KMT's Vision

Our vision is a network of bicycle and pedestrian trails contributing to healthy and active communities by providing:

• places for people to meet, play, and exercise. We are determined that having and using beautiful trails all through our community will make a tangible difference in the mental and physical health of individuals. We want this to be measurable, for instance in decreased incidence of the illnesses associated with inactivity, namely obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
• connections between communities. The trails we have planned will not only connect our towns and city physically, as our current network of roads do, but they will be included among the municipal services the towns and city are beginning to share.
• an alternative to the automobile. Walking or biking to work or shop or play is currently not common here. But life is more fun when those options are not only possible, but more pleasant than driving everywhere.
• a contribution to downtown revival. We are working closely with the several aspects of downtown revitalization including Waterville Main Street, the Waterville Waterfront Project, the Waterville Development Corporation's ideas for the Hathaway Mill, the Chamber of Commerce, etc. Our goal is to have trails fit seamlessly into all.
• increased property values in the vicinity of trails. This is a feature of developed trails across the continent, because of the ease with which a person can take a pleasant hike or bike ride just by walking out the back door. People want that kind of experience, and are prepared to pay for it.
• a more pleasant place to live, thus attracting business. Trails make a community attractive. Newcomers ask about such amenities when they arrive. Pretty soon we will get a reputation for the many opportunities there will be for enjoying our place on the planet. Then people will start coming just to be part of it.