AUBURN — A trail along the Little Androscoggin River that’s been “out of sight and out of mind” and falling into neglect for years is being brought back to life with an upcoming community work day, an Androscoggin Land Trust release states.

The work day, planned for Saturday, Aug. 27, comes on the heels of a volunteer training day conducted by the Maine Army National Guard, the land trust and the the United New Auburn Association.

 The Barker Mill Trail is “well below the elevation of Mill Street, in New Auburn. Its trail head is just off the gate house for the Lower Barker Dam, one of two dams on the Little Androscoggin River which served to power the Barker Mill in its early days of textile production. The trail follows the Little Androscoggin for a more than a mile before it rejoins Mill Street.

According to the release, the trail is a “relatively flat walking path” offering spots for nature observation and views of the former Lewiston-Auburn Railroad line which hugs the opposite shore.

“We are thankful to the Maine Army National Guard for choosing this neighborhood trail for its training day two weekends ago,” Jonathan LaBonte, the executive director of the Land Trust said in a prepared statement. “Not only did it meet the needs of the Guard, but made it possible to re-open this trail at little cost to the community.”

LaBonte said the next steps are to invite community members to help in completing the work of preparing the trail. This includes putting up blazes to mark the route, laying down woodchips and picking up any trash or debris.

The recently adopted New Auburn Master Plan calls for a “greenway belt” that would link the Little Androscoggin and Androscoggin Rivers.

Revitalizing this trail represents the first step in advancing that project, LaBonte said.

Those wishing to volunteer are encouraged to meet at the Barker Mill Trailhead at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27.

Work is expected to continue until noon when refreshments will be served.

For more information, you can call the Land Trust at 782-2302 or visit its website at: www.androscogginlandtrust.org

View ALT’s Barker Mill Trail in a larger map