SACO — The RiverWalk committee is clearing the way for a safer walk along the Saco River.

The RiverWalk Trail spans about 3/4 of a mile, starting at the top of Front Street, running parallel with the Saco River down to the Wastewater Treatment Plant where it turns uphill to a scenic lookout on Hall Street.

The RiverWalk committee is a sub-committee of the economic development group Saco Spirit. The committee was formed in 2004 to revitalize the trail as an asset to the downtown area.

The trail allows views of the Saco River in a quiet setting.

“It’s amazing. We’re right downtown,” said RiverWalk Committee Co-chair Jim Burnell Thursday as he paused on a tour of the RiverWalk to take in the view of the Saco River.

Recently, pre-cast concrete stairways have been installed to provide safer access to the river banks along the top of Front Street. They replaced stairs made from railroad ties about 20 years ago which Burnell described as “very hazardous.”

Gravel has been laid out alongside the stairs for water drainage, said Burnell, and new steel handrails now line the river’s edge and stairways.

Overgrown vegetation has been cleared out alongside the banks of these areas. New vegetation will be planted, he said, which will be more attractive and will help stabilize the bank.

Burnell said the RiverWalk Committee wanted to focus first on safety improvements before it turned to aesthetic improvements. However, with new stairways and handrails, he said it’s looking better already.

“Even the improvements that have been made are aesthetic,” said Burnell.

The group plans to improve areas of the trail bed which are known to wash out when it rains, but first must seek permitting with the Department of Environmental Protection.

Local Eagle Scout Zach Nason has recently built a bird viewing blind on lower Front Street near the Wastewater Treatment plant. A ramp will be installed at the bird blind, making it handicapped accessible.

Nason, who had help from other scouts and local professionals, spent several of his weekends in December working on the project. Last week as he took a moment away from his work, and said it was a good feeling to see the project near completion. He said he liked the scenery and the area of the bird blind.

Improvements to the trail have been possible thanks to grant money and dedicated volunteers. At this point, however, RiverWalk Committee Co-Chair Laurie Mooney said the group has exhausted all grant money and is currently seeking funding to work on future projects.

One project the group would like to see move forward is a handicapped accessible picnic area. The top of the trail, which has stairways that allow access to the riverbank, is not handicapped accessible. Mooney said the group would like to have an overlook that would give people in wheelchairs access to these river views.

The group does not have a solid estimate for the picnic and viewing area project but Mooney said it has been estimated that it would cost about $15,000.

As well, the group is trying to obtain grant money to install eight interpretive signs along the trail.

“It’s time to bring in the educational piece,” said Mooney. The signs the group is considering are designed to withstand outside elements and resist scratching and spray painting and come with a 10-year warranty. The projected cost for the signs is about $6,500. The group wants to install something that will “last forever” and not have to be replaced every few years, said Mooney.

The group has partnered with various organizations to come up with information and pictures for signs on the history, vegetation and wildlife along the river. Organizations providing the information are Saco Treatment plant, the York County Audubon Society, Saco Historical Society, Saco Salmon Club and Ferry Beach Ecology School.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.