lands."

Read more:
https://www.nshoremag.com/faces-places/the-trustees-of-reservation-have-a-mission/

#SolarPunkSunday #LandPreservation #Massachusetts #LandTrusts #HistoricBuildings #WalkingTrails #NewEngland

On one side of the #SacoRiver in #HollisMaine is #IndianCellarPreserve ...

"This is a lovely 81-acre preserve by the Saco River, with great #WalkingTrails. All together, there are about 3 miles of trails here, as well as some #swimming spots. There is a promontory with a great vista of the Saco River and a little picnic table. This preserve seems to be less trammeled than its neighbor across the river — #PleasantPointPark — and also somewhat popular with #MountainBikers. The perimeter trail, which is about 1.6 miles or so, is very well blazed. The interior trails are less well marked and seemingly less used.

"There is also more information about the site at the #TrustForPublicLand.

"Directions: If you’re coming from #Route202 east, you will turn left after crossing the bridge over the Saco River from Buxton. Take a left onto Old Alfred Road, and the parking lot is immediately on your left. You’ll see a sign for the preserve, and some stone steps."

https://mainebyfoot.com/indian-cellar-preserve-hollis/

#IndianCellarPreserve #LandTrust #HikingTrails #SacoRiver #SalmonFalls
#MaineDOT #Maine #SouthernMaine #SalmonFallsBridge #Wildlife #SolarPunkSunday `