The Field of Dreams–inspired adage “If you build it, they will come” is currently playing out in Gorham Village. With little fanfare but loads of hard work, a new ¾ mile trail has emerged on town land between the Village area and the Tannery Brook Preserve — and outdoor and nature enthusiasts are already taking notice.

The trail, dubbed Ernie’s Way, is the culmination of nearly a decade of planning and two years of hands-on efforts spearheaded by the Gorham Conservation Commission. Responsible for the care and supervision of the town’s public parks and trails, the seven-member commission strives to foster the positive use of open space and connectivity between Gorham’s various trail networks.

“Ernie’s Way is one of the biggest construction projects the Conservation Commission has ever had,” notes GCC chair Bill Moreno. The multipurpose trail, which runs from the end of Grove Street to the Tannery Brook trail head at Wentworth Drive, includes two spans of boardwalk totaling nearly 800 feet over marshland.

The trail’s name is a nod to GCC member Ernie Wells, who, says Moreno, “really got the ball rolling, and then kept it rolling.” In early 2024 Wells made the commission’s case for the creating the trail and got the town’s buy-in. Since then, he’s devoted countless hours leading and coordinating volunteer efforts to construct it.

Given Wells’ unflagging dedication to the project, “I started calling it Ernie’s Way without checking with him,” Moreno confesses. “But they say if you name something after someone, you have a volunteer for life, so I know this trail is in good hands.”

Although all of the boardwalk construction and most of the trail building was done manually by volunteers, the GCC brought in a local trail builder, Sanctuary Trail Works, to finish off the section of trail between the longer boardwalk and Wentworth Drive in order to better situate it with respect to fencing around the adjacent solar farm. The project also benefited from assistance from Gorham Public Works, who Moreno says was a big help in sourcing materials.

For Wells, the project exemplifies the successful implementation of one of the Conservation Commission’s guiding principles. “Connectivity is our most important watchword,” he says.

“Linking the Tannery trail system to Gorham Village neighborhoods adds to the accessibility of open space for residents of Gorham and those who visit from elsewhere.” Wells also represents the GCC on the Gorham Open Space and Trails Master Plan Committee, part of a concerted effort to provide the town with tools to mindfully preserve and enhance its open space resources.
A few planned items and enhancements are still to be completed, including marking parking spaces and better delineating the Grove Street trailhead, but people have been exploring the trail ever since the first segment was in place. Users should note that Ernie’s Way is designated for pedestrian and non-motorized bicycle use; no gas or electric (e-moto) dirt bikes or ATVs are allowed. Furthermore, for safety, cyclists are requested to dismount when encountering walkers on the boardwalks.

Moreno cites the support Ernie’s Way has received as an example of the value Gorham places on outdoor recreational space. Over the past decade, he says, Gorham parks and trails have “gone from a small thing to a feature that defines the town and offers something for everyone.”

He adds, “I can’t stress enough how thankful we are for all of the volunteers on the Conservation Commission and in town that worked to make this trail happen.”