AUBURN — A little rain Friday couldn't deter well-wishers from celebrating the opening of a walking path connecting Auburn's Riverwalk to West Pitch Park.

A group of about 20 gathered on the underpass, sheltered by Longley Bridge, to watch Mayor John Jenkins cut the ribbon and officially open the path.

"Pathways are meant to connect people," Jenkins said. "That's what this pathway actually does — it makes a connection to better health and recreation for our citizens. It's why we're seeing a lot of people using this pathway."

Crews finished
paving the path earlier this month. It connects Auburn's Riverwalk path, which runs
along the Androscoggin River, to the path behind the Hilton Garden Inn.

City officials began applying for state and federal grants to complete the work in 2002, when Festival Plaza first opened.

Mike Auger, director of land protection and stewardship for the Androscoggin Land Trust, said the project is a key part of its plans for the river.

"As it connects other pieces and trails that have been made over the years, we now have usable trail that will help people get from point A to point B," Auger said. "It's a very important, very exciting thing for us."

City crews will be back in the spring to do some
landscaping along the path. 

staylor@sunjournal.com