Sharing the Waterfront
by Molly Mulhern, Apprenticeshop Harbor Trail Liaison, Board Chair Emeritus
Photo Credit: Chris Battaglia
Do you remember the first time you touched salt water? How about your first walk along a seaweed strewn piece of granite? The Apprenticeshop’s waterfront campus, perched on the edge of land and sea, has long been a springboard for journeys small and large—internal, personal journeys as well as multi-day sailing adventures. Now the 'Shop’s interface of land and sea—the known and unknown—will be open forever to the public via a harbor trail, opening new paths of discovery for generations.
Open waterfront access via this harbor trail arose as part of work over the last four years refocusing and realigning our mission—[as]“an educational nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring personal growth through craftsmanship, community, and traditions of the sea”—with a set of core values that include stewardship, sustainability, and cultural exchange. Waterfront access for the public signals our deep commitment to living these values.
In these times, access to the waterfront is not a given. Public right of access to the shore to stroll beaches or perch on shoreside granite blocks is restricted by law dating back to when Maine was part of Massachusetts. Yet our lives depend on understanding our connection to the watery world. The rise and fall of the tide, the broken mussel shells from a seagull’s lunch, the granite left from centuries of quarrying all provide clues and links to important ecosystems that influence our daily existence. And since humans are not born with fins or gills, we ask a lot of questions about this unfamiliar world. Watch a child wander a shore and you’ll hear all kinds of questions: “Mommy why is that boat rowing backward? Dad, why did that seagull drop that shell?” It is a natural fit to create a public trail along the shores of the Apprenticeshop’s Rockland Campus—it allow us to to further inform and educate citizens about waterfront culture and traditions of the sea.
In June, Rockland Council approved the waterfront land swap and access easement. Heralded as an “historic decision” by Rockland Mayor Ed Glaser, discussions and work toward the land swap and harbor trail began several years ago between the Apprenticeshop and the city of Rockland. In exchange for passing ownership of the boat launch to the City of Rockland, the Apprenticeshop will be deeded a narrow piece of land just to the east of its current Route One building. This parcel, now heavily wooded, will be partially cleared to reveal the lime kiln, with plans to build a viewing platform to our working waterfront. (The land acquisition also makes space for potential expansion of the 'Shop’s education buildings.) A walking trail down to shore will be created from the north and south portions of the Apprenticeshop property, allowing visitors to get to know the campus, watch Apprenticeshop activities, and learn about the 'Shop and Rockland’s waterfront history via educational signage. In the off-season the trail will provide insights into the many ways our shores undergo seasonal transitions. The collaboration is made possible by neighbors Paul and Elysa Coster, and the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, which will be fundraising for their part in donating the lime kiln land to the 'Shop. Please support them in this effort if you are able (https://www.mcht.org/).
Once the trail is built, generations of Rockland residents will be able to amble along the Apprenticeshop pier and trail, watch boats come and go, play in the muck as the tide comes in, as well as witness the launch and sailing of the 'Shop’s fleet of boats.
The 'Shop is thrilled to continue to make public access to our waterfront part of our contribution to the community. Walking a space leads to knowing a place, which spurs care-taking and encourages further engagement—by opening our campus we hope all who visit become more invested in the future of the waterfront, both in our little patch and around the world. We encourage 'Shop friends and supporters to join us by ambling our shores, taking a 'Shop tour, and volunteering to support our work (find out more with an email to info@apprenticeshop.org).
And if you are enthused by this new trail access we hope you will show your support with a note or a donation to the 'Shop.