The South Portland Land Trust will celebrate the opening of the Clark’s Pond recreational trail when it holds the first Long Creek Family Day on Sunday, Sept. 30 at Jordan Park, located near Clark’s Pond on the grounds of Brick Hill.
Long Creek Family Day, organized by the South Portland Land Trust’s West End Trails committee in conjunction with National Public Lands Day, will feature Gov. John Baldacci at the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony, an introduction of the trail steward (Youth Alternatives) and the first release of an area trail map. There will also be a hike, cookout, kayaking and fly-casting and a tour of Brick Hill’s historic “Castle.”
The event will get under way at 10 a.m. when Baldacci cuts the ceremonial ribbon opening the new 1.2 mile trail around Clark’s Pond to Westbrook Street. A second trail, which is handicap accessible and extends from a pre-existing walkway to Clark’s Pond Point, will also be officially opened. The ribbon cutting will be staged at the Clark’s Pond trailhead behind the Home Depot store (300 Clark’s Pond Parkway). It will be followed by a commemorative first walk along the scenic trail, led by South Portland Land Trust President Tom Blake. Joining Blake will be the National Park Service’s Julie Isbill and the South Portland Historical Society’s Kathy DiPhilippo.
A cookout will then be held at Jordan Park (11:30 a.m.), followed by a series of activities from 12:30-2 p.m., including kayaking and fly-fishing, led and donated by L.L. Bean, and various children’s activities. A public tour of “The Castle,” which is included among the National Registry of Historic Buildings, will take place at 1:45. The day will conclude when the South Portland Land Trust holds its annual meeting of its members at 2:30.
The public is invited to participate in each activity.
For more information, contact the South Portland Land Trust at 799-5723, teblake@aol.com or on the Web at www.splandtrust.org.
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