FBC and our community partners are holding a Grand Opening Celebration for the Ellsworth Riverwalk, which was completed this October.

Community partners include Heart of Ellsworth, Green Ellsworth, Ellsworth Garden Club, and City of Ellsworth.

ELLSWORTH, ME— Frenchman Bay Conservancy (FBC) and our community partners are excited to announce the official opening of the Ellsworth Riverwalk, located behind the Ellsworth Public Library on State Street. We’re inviting the community to join us on Thursday, October 13 at 4 PM for the Ellsworth Riverwalk Grand Opening Celebration. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony, as well as an opportunity to hear from the community leaders that helped make the initiative possible. Afterwards, walk along the updated, accessible trail and experience the beauty of the Lower Union River just a short, few minutes walk from Main Street. Afterwards, join us at the Fogtown beer garden for an Ellsworth Riverwalk Celebration & Benefit. Proceeds from beer garden sales will benefit FBC.

The tree-lined riverwalk replaces the original path, which had fallen into disrepair since it was built in the 1960s. The new, accessible Ellsworth Riverwalk welcomes residents and visitors to connect with the Union River again as a part of their Main Street experience.

“We’re really excited to be a part of this project, and proud of the community partnership that allowed us to make this family-friendly walking trail a reality,” said FBC Executive Director, Aaron Dority. “By providing additional public access to the Union River’s shoreline, we’re providing an opportunity for people to begin engaging with the river in a more meaningful way.”

FBC hopes that the Riverwalk will be the start of a new chapter for residents and visitors of Ellsworth and the river. Eventually, the Riverwalk could be just one piece of a larger Union River Trail, extending from Ellsworth Harbor Park all the way to Central Street and beyond. The trail could feature story walks, historical signage, and maybe even sculpture art – all with the purpose of reconnecting Ellsworth residents and visitors to the region’s past.

Local financial partners include Heart of Ellsworth, Ellsworth Garden Club, and Brookfield Renewable Partners. FBC secured trail easements from the City of Ellsworth, Hancock County, and Brookfield. The PathMakers LLC constructed the new trail.

For questions or further information, please visit https://frenchmanbay.org/riverwalk/ or contact Director of Communications & Community Engagement Ellie Ezekiel at ellie@frenchmanbay.org; (610) 551-8716.

In the News:

Ellsworth Riverwalk celebrates grand opening (WABI TV5)

An Ellsworth trail about to become accessible (Bangor Daily News)