First Granite Sculptures To Line New Union River Trail By Fall 2026
Ellsworth's sculpture trail moves from planning to construction, with a 0.75-mile loop linking downtown to Knowlton Park.
Plans for the Union River Sculpture Trail along Ellsworth's Riverwalk are shifting from design toward construction, with granite works from artists tied to the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium set to line a three-quarter-mile loop on the trail's north side, organizers said.
The path is meant to link downtown Ellsworth, the riverfront and surrounding neighborhoods and open up easier access to Knowlton Park. Heart of Ellsworth is coordinating the work alongside the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium, Frenchman Bay Conservancy, city government and the Ellsworth Public Library. The Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation offered early support, and additional money is coming from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Davis Family Foundation. The first sculptures are expected to go in during the fall of 2026, and organizers anticipate adding more art and trail upgrades on through 2028.
Roddy Ehrlenbach, who directs the city's Parks, Recreation and Facilities department, said the goal is a spot residents can return to often, whether for a walk, time by the water or something new downtown, adding that planned features such as a fresh trailhead should make the area easier for everyone to use.
Organizers are hosting a public walk called "Imagining the Riverwalk Sculpture Trail" starting at 4 p.m. on May 2, with the group meeting behind the Ellsworth Public Library at the trail's entrance.
This story was first reported by Bangor Daily News.
