Old Orchard Beach unveils new walking trail in ballpark

OLD ORCHARD BEACH —The Recreation Department unveiled a new walking trail that uncovers a hidden oasis.

Recreation department staff and campers as well town officials gathered Thursday morning for the grand opening of the recreation department’s new storyboard trail at The Ballpark.

The trail starts at the west side of The Ballpark, and takes hikers on a half mile loop around a retention pond. As the children walked along the wide, flat path, on Thursday they paused to read the story boards from the nursery rhyme, “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly,” that were positioned along the trail. The story along the trail will change every two weeks, said recreation department staff.

Situated along the trail are a few spots with picnic tables where walkers can relax and enjoy the wildlife, which Thursday included ducks and a white heron. 

Old Orchard Beach recreation department staff Stephanie Moutsatsos watches ducks in the pond along the trail at The Ballpark on Thursday. LIZ GOTTHELF/Saco Bay News

The trail is part of the recreation department’s new vision for The Ballpark property. The more than 50 acre property, which includes a stadium, large parking lot and a wooded area, was home to the minor league baseball team the Maine Guides in the 1980s and then used as a concert venue in the 1990s. The property was acquired by the town, and after years of abandonment The Ballpark was revitalized through a volunteer grassroots effort, and baseball was back at The Ballpark in 2010.

After many years being overseen by an operations manager, The Ballpark began this month operating under the purview of the recreation department.

“Our focus is to create a complex that all Old Orchard Beach residents can utilize,” said Recreation Department Director Jason Webber. He said there are a lot of baseball players that come to The Ballpark to use the field, but he would like to see local residents come to the facility to see what a great asset the town has.

The trail around the pond was previously overgrown, gated off and not accessible to the public.

“I never really knew this gem was here, and I’ve been living here for eight years, and been town manager for seven years,” said Town Manager Larry Mead regarding the trail, and he thanked the recreation department staff for taking the initiative to open the trail.

Loranger Memorial School Cross Country Coach Mark Tidd had been utilized the trails with his team for the past couple of years, and he said they love being able to run there and see and hear the wildlife.

“It’s absolutely beautiful,” he said.

Tidd said he hoped the town could get grants to expand the trail system, and Webber said one of the hopes is to create a trail that connects to the Eastern Trail.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.