AUBURN – The city, in partnership with the Friends of Mount Apatite and Central Maine New England Mountain Bike Association, have announced improvements — and reminders — as spring weather entices users to Mount Apatite Park.
Mount Apatite Park, a 325-acre wooded park in the western portion of the city offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities not often found in municipal park settings, and features approximately four miles of trails for non-motorized uses such as hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.
Staff and volunteers have made recent upgrades including the installation of informational kiosks and pet waste stations at each of the entrances (Garfield Road and Small Road). Visitors are reminded that all Auburn parks, including Mount Apatite, are carry in/carry out locations, and Auburn’s ordinance requiring dogs to be leashed is always in effect.
To help keep the trail system clean, trash receptacles have been placed at each entrance for the disposal of trash, pet waste bags, and other items. New signs along the main trails have been installed to help guide users toward entrances. Additional signs for the trail system, entrances and parking areas are planned for summer or fall.
Rainy spring days bring muddy trails, so it is critical that users obey trail closed signs when they are posted. Those who wander onto a trail that is muddy should turn around. It requires great time and effort to build trails and to repair them. The goal is for users to avoid leaving any trace of themselves behind.
All visitors are reminded to:
* Observe six-foot social distancing recommendations;
* Gather in groups of 10 or less;
* Use face masks when social distancing cannot be maintained.
A variety of users enjoy spending time at Mount Apatite Park, including walkers, runners, mountain bikers, dog walkers, families and even miners exploring the abundant minerals that can be found there. All are encouraged to respect one another and the park. The city welcomes all visitors to Mount Apatite and encourages everyone to work together to safely use and enjoy the park and trails.
PHOTOS: Informational kiosk at Small Road entrance (Submitted photo) Pet waste stand and trash receptacle (Submitted photo) Trail map (Submitted photo)
