NORWAY — The Western Foothills Land Trust has received a $3,000 grant from the Maine Community Foundation to support the construction of a universally accessible trail on the trust’s Roberts Farm Preserve.

The selected trail contractor, Toss Sawyer of Waterford, began trail construction in May, but the project has been on hold for most of this summer due to rain. Sawyer and crew have recently returned to the site and are again making progress on the system’s beginning, intermediate and universally accessible trails.

The barrier-free trail system offers one loop and a scenic viewpoint. The loop, a “bird-feeder” trail, will be suitable for young children on bikes, skis or on foot, and is user-friendly for the elderly and handicapped. The scenic view trail, also wheelchair accessible, will take visitors to a scenic point overlooking Lake Pennesseewassee.

The trail will be cut at nine feet wide, with a finished width of eight feet, and will have a smooth and stable surface of 1 ½-inch screened gravel. In the spring, summer and fall, the trail will support stroller and wheelchair users, cyclists, runners and walkers. In the winter, one set of classic ski tracks will be set.

The trust held its annual meeting on Aug. 20. Attendees explored a portion of the trail system. Waterford resident David Neufeld of northstarstoneworks transported his portable Tuscan oven to the site and Erik Person, chef at Norway’s Café Nomad, made pizzas.

A six-person Maine Conservation Corps team is scheduled to follow the mechanized work of the heavy equipment on the trails until Sept. 12. Housing is being provided by the town of Norway in the red schoolhouse at Pennesseewassee Park.

The trust is looking for up to six volunteers a day to work beside the trained crew. Work will entail clearing roots, limbing, building stone steps and seeding/haying completed trails. Anyone interested in volunteering a day or half day (MCC crews work Tuesday-Saturday each week) should contact the trust at 739-2124 or wflt@megalink.net. Hard hats and hand tools will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to wear long pants and boots and to bring work gloves.

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