Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club’s Environmental Committee has launched a new initiative with the Lake Environmental Association to revitalize the Stevens Brook Trail.

Seven Rotarians and Friends of Rotary met May 3 with Alanna Doughty, educator with the association at Highland Lake Boat Launch to walk the trail inside downtown Bridgton. The purpose was to assess the needs for cleanup and maintenance and to develop a plan of action to implement over the summer and into the future.

Attending this first event were committee members and Rotarians John Eliason, Therese Johnson, Carol Madsen and Carol Rothenberg. Friends of Rotary Roberta Duquette and Lynn Peet joined the team. Doughty introduced everyone to the trail and focused on ideal maintenance activities. When the group reached Pondicherry Park, where the trail goes under the Bob Dunning Bridge, some of the trail was flooded.

On May 14, 11 volunteers met Doughty at Pondicherry Park to continue trail assessment to just beyond Food City. Rotarians and Friends returning included Johnson, Madsen, Rothenberg, Duquette and Peet, with newcomers Rick Whelchel, and Executive Director Kerry Cushing of the Bridgton Historical Society. Three Community Cares volunteers from Chalmers also joined the group: Kajsa Cudlitz, Alexis Jaeger and Paula Kirkland.

“Thank you so much to all who participated. We look forward to helping to restore life to this historic trail. And we welcome others who’d like to join us. Bring work gloves, clippers, and trash bags,” Madsen said in a news release from the committee.

For more information, email carjmad@hotmail.com. The next cleanup is set for 8:30 a.m. Friday, June 11; meet at Food City parking lot.

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