Conservation commission to scope Bridal Path repairs before seeking state grant

At its April 22 meeting the Town of Kennebunk Conservation Commission agreed to spend the next several months documenting the extent of repairs needed on the Bridal Path and to prepare a state grant proposal for submission next year. Jennifer Shack and Lee Sullivan reported meeting with Chris Osterrieder and Hannah Watson, who advised that the project’s repair needs are extensive and that more time is required to scope the work properly.

The commission’s decision follows guidance from Osterrieder that a rushed application would risk missing key repair items; members said they prefer to produce a fuller scope of work before applying. Sally Tabor also noted the Arundel Conservation Trust had requested a meeting and suggested the trust attend the commission’s May 18 meeting alongside representatives from the Kennebunkport Conservation Commission.

Commissioners said they will update participants from the Connecting Kennebunks outreach event on planned next steps, including efforts to coordinate with the town’s Climate Action Committee to identify locations for bicycle racks and pursue funding for those installations. No formal vote on the grant application was recorded; the commission framed this as a planning step ahead of a future grant submission.