Accessibility of Bangor Trail Systems Under Review

A couple of Bangor organizations are teaming up with the University of Maine's Center on Aging to take a look at how friendly Bangor's trail systems are to folks with mobility issues.

The Bangor Livable Communities Committee (BLCC) and the City of Bangor Parks & Recreation Department are helping to determine how an aging population with potential mobility issues, whether a walker, a cane, or a wheelchair, could use the surrounding trails for exercise or adventure. Proximity to schools and senior housing are also kept in mind when reviewing these areas.

"The project goal is to evaluate the accessibility of the City’s trail systems for people with mobility issues. Prentiss Woods and the Kenduskeag Stream trails are currently under review for this assessment. The Kenduskeag Stream Trail was highlighted for this mobility analysis in the final draft of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, produced by the City this year."

These spaces are being investigated as part of an action plan the BLCC came up with a few years ago, in 2018. This plan addresses senior citizen availability and accessibility of things like Outdoor Spaces & Buildings, Transportation, Housing, to name a few.

To keep up on this review or add input to the committee, you're encouraged to attend the BLCC Zoom meetings which are held on the 2nd Friday of each month. You can find a link to the meeting and details on other aspects of the plan through the City of Bangor's website, here, or by calling Bangor City Hall at 207-992-4280.

There is also a Bangor Area Trails Map & Guide available online here, which shows which trails are currently wheelchair accessible, among other things.