Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Open Space And Connectivity topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kennebunk conservation workshop urges connected trails, riverwalk and stronger habitat protections
Summary
Conservation Commission members and the Climate Action Committee prioritized trail-to-sidewalk links, a riverwalk connecting parks and sanctuaries, and updates to conservation ordinances to protect habitat and accommodate accessibility needs.
Sally Tabor of the Kennebunk Conservation Commission summarized a recent workshop, telling the Climate Action Committee that participants emphasized open-space uses — walking, cycling, kayaking and skiing — and the health and habitat benefits those spaces provide. She said accessibility and nearby connectivity are critical, with most trail use occurring close to residents' homes.
"Open spaces provide habitat, improve air quality and foster conservation support," Tabor said in her summary to the committee. She identified quick improvements such as clearer signage, benches and bike racks and urged designs that accommodate users with disabilities and hearing impairments.
The workshop prioritized safer pedestrian and bicycle routes linking downtown, beaches and open spaces, and recommended a riverwalk to connect parks and sanctuaries. Committee members noted current infrastructure lacks safe bike lanes, sidewalks and bicycle storage at beaches; improving Water Street access and extending sidewalks in West Kennebunk Village were singled out as priorities.
Conservation and land-use planning recommendations included updating ordinances to require deeper setbacks and designate conservation areas, protecting cold-water brooks and pursuing Mousam River dam removals to restore native trout and fish migration. The group identified site-specific priorities including West Kennebunk Rural, West Kennebunk Village, downtown connections to the Bridal Path and protection of the Rachel Carson Refuge.
Lisa Pratt, the committee's Select Board liaison, said the Climate Action Committee should concentrate on connecting trails to sidewalks and commission a comprehensive study to create plans that would support grant applications for sidewalks and other infrastructure improvements. The committee discussed coordinating efforts across local committees to integrate the Climate Action Plan into the town’s broader planning efforts.
The committee plans to pursue the study and to incorporate the Conservation Commission's recommendations into future agenda items and grant applications.
