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In 2014, the voters of Cumberland, Maine made it clear that they wanted the town to achieve a long-term goal of securing shore access for the citizens. This was a political ad published by the Cumberland Ocean Access Coalition.

Prior to 2014, the citizens of Cumberland, Maine did not have an access point to the shores of Casco Bay within the geographical boundaries of the town. That all changed for the good in 2014 when Bateman Partners brainstormed a public/private partnership that eventually resulted in what is today known as Broad Cove Reserve.

And yes, the public is very welcome to use and enjoy this very picturesque property, at long last.

Bateman Partners had purchased what used to be known as “the Payson property,” a 100-acre parcel adjacent to Casco Bay and near “Wildwood Beach,” a supposedly private beach owned by a nearby neighborhood association. We proposed building a few homes away from the shore, and selling a prime 25-acre waterfront portion of the property to Cumberland, so that its residents could finally enjoy a long sought-after public benefit, a town beach and conservation trails.

The Wildwood neighborhood fought to keep the public out, but we worked with the Town of Cumberland, the Chebeague & Cumberland Land Trust (CCLT) and the Cumberland Ocean Access Coalition to finally make it happen.

Today the people of Cumberland can enjoy the 23-acre Broad Cove Reserve for walking, boating, swimming, fishing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and educational activities. That includes the 0.6 mile “Stonewall Trail” that runs parallel to Route 88 is popular with Cumberland Foreside residents. This citizen-owned property represents the best waterfront access opportunity within the town of Cumberland. And it is certainly a fantastic example of a successful public/private partnership. For more information, visit CCLT’s web site.

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