MTP Helps Moosetown Riders Advance Clubhouse and Garage Goals

9/21/2026

At the northernmost peak of Maine, near the Canadian border, the town of Allagash epitomizes rural living. With a population of fewer than 250 people, thousands of acres of wilderness accessible nearby, and hundreds of miles of trails and waterways, the region features endless outdoor recreation opportunities. However, for the snowmobilers who maintain the area’s busy winter trails, the rural location of their community presents unique challenges.

The Moosetown Riders of Allagash are an all-volunteer club serving the rural community. With a smaller local population, each volunteer plays an important role, and it can take longer to achieve the group’s goals. Thanks to member persistence and the Maine Trails Program, the club is now halfway towards one ambitious goal: constructing a new facility to house a clubhouse and a heated garage to store and maintain their equipment.

Caring for North Woods trails

The Moosetown Riders maintain roughly 85 miles of snowmobile trails across a rugged landscape. They have been doing so even despite lacking a garage in which to store and service their trail groomer. Grooming equipment is critical to maintaining any safe, functioning winter trail network. The massive machines pack the snow to form level, stable trail surfaces. The equipment also helps clubs respond to changing circumstances in their area, whether natural or due to human activity. In the Allagash, where much of the land is owned by private timber companies, clubs may need to re-route trails midseason due to harvesting, which is only possible with effective equipment. But the machines are huge investments, costing over $100,000, with replacement tracks alone running $10,000 each.

The Moosetown Riders have been storing their trail groomer outside, which is also where the volunteers service the equipment. In decades past this was common practice, but the equipment has become vastly more high tech and expensive to purchase and maintain. Exposed to all types of weather through the seasons, the equipment suffers accelerated wear and tear. Maintaining and repairing frozen machinery in sub-zero temperatures is grueling for the club's volunteers.

When the Bureau of Parks and Lands launched the Maine Trails Program in 2025, club Treasurer Lynn Kelly attended an informational meeting. Learning about MTP, she realized a grant from the program could be a chance to change the club's future. Lynn led the charge to put together proposals for both the Moosetown Riders and the nearby St. Francis Snowmobile Club, and both applications were among the 44 grants awarded during the first round of the highly competitive program.

Halfway to the Goal

When the MTP awards were announced, the Moosetown Riders learned that the wouldn’t receive the full amount they requested in their application. Initially they applied for a large grant to cover the cost to construct a combined groomer garage and member clubhouse. The $121,500 grant the club secured will fund the cost of the groomer garage and workshop portion. The club plans to continue fundraising for the remainder through 2027.

As of summer 2026, the Moosetown Riders already have considerable success to celebrate. They have cleared the lot where the future clubhouse and groomer garage will be constructed and have installed a gravel pad and signage. While fundraising for the clubhouse portion of the project continues, construction on the facility is slated to begin in the spring of 2027, with a target completion date by the end of the year.

More Than a Garage: Community Infrastructure

Once constructed, the garage will meet the club’s most basic needs, keeping the grooming equipment under cover and providing room for maintenance. But the future clubhouse will address critical infrastructure gaps in the Allagash community, demonstrating the importance of clubs like the Moosetown Riders in their local communities. The new facility will include amenities like public restrooms (the first in town) and a publicly accessible foyer with an AED and generator backup. It will serve as an emergency warming and shelter space for the community, and of course will also be a central hub where trail users can convene, socialize, and warm up.

Strengthening Regional Trails and Tourism

With around 210-240 members annually including individuals and local businesses, the Moosetown Riders hope that adding the new facility will help the club grow. Between offering more amenities and expanding their volunteer base through dedicated safety and grooming operator training spaces, the club ultimately may grow in membership and in trail miles.

By connecting to neighboring trail systems and collaborating closely with neighboring clubs like St. Francis, Allagash is positioning itself as a premier northern winter destination. These investments enhance opportunities for local riders and visitors from away, supporting the local hospitality and tourism economy in turn.

Reflecting on the state MTP grant process, Lynn praised the accessibility of the program: "Everyone was really great and provided answers quickly, which helped us understand what the true intentions of the program were."

Through state bond funding and local grit, the Moosetown Riders are building more than a shelter for machinery; they are building a durable foundation for community safety, recreation, and rural economic resilience in Maine's furthest reaches.

As we celebrate this progress for the Moosetown Riders, the Maine Trails Coalition wants to extend thanks to the Bureau of Parks and Lands and the taxpayers of Maine. Your votes in 2024 are officially at work on the ground, removing barriers, and helping ensure that Maine’s spectacular outdoors are truly for everyone.

The Moosetown Riders are still actively fundraising for their project, hoping to begin construction in 2027! One way to help is to participate in their annual Bash in the 'Gash event (taking place October 10th this year) and join in the celebratory meal, raffles, and more. Follow them on social media to learn more about upcoming events.

Author Leigh Hallett served as the Director of the Maine Trails Coalition during the 2025–2026 implementation of the Maine Trails Program. This article is part of a special series documenting the local impact of MTP.

Help Shape Maine Trails Program Support: Take Our Quick Survey

7/31/2026

Whether your organization applied in the recent round of the Maine Trails Program (MTP) or you are planning for future trail projects, we want to hear from you!

The Maine Trails Coalition (MTC) and other partners work alongside the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL, which administers the Maine Trails Program) to help organizations across the state navigate the application process. Your feedback directly shapes the practical guides, tip sheets, and workshops we offer to help groups of all sizes successfully apply for grants.

Beyond immediate applicant support, your input helps us understand the bigger picture: the real capital needs and long-term funding required to maintain and grow Maine’s trail networks.

Built on Trust: The Long Game Behind The Katahdin Region’s Emerging Trail Networks

7/27/2026

Maine Trails Program grant at work in Northern Maine

Major trail networks aren’t built with a single windfall or major grant - they are built over time with stacked capital investments and deep community trust. Outdoor Sport Institute’s (OSI) recent success in Northern Maine proves how critical a diverse funding mix can be. By pairing a $1 million federal grant with a $250,000 Maine Trails Program (MTP) award, OSI lined up vital state and federal funding programs to accelerate construction of a regional trail network known as Katahdin Area Trails (KAT).

This strategic capital stack is powering exciting developments for the Katahdin Area Trails initiative. The communities of Island Falls, Millinocket, and Patten are collaborating on an interconnected projects to expand regional trail networks and build local community amenities. Led by OSI, the project is a notable example of the new, bond-funded Maine Trails Program, illustrating the potential transformative power of state support integrated with federal dollars to transform a region.

OSI will use the MTP funds to construct 1.6 miles of shared-use track at Hammond Ridge, rehabilitate a key connector trail in the Millinocket community trail system, and establish 2 miles of beginner singletrack in Island Falls beginning this year. In early July, we talked with Mike Smith, Executive Director of OSI, to learn more about the nonprofit’s trail work in these communities and how they successfully secured this significant federal and state funding for trail work in rural Maine.

MTP Grant Helps Rockland Residents Reach Forest Trails

7/24/2026

Selected as one of 44 projects statewide from over 100 Maine Trails Program (MTP) applications, Rockland’s Benner Hill Trail Development is proving just how vital state trail funding is for local communities. Backed with its $250,000 MTP grant, the City is kicking off construction on the highly anticipated project this July.

The ambitious project serves as a significant leap forward for the city's long-term Waterfront to Wilderness initiative, a decade-long vision to connect Rockland Harbor in the east to the pristine Rockland Bog in the west. When finished, the regional patchwork will span five to six miles of interconnected trails.

Waterville’s Quarry Road Trails Puts MTP Funds to Work

7/6/2026

From Winter Haven to Year-Round Hub

As summer reaches its peak, the historic Maine Trails Program (MTP) is visibly transforming the landscape of Maine’s outdoor recreation.

Funded by the state's 2024 Trails Bond and administered by the Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, this historic grant program is empowering local communities to turn long-held trail dreams into physical reality.

Located along the Messalonskee Stream, QRT is part of the Kennebec Valley region (photo courtesy of the City of Waterville).

In Waterville, the city-owned Quarry Road Trails (QRT) recreation area is currently executing a multi-phase upgrade that is redefining the park's seasonal cycle. Known traditionally as a premier winter destination, Quarry Road is utilizing a $250,000 MTP award to aggressively expand its summer footprint, building out critical single-track trails and a versatile new trailhead facility to anchor year-round public programming.

Maine Trails Program Funding Helps Transform Long Creek Trail

7/6/2026

South Portland - This summer marks an exciting milestone for outdoor spaces across the state as the historic Maine Trails Program (MTP) officially enters its first major implementation phase. Created by the Maine Legislature following overwhelming voter approval for the 2024 Trails Bond, the MTP is administered by the Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Though the first round of grant awards was announced just six months ago, several highly anticipated, community-led projects are already underway.

One such MTP grant recipient is the South Portland Land Trust (SPLT). The organization is using a $139,000 MTP grant to reshape its Long Creek Trail. The project will transform an established, urban hillside trail into a more inclusive community resource designed to welcome visitors of various interests, backgrounds, and physical abilities.

In mid-June, just as crews officially broke ground (the big day is pictured at right), we spoke with Tex Haeuser, SPLT Board President, to discuss the project’s deep neighborhood roots and what this funding means for an all-volunteer land trust and its stakeholders.

The MTP Application is Now Online!

7/2/2026

It's the news we've all been waiting for - the Maine Trails Program application process will be online via a digital portal this year. This is great news for applicants because it will make the process easier and help prevent errors. (In fact, you can't even hit "submit" if any required documents are missing!) Grant recipients will be able to track their funds and reporting through the portal as well. Find the link on the MTP webpage.

Here are a few important points about the new process:

The new portal, called Submittable, changes how applications are submitted, but does not change the application requirements. The application questions, required attachments, and supporting documentation remain the same.
Paper applications may still be submitted. Applications submitted by email will not be accepted.
Anyone unfamiliar with Submittable should watch the short Applicant Tutorial Video before beginning their application.
The Submittable Applicant Help Center and FAQ page is always available with info about creating an account, managing submissions, password resets, and other technical issues.
As ever, start the application process on the MTP page! (Find it here.)

The Bureau of Parks and Lands Grants and Community Recreation Program team has been working intensively to get the portal set up in time for this year's applicants. Kudos to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry for making this milestone possible!

Maine Trails Program Success Story: Breaking Barriers at Old Boston Preserve

6/18/2026

Ogunquit - The Maine Trails Program (MTP) is currently the most robust and accessible funding mechanism available for trails in our state. Created following overwhelming voter support for the 2024 Trails Bond, the program is administered by the Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) within the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Though the first round of historic grant awards was announced just six months ago, several highly anticipated projects are already underway. In Ogunquit, the Great Works Regional Land Trust (GWRLT) is using this crucial state investment to turn a long-held community dream into a tangible reality this summer with the construction of its first universally accessible trail at Old Boston Preserve.

"For Everyone, Forever"

The Great Works Regional Land Trust’s guiding motto is “For everyone, forever.” But true access requires intention. Leaders there realized that for people with limited mobility, traditional conservation lands remain out of reach. In fact, across the six towns GWRLT serves, their 22 existing trail networks all shared a familiar Maine characteristic: terrain dominated by roots and rocks. That is changing at the Old Boston Preserve in Ogunquit.

Thanks to a critical infusion of funding from the Maine Trails Program, GWRLT is currently constructing the first Universal Access trail in its network. When completed this fall, the project will feature a one-mile, universally accessible looping trail.

Meet Adam Fisher, at the Helm of Maine’s New Trail Program

1/20/2026

Last November was a milestone for Maine’s great outdoors. Just a year after voters showed overwhelming support for the 2024 Maine Trails Bond, the Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) officially brought the effort full circle by announcing the first round of Maine Trails Program (MTP) awards.

Leading the charge into this new era is Adam Fisher, BPL’s Maine Trails Program Manager. We caught up with Adam to talk about his journey from Alaska to Maine, the whirlwind of launching a multi-million dollar program, and where to find the best pastries in the Pine Tree State.

News from MTC