A BRIEF HISTORY OF BANGOR LAND TRUST

In 2001 a group of concerned citizens founded Bangor Land Trust (BLT) to protect Bangor’s important natural areas for public benefit now and for future generations.  We work with landowners, developers, the City of Bangor, and fellow conservation organizations to conserve the heart of Bangor’s wild backyard, the extraordinary Penjajawoc Marsh and associated habitat.  Because we incorporated as a 501(c)3 organization, we are better able to fundraise, and to acquire and manage land following the principles of good conservation stewardship.  BLT is one of 317 accredited land trusts in 46 U.S. states and territories.

BLT benefits from regional collaboration.  Orono Land Trust helped us to organize, and partners with us on the Caribou Bog-Penjajawoc Project a 15-mile, 7,500-acre wildlife and recreational corridor extending from Bangor’s Essex Woods northward beyond Pushaw Lake.  The southern end of this corridor includes land with the highest conservation values in Bangor – Essex Woods, Penjajawoc Marsh and its uplands, Walden-Parke Preserve, and Bangor’s City Forest.  BLT’s contribution to this regional project is 700 acres of valuable wetland and upland habitat, with over xxx miles of trails open to the public for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, wildlife watching, and other non-motorized uses.

Over 350 individuals, families, and businesses support BLT annually.  Our Board of Directors, committees, and other volunteers - together with our part-time staff person - carry out tasks ranging from accounting to trail maintenance, mapping to grant writing. We have received grant support from private foundations, Maine Recreational Trails funds, the Land for Maine’s Future Fund, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (North American Wetlands Conservation Act).

The decisions that Bangor makes today about land use determine the legacy we leave to future generations. These decisions will have a profound influence on the personal, ecological, and economic health of our community. To foster the development and implementation of an ecologically based land use vision, we sponsor monthly events on our preserves, publish a twice-yearly newsletter, partner with local and regional organizations, and represent Bangor’s conservation interests on city committees. BLT is uniquely positioned, both locally and regionally, to bring a crucial conservation perspective to regional planning.  It participates in the Caribou Bog-Penjajawoc Project, the Bangor Trails Project, and the Marsh/Mall Commission, and contributed to the Central Penobscot Regional Greenprint, the Bangor Comprehensive Planning Commission, and the Stakeholder Group for the Penjajawoc Stream Water Quality Remediation Project. 

BANGOR LAND TRUST MILESTONES – 21 years of conservation achievements:

2001 - BLT incorporates and is recognized as a nonprofit organization by the State of Maine.

2002 - BLT joins with Orono Land Trust to form the Caribou Bog-Penjajawoc Project, a regional approach to conservation.

2003 - Columbia Street Baptist Church gifts to BLT an undivided 1/3 interest in 10.9 acres on Penjajawoc Marsh.

2004 - Fritz and Caroline Oldenburg gift 13.1 acres of West Penjajawoc Grasslands, adjacent to the Maine Audubon land on Fox Hollow Lane.

2005

• The City of Bangor convenes the Penjajawoc Marsh/Bangor Mall Task Force including landowners, the City of Bangor, developers, and environmental groups. They charged this group with creating a plan to protect the Marsh while allowing appropriate development. With three representatives on the task force, BLT presented the Maine Audubon Society report on the Penjajawoc Marsh Ecosystem to the City of Bangor and the public.  
• BLT hires first part-time staff and opens an office in downtown Bangor.
• The City of Bangor grants BLT with a conservation easement on the old Veazie Railroad bed along Walden-Parke Preserve and the City Forest.
• Fritz and Caroline Oldenburg and Dennis and Jane Shubert gift 205-acres of Walden-Parke Preserve I. 

2006  

• BLT partners with Keep Bangor Beautiful on the Bangor Trails Project to create a city-wide trail system. BLT purchases two parcels that make up the 80-acre Northeast Penjajawoc Preserve, with grants from the Land for Maine’s Future Fund and the North American Wetland Conservation Act funds.
• BLT purchases 28.4 acres between Kittredge Rd. and the Old Veazie Railroad bed, near the Bangor City Forest and Walden-Parke Preserve from Louis Moleon, funded by LMF.
• BLT signs conservation easement with Hammond Lumber Company for 11.18 acres of wetland off Avenue Rd. in Levant as part of a mitigation agreement.​

2007

• BLT moves into new office downtown.
• Purchased a 52.1 acre parcel on Kittredge Road, from Mike Kelly (Dina P. Kelly estate). This was funded by grants from NAWCA and LMF and a no-interest loan from the Norcross Wildlife Foundation.  Together with the 2006 28.4 acre purchase from Louis Moleon, these two parcels make up Northeast Penjajawoc Preserve. BLT now owns nearly 300 acres near the City Forest.

• Our first big fundraising event, the annual 20-mile “Frogs, Logs, and Bogs Road Ride.”  Taking place on October 14th, in spite of chilly, threatening weather over 100 riders participate. Ridership and enthusiasm increase each year.
• BLT and Good Samaritan Agency divide their interests in South Penjajawoc Overlook.  BLT now owns (in full) a 3.6 acre parcel of upland and GSA owns the remaining 7.3 acres of open water marsh.

2008

• Volunteers build bridge across stream at Northeast Penjajawoc Preserve. 
• BLT's second annual Frogs, Logs and Bogs road ride event was held.  

• The Bangor City Council enthusiastically adopts the Bangor Trails Preliminary Report.

2009

• Bangor Land Trust receives ownership of an additional 6.48 acres in Levant

• Maine Conservation Corps project in Northeast Penjajawoc Preserve installs over 400 feet of bog bridging, ditching, and stonework.  Assisted by volunteers from the community and AmeriCorps and BLT Board of Directors. (Approximately a mile of trail remediated
• 3rd annual Frogs, Logs and Bogs road ride held, with an additional loop of 76-miles.

2010  

• BLT purchases two parcels to make the 88-acre Central Penjajawoc Preserve, bordering Penjajawoc Marsh off Essex Street, using grants from the Land for Maine’s Future Fund and the North American Wetland Conservation Act funds. Trail access is planned for fall 2012.
• 4th annual Road Ride help, Pedal the Penobscot.

2011

• Northeast Penjajawoc Preserve Trails are listed on Maine Trail Finder website.
• Bangor applies for a $595,000 federal grant to complete the final link in a 3.5 mile bicycle/pedestrian trail from Cascade Park on State Street to Essex Street, connecting several residential neighborhoods with Eastern Maine Medical Center, Eastern Maine Community College, the Bangor Mall, and three popular wildlife watching areas.
• Over 150 cyclists ride in the 5th annual Pedal the Penobscot. 
• BLT relocates two sections of Walden Parke Preserve’s Blue Trail, and begins additional work to remediate muddy sections. 
• ​As part of a mitigation agreement, BLT received North Penjajawoc Forest, 105 acres of land adjacent to its Northeast Penjajawoc Preserve and its Walden-Parke Preserve. The land was already encumbered with a conservation easement held by Brewer Land Trust
• Fritz and Caroline Oldenburg and Dennis and Jane Shubert carry forward their extraordinary conservation vision with the gift of 205 acres adding the Walden-Parke Preserve II parcel to the Walden-Parke property.

2012

• BLT moves into a new office downtown.
• The first Bangor Trails Day is held in June.
• Dozens of successful events were held throughout the year.
• Students from the University of Maine and Husson University help with heavy lifting at Northeast Penjajawoc Preserve in late summer.
• Over 160 riders participate in the 6th annual Pedal the Penobscot.
• December work was needed and completed on a beaver deceiver in Walden-Parke Preserve.

2013

• The Severance property is purchased in March adding 94 acres to Central Penjajawoc Preserve more than doubling its size. The land purchase was made possible by a grant from MNCRP. As part of that purchase BLT signed a Project Agreement adding a second layer of protection. ​
• Dozens of successful events were held throughout the year.
• Air National Guard volunteers help complete a practical and beautiful trailhead project at Central Penjajawoc Preserve.
• The Central Penjajawoc Preserve trail is opened officially on August 13, media and the public were present.
• The 7th annual Pedal the Penobscot was held despite rainy weather hosting 130 riders.
• Volunteers replace a bridge in North Penjajawoc Forest with materials funded by a grant from Woodard & Curran Foundation.
• BLT signed a Declaration of Trust for the 205 acres of land acquired in 2011 (Walden-Parke Preserve II), thus adding a second layer of protection to this land.

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2014 

• Multiple successful events were held throughout the year
• BLT's 8th Annual Road Ride, Pedal the Penobscot was held drawing 225 riders.

2015

• BLT received news of its accreditation. BLT is officially an accredited Land Trust through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.  
• Forty-nine people complete the first Take to the Woods Trail Challenge (July through August), visiting the office for their water bottles and to recount the highlights of their adventures.
• Two bat condos are raised at West Penjajawoc Grasslands on July 29.
• Many successful events were held throughout the year
• Two kiosks built and added to North Penjajawoc Forest.
• 9th annual road ride, Pedal the Penobscot was held.

2016 

• The City of Bangor adds signage for the three Bangor Land Trust preserves accessed by Essex Street.
• A new half-mile trail loop is completed and opened to the public at Central Penjajawoc Preserve.
• Take to the Woods runs June through August and makes participants search a little harder for the stamp to mark their booklets.
• Many successful events were held throughout the year
• 10th annual road ride, Pedal the Penobscot held.

2017

• Take to the Woods Challenge for 2017 
• BLT moved office location to 9 Central Street, Suite 201.
• Maine Conservation Corps A 5-person Maine Conservation Corps team worked on Northeast Penjajawoc Preserve trails for 3 ½ days in early October beginning Oct 3. They installed 208 feet of bog bridging that we had specially sawed so that there would not be any wide cracks between the planks; built small rock ramps to make it easier for bikes to get on and off the bog bridging; and replaced some of the older bog bridging that had begun to show signs of age.​
• 11th annual Pedal the Penobscot event held.

2018 

• Penjajawoc Marsh won recognition as an Important Bird Area, joining an international program run by the Audubon Society and Bird Life International whose goal is to prevent species extinction.     
• Bangor Land Trust protected another 83 acres, including 30 acres of Penjajawoc Marsh wetland.  This land is now part of Central Penjajawoc Preserve.  A connector trail is in our plans for spring.  
• Following BLT’s goal of making nature accessible to our community, BLT trails now have names and signs so that users can easily locate themselves on our trail maps.
• We added gravel to wet spots on the Blue Jay Trail to make it better for all-season use.
• 179 riders participated in 12th annual Pedal the Penobscot ride.  They had a choice of five routes as well as food and music at the High Tide post-ride celebration.
• BLT provided monthly programs on a wide variety of topics from Tree Identification to Butterflies to Forest Bathing – an entertaining and informing feast for community members of all ages.
• Bangor Land Trust’s website helped hundreds to identify plants and animals found on our preserves, learn about our programs, download trail maps, and feast their eyes on some lovely nature photos.

2019

• Take to the Woods Trail Challenge Visit all five preserves, locate the clue in the kiosk box, take the trails to find the stamp, and stamp your booklet, then go to the BLT office to get free light weight water bottle.
• BLT held many successful events throughout the year ranching from nature walks and natural history of preserves to birding events and more.
• The 13th annual Pedal the Penobscot was held, hosting146 riders.

2020

• Nature Bingo was created where anyone can participate out on their own and try to find four in a row on a 16 square grid of photos out at BLT preserves
• All in-person events were canceled due to the pandemic.
  
• BLT receives a $30,000 grant from the Broad Reach Foundation to continue the Edible Landscape Project with special emphasis on Wabanaki uses of plants.
  
• BLT received renewal notice of its renewed accreditation for the next five years. 
• With the help of a $180,000 grant from the MNRCP, BLT acquired Walden-Parke III, a 47-acre addition to its Walden-Parke Preserve bringing the total acreage of this preserve to more than 450 acres.
  
• The grand opening of the City of Bangor’s “Trail V”, a bicycle-pedestrian trail from Cascade Park near the Penobscot River to Stillwater Ave. near the Bangor Mall and the Essex Woods Wetland; BLT was instrumental in the early years (2005-2008) in convincing the City of the importance of the trail, and then it provided financial help for the detailed plans needed for governmental funding.
  
• Finished constructing and marking the Penjajawoc Marsh Overlook Trail from the main loop trail of the Central Penjajawoc Preserve to a Penjajawoc Marsh oversight location on land acquired in 2018.
  
• Pedal the Penobscot 14th annual road ride event was held in greatly modified form because of the need for social distancing because of the pandemic.
  
• Successful completion of a bridge on the Blue Jay Trail.
  

2021

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