Bike Borderlands, a collaboration of nine trail networks in 3 states and 2 nations, is part of a larger effort led by the Northern Forest Center to energize rural communities and help more people discover this part of the world, move here, start a business, and Live the New Forest Future.

Thanks to the support of several generous funders, including the You Have Our Trust Fund, the Center has been able to fund numerous trail-building, stewardship, community engagement, navigation, and capacity-building projects over the years. This summer, we are pleased to announce funding for the following projects: 

Coos Cycling Club – Gorham, NH

$19,000 to support a vibrant youth mountain bike program that the club coordinates with the local recreation department, equipment storage for loaner bikes and trail-building tools, and new maps.  

“The Center’s Borderlands grants to the Coos Cycling Club have provided critical support for a number of strategic priorities,” said Aaron Gorban, board president of the club. “Most recently, this support has enabled us to increase our capacity to serve local youth by reducing financial barriers to participation in our immersive Pete’s Bike Kid’s Summer Mountain Bike Camp as well as supporting the youth cycling program’s growing infrastructure needs.” 

“In addition,” continued Gorban, “as the Coos Cycling Club continues to welcome new riders to our community trail network, recent funding from Bike Borderlands has enabled us to update and print new maps that include the growing trail network. Th maps will improve the experience on the trail and increase visitation to our community.”

PRKR Mountain Trails – Littleton, NH

$19,000 to recover and revive the Rabbit Hole trail. Rabbit Hole was one of the first trails built at PRKR and is so challenging that it is rarely used, ridden only on occasion by folks with great route-finding skills and solid technical biking skills. This funding will make the trail more rideable, sustainable, and easier to reach for beginner and intermediate riders, who will now have several new loop options. 

“Bringing Rabbit Hole back to life will provide new loops and more attainable options for the middle of the trail network,” said Shanna Maziarz, board secretary of PRKR Mountain Trails. “With the help of Bike Borderlands, the network continues to become more accessible for beginner and intermediate riders while still keeping some of the classic tech the terrain is known for. This has been key for PRKR to allow the next generation of riders to be able to comfortably access the network and progress through it.” 

Circuits Frontieres – East Hereford, Quebec

$10,000 to repair and replace more than 15 bridges. Circuits Frontieres is a 17-year-old trail network, and most of its trails are at least 10 years old. This funding will target the oldest bridges, with some getting re-decked and others completely rebuilt.  

Inland Woods & Trails – Bethel, Maine

$10,000 to refurbish trails in the Bacon Hill zone, home to the older trails in the IW&T network. This project will add drainage, remove unnecessary berms, and install “rock armoring” in several locations – ultimately leading to a better user experience as well as a more environmentally friendly design.  

Kingdom Trails Association – East Burke, Vermont

$10,000 toward consulting assistance for a new strategic framework and capacity building. For the next iteration of its organizational plan, the Kingdom Trails board decided to develop a strategic framework, which is less rigid than a traditional strategic plan.

Kingdom Trails is engaging public input for the new framework through through stakeholder focus groups, 1-on-1 interviews, and online surveys. Once the framework is compiled, Kingdom Trails plans to create a reporting tool to facilitate quarterly tracking of their progress and enable them to adjust their programs as conditions change.  

Paired with the new strategic framework, Kingdom Trails Development Director Jodi Flanagan will enroll in Common Good Vermont’s Fundraising & Development Certificate Program. The class will help Flanagan create a strategic Fundraising and Development Plan for Kingdom Trails and provide her with hands-on training and individualized coaching from expert trainers. The Fundraising and Development Plan will guide fundraising to ensure the financial support for the goals of the new strategic framework.