PATTEN, Maine — In early 2023 Katahdin Area Trails, a partner in Patten Area Outdoors, was awarded a Recreational Trails Program grant through the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, to construct a high quality, easy to navigate non-motorized accessible trail. The vision was to complete a short evenly graded trail that would include a children’s Storybook Lane on land behind the Lumbermen’s Museum. The hope was that this trail would be a place for people of all ages and abilities to spend time outdoors together.
Patten Area Outdoors, a volunteer group in the region focused on creating non-motorized, accessible outdoor options for our town and our region, are pleased to announce that under the supervision of the Outdoor Sport Institute and Katahdin Area Trails our first trail has been completed. People are walking the trails, some with another walking partner, some with their dogs, and some to bring their kids to spend a little time outdoors reading our first Storybook Lane book “Iciest, Diciest, Scariest Sled Ride Ever!”
The planning and completion of the Lumbermen’s Trail has been assisted by staff from the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program of the National Park Service. The Patten Planning Board with full support of the Patten Select Board applied for a planning grant to RTCA and have been working with a broad coalition of individuals and groups to create our first non-motorized trail. The commitment of the Outdoor Sports Institute and Katahdin Area Trails to oversee broad regional planning, contracting and construction of the trail has been essential. The commitment of the Lumbermen’s Museum,Veterans’ Memorial Library and the Town of Patten has helped to ensure the continued upkeep and maintenance of the trail and Storybook Lane.
We have had volunteer assistance and support from many organizations and individuals including the Patten Select Board and Planning Board, Maine Department of Transportation (Scenic Byways Program), The Friends of Veterans’ Memorial Library, Patten ATV Club, Katahdin Collaborative, Northern Forest Center, Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters, Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument, Katahdin Middle and High School, Patten Area Women’s Club, Katahdin Tourism Partnership and others.
Patten Area Outdoors and the Outdoor Sport Institute are holding an open house on Wednesday, January 31 from 2-4:30 p.m. Starting at 2 p.m. we will have a “trail trimming” and a public engagement session on plans for future non-motorized trails in Patten. We will be doing light clean up of downed branches along the trail and there will be time to walk/snowshoe along the trail and to read our winter storybook. Students from our after-school programs will be helping out and we invite others of all ages in the community to participate.
We will be offering home baked treats and hot drinks inside at the Lumbermen’s Museum Building and Veterans’ Memorial Library (61 Shin Pond Road). There will be posters, some fun activities, and time for ideas to be shared. Please join us on, come when you can.
Anyone interested in joining the Patten Area Outdoors email list please contact Julie Isbill at julie_isbill@nps.gov.
