Twin Rivers Paper Co., Madawaska, Maine, USA, has  shown its community support for the Four Seasons Trail Association (FSTA) by pledging up to $45,000 for land acquisition. The organization is looking to purchase the land on which their trails and lodge are located to make the multi-use trails permanent. 

"After seeing the work and dedication the volunteers put in to create the lodge in 2007, we knew that the trails, primarily on private land, had to become a permanent part of the facility. After the lodge was completed, the directors embarked on a multi-year initiative to ensure the trails would be permanently available for public use," said John Ezzy, executive director of FSTA.

 

FTSA President Colin Jandreau added that "ownership of the land gives us the opportunity to make much needed changes to the trail footprint, accommodating an even greater number of people from serious athletes in training, to recreational users looking to enjoy the outdoors and maintain their fitness." 

During the past eight years, the organization has been buying land from the owners, raising more than $250,000 in local contributions and grant money to acquire more than 150 out of the approximately 240 acres of land.

 

Twin Rivers pledged to help with the final two parcels of land which total 90 acres through a program that matches funds raised by FSTA between 2015 and 2018. To date, FSTA has raised approximately $20,000.00 toward the goal. 

"We are lucky to have a resource like FSTA that is committed to providing the recreational facilities that foster appreciation of the natural beauty in the St. John Valley and encourage residents to be active. Supporting this organization and its world class trail system is a win-win for everyone," said Tim Lowe, CEO of Twin Rivers Paper Co.

 

Twin Rivers Paper is an integrated specialty paper company that produces packaging, label, and publishing products for targeted markets and applications. The company has operations in Maine and New Brunswick. 

Four Seasons Trail Association is a non-profit, volunteer organization that fundraised, designed, and built a world class Nordic ski, snowshoe, mountain bike, and hiking facility that is accessible to the public. The lodge is surrounded by a network of trails historically privately owned but publicly accessible with landowner permission. The organization has been purchasing the trail land to continue creating a world-class outdoor recreation center accessible to the community