Tthe Standish Recreation Committee is raising funds and working with volunteers to create a skate park and ice rink at Johnson Field. Find out more about the project HERE
Check out the special page to view how we are doing in raising the funds for the Sebago Sports Complex. HERE
Mountain Division Trail
 The Mountain Division Trailhead in Standish is at Johnson Field. The trail is 4.7 miles long and runs through the towns of Standish, Gorham and Windham. Learn more about the trail from some local hikers at Outdoors.MaineToday.com
The Mountain Division Rail-With-Trail is a project to develop a multi-use trail along the entire length of the Mountain Division transportation corridor, which runs from Windham to Fryeburg on the New Hampshire border. The Mountain Division rail line was abandoned by Guilford Railroad in 1994 (from Windham to Fryeburg) and purchased by the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) in 1997. Though trains are currently not in use along the corridor, the rail lines will be kept in place for possible future use. A group of rail, trail, and economic development advocates, known as the Mountain Division Alliance, was formed in 1994 and continues to provide a vision for the future of the Mountain Division transportation corridor. The MDA is a broad-based coalition representing municipalities, land trusts, rail advocates, trail
groups, planning commissions, and state and federal agencies.
Funding
Funding for trail construction is provided by MaineDOT through the Transportation Enhancement Program.
Staffing
Dave Kinsman, Mountain Division Alliance Chair, 935-4283
Dan Stewart (dstewart@gpcog.org), Transportation and Land Use Planner, Greater Portland Council of Governments, 774-9891
First Phase
The Mountain Division Alliance worked in conjunction with the Maine Department of Transportation, the Greater Portland Council of Governments, Gorham, Standish, Windham, the Mountain Division Alliance, the Portland Water District, Summit Engineering, Shaw Brothers Construction, and local trail and snowmobile clubs on the design and construction of a four-mile, multi-use trail from the Gambo recreational area in Windham, through Gorham to the Johnson Field recreation area in Standish. A separation of 10 feet is maintained between the rail and the trail throughout most of the corridor. Some deviation from the trail width occurred where necessary to accommodate existing topographic features and to reduce environmental impacts. A Phase II is anticipated with additional improvements in the Gambo Bridge area, including a
bike/pedestrian bridge across the Presumpscot River and a loop system around the river connecting Shaw Park, the Mountain Division Loop Trail, and Route 202.
First Phase Trail Facts:
Trail Length: Approximately 4.7 miles
Trail Width: Average 10 feet
Trailheads:
Eastern: Gambo Recreational Area in Windham
Western: Johnson Field Recreational Area in Standish
Trail uses: Walking, bicycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling
Trail Engineers: Summit Engineering
Project Management: MaineDOT Multimodal Program
Construction Company: Shaw Brothers Construction
Grand Opening: July 29, 2003
Feasibility Study (Spring and Summer 2004)
Summit Engineering has been retained by MaineDOT to study the cost and feasibility of creating a multi-use trail alongside the existing rail line from Standish to Fryeburg. The first five-mile section between Windham and Standish has been built and was opened in 2003. The first part of the Feasibility Study process is to gather public input. The next step is to study the preferred alternatives and make recommendations for improvements. Throughout this process the public will be informed of the progress and have additional opportunities (public meetings) to review and comment on the project. The final product for this phase of the project will be a Feasibility Study that documents the following:
existing conditions
defines potential trailhead locations
develops a conceptual alignment(s)
preliminary cost estimates
This report will then be used as the basis for applications for design and construction funding of the recommended improvements.
GPCOG facilitated three public meetings along the corridor in February and March 2004 to give an update on the project to date and gather public input to help with the feasibility stud
© Copyright 2004 The Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG)
All rights reserved.
68 Marginal Way, Portland ME, 04101 T: 207.774.9891 | F: 207.774.7149
PLAYGROUNDS
All playgrounds are open to the public after school hours and all day on weekends, holidays and school vacations. Note: SAD #6 is renovating all the school playgrounds this year and some may not be ready until the Spring 2002.
l Edna Libby School
Route 114, Standish
l George E. Jack School
Route 35, Standish
l Steep Falls Elementary School
Boundary Road, Steep Falls
PLAYING FIELDS
* Memorial Field, Route 25, Standish. This field has baseball/softball diamonds, a playground climbing apparatus and three soccer fields.
* Johnson Field, Route 35, Standish. This field has tennis courts, a volleyball court, a playground climbing apparatus, a baseball diamond, two soccer fields and outdoor ice skating rink and warming hut.
* Steep Falls Field, Boundary Road, Steep Falls, This field has a baseball/softball diamond.
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