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 on single windfalls - they are built over time with stacked capital investments and deep community trust. Outdoor Sport Institute’s (OSI) recent success in Northern Maine proves exactly how powerful a diverse funding mix can be. By pairing a $1 million federal grant with a $250,000 Maine Trails Program (MTP) award, OSI has secured the vital state and federal pieces needed to accelerate a synchronized regional network known as Katahdin Area Trails (KAT).

This strategic capital stack is the engine behind the massive buzz currently surrounding the Katahdin Area Trails initiative. Between the communities of Island Falls, Millinocket, and Patten, an interconnected series of projects is underway to expand regional trail networks and build out community features. Led by OSI, the effort marks a major milestone for the new, bond-funded Maine Trails Program administered by the Bureau of Parks and Lands, showcasing exactly how state support can integrate with federal dollars to transform a region.

OSI will use the MTP funds to construct 1.6 miles of new shared-use track at Hammond Ridge, rehabilitate a key connector trail in the Millinocket community trail system, and carve out 2 miles of beginner singletrack in Island Falls starting 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 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!

News from MTC