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PHOTO: A Jane’s Walk last year in Bangor, one of more than 20 that took place across Maine on May 6. This year, organizers hope that nonprofits and individuals will provide even more. (Maine Preservation photo)
YARMOUTH – Jane’s Walk ME, a festival celebrating community engagement, will be held on May 6 throughout Maine.
Jane’s Walks combine the act of exploring a place with personal observations, local history and civic engagement and is celebrated globally in more than 200 cities and towns. Last year, more than 20 walks were held in 11 towns and cities in Maine. Walks included “The Bangor Fire of 1911,” “Hoofing the Hook with Historic Hallowell,” ““The Rise of the Falls: A History of the Presumpscot River,” and more.
This is the second year Maine communities have officially participated, and nonprofits and individuals seeking to host walks or looking for more information may visit mainepreservation.org/janes-walk-me. The deadline to register a walk is March 31. A full roster of 2023 walks will be available at least two weeks before the festival.
Organizers said that two elements that make for a great walk are incorporating interactivity and getting off the beaten track. Other ideas are engaging the group in a participatory or experiential activity (for instance, a scavenger hunt) or bringing them to parts of the community that they would not normally see.
Coming up with an enticing title and description can help to attract the attention of potential attendees, organizers said.
Jane’s Walk is inspired by community activist Jane Jacobs, who spent her life (1916-2006) using grassroots advocacy to protect neighborhoods in both the United States and Canada from urban renewal and emphasizing the power of individuals to influence the places they live. Today, her principles represent the participatory planning approaches that have been embraced in communities around the world.
“The Maine Downtown Center is thrilled to be part of Jane’s Walk with programs happening in some of our Main Street and Affiliate Communities,” said Anne Ball, senior program director at the Maine Downtown Center. “Jane Jacobs would be so happy to think of her work and legacy living on in Maine’s historic downtowns, pocket parks, trail systems, river fronts, and myriad shared public spaces.”
“Jane’s Walk is a wonderful way for everyday Mainers to celebrate the importance of place and place-keeping in their communities,” said Tara Kelly, executive director of Maine Preservation. “We are all experts in our own experience and the festival provides the opportunity to share that with others.”
