Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust announced on Monday a partnership with Mexicali Blues to develop a trail connecting Mexicali Blues’ Route 1 headquarters to the Marsh River Bog Preserve in Newcastle. This project aims to extend the existing trail and also improve access to the preserve.

A new trailhead will be located at the parking lot of Mexicali Blues’ Newcastle retail store, replacing the existing trailhead at Marsh River Bog and offering a more welcoming and accessible entry point for visitors. Construction is being led by Kennebec Trail Company, a local trail-building service owned by John Copeland.

In late October, an enthusiastic crew of 26 Mexicali Blues staff and 13 Coastal Rivers staff and volunteers came together for a joint work day. Their efforts included hauling brush, lopping roots, beginning the construction of a rock turnpike — an elevated trail section lined with rocks to improve durability and prevent erosion — and removing some trash.

The project is on track to be completed this fall.

“We’re so excited to have a way to connect with Maine in such a natural way right here at work — where having a meeting and going for a walk in the woods don’t have to be mutually exclusive,” Topher Mallory, CEO of Mexicali Blues, said in a prepared release.

The collaboration highlights Mexicali Blues’ dedication to creating a positive work environment that promotes health and personal growth. It also advances Coastal Rivers’ efforts to expand outdoor access and foster community engagement through conservation and recreation.