FREEPORT, Maine (BRAIN) —The Carrabassett Region chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association has received a $50,000 grant from LL Bean's Charitable Giving for Conservation and Outdoor Recreation.
The grant will be matched by the Town of Carrabassett Valley to provide funding for the continued development of a mountain bike trail network in the Carrabassett Region. The grant will be combined with other funding sources to generate a total of $237,000 for trail construction, said Peter Smith, the chapter's president.
"All of us who are passionate about mountain biking and enjoy the recreational activities available in western mountains of Maine are very excited about the continuing support from so many people to make this happen," said Smith. "Our vision includes a world class mountain bike trail network for riders of all ability levels who wish to explore the vast wilderness and beauty of this very special region."
Since 2011, CRNEMBA has collaborated with the Town of Carrabassett Valley, Maine Huts & Trails, and other partners to create a trail system. As of the end of 2014 there were approximately 77 miles of mountain-bike specific trails. This includes almost 23 miles of brand new machine- and hand-built singletrack, purpose built for mountain biking. Over 4,700 hours of volunteer labor and over $323,000 have thus far been invested into the trail system.
The Town of Carrabassett Valley has also received a $35,000 grant from the state for mountain bike trail construction at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center. Coupled with matching funds from the town and other sources, there will be approximately $107,000 available for investment in mountain bike trail construction at the Outdoor Center for 2015-2016, which is expected to add 5 1/2 miles to the mountain bike trail network.
