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Sanford trails committee reports volunteer work, master-plan update and new chair
Summary
Lawrence Furbish presented the Trails Committee annual report, highlighted volunteer contributions and maintenance projects, and introduced Sam Paradis as the committee's newly elected chair; the committee is updating its master plan and pursuing permissions to better connect the rail trail to regional routes.
Lawrence Furbish, outgoing chair of Sanford's Trails Committee, delivered the committee's annual report and highlighted accomplishments and priorities for 2026.
Furbish said volunteers and committee members logged more than 700 hours last year and the committee is updating the 2020 master plan with a consultant to reflect the city's new comprehensive plan. He described completed maintenance projects—boardwalk repairs, culvert work and brush trimming—and cited partnerships and small grants that supported the work.
The committee is pursuing permissions to improve a short circuitous rail-trail segment near Main Street and Mousam Street (working with Sherwin-Williams and property owners) and exploring a route that would tie local trails to the Eastern Trail. Furbish noted progress on a small trailhead access road to the LEAP and ongoing coordination with CMP and land trusts.
Furbish announced he is stepping down as chair and introduced Sam Paradis, who was elected the committee's new chair at the group's most recent meeting. Paradis thanked the city and partners and emphasized quarterly coordination meetings with land trusts moving forward.
Next steps: finalize the master-plan update, pursue property agreements to simplify the rail-trail routing, continue grant-seeking and coordinate quarterly meetings with partner land trusts.
