Parking expansion at Thorne Head

BATH- In response to increased use and popularity, the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT), with support from Land for Maine’s Future and the Department of Conservation Recreational Trails Program, is expanding the parking lot of its Thorne Head Preserve to accommodate up to 10 cars. This expansion includes one new space that is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The construction is part of a larger effort by KELT to make the preserve accessible to all visitors; there are plans to make the Overlook Trail ADA compliant over the next several years. Thorne Head Preserve is a 96-acre property located at the confluence of Whiskeag Creek and the Kennebec River that offers stunning views upriver of Lines Island towards Merrymeeting Bay. The extensive trail system on the preserve is suitable for hikers, mountain bikers and leashed dogs, and provides access to the 5-mile Whiskeag Trail that runs south to the Bath Area Family YMCA.

The land trust purchased Thorne Head in 2000 with generous public support and a grant from Land for Maine’s Future, a program created by the Maine legislature which supports conservation of lands that have exceptional recreational or ecological value along with working lands for farms, forests, tourism, and working waterfronts. These lands are the foundation for Maine’s natural resource-based economy.

The original parking lot at Thorne Head, monitored and maintained by KELT volunteers, was constructed in 2001 and accommodates five cars. Work on the new parking lot will begin in early August and will last 2-3 days. The new parking area was designed by Pine Tree Engineering, and the work will be done by T & H Excavation. All work will be conducted with the goal of minimizing environmental impact.