Greater Portland Board of Realtors makes donation to enhance Gorham bike track

A wood-framed strucutre shades some picnic tables.

Photo / Courtesy Greater Portland Board of Realtors A shade pavilion broke ground at a pump track at Lavoie Bike Park in Gorham.

Write a Comment

By Laurie Schreiber

The Greater Portland Board of Realtors donated $16,500 to the town of Gorham for construction of shade pavilion at a pump track at Lavoie Bike Park.

A pump track is a specialty bicycle circuit with rollers, banked turns and other features.

The donation included a $7,500 Placemaking Grant from the National Association of Realtors and matching donations totaling $9,000 from 11 companies and four individuals.

The following companies, many with offices in Gorham, were among the sponsors: Cates Real Estate, Century 21 First Choice Realty, Demetria Real Estate, Dream Home Realty, Elevate Maine Realty, King + Miller Real Estate, Maine Real Estate Experts, Plowman Realty Group, PoGo Realty, The Maine Real Estate Groupand Willis Real Estate.

Public-private collaboration

A groundbreaking for the pavilion was held Nov. 4. The pump track is on Weeks Road near the Gorham Middle School.

The project is a public-private collaboration between the board and the town, including Gorham parks and recreation and the Gorham Conservation Commission.

The Placemaking Grant program supports community-led initiatives that aim to turn public spaces into destinations.

Aaron Chadbourne, the board’s president and a broker with Demetria Real Estate in Gorham, championed the pavilion project for its ability to boost comfort, accessibility and year-round use for riders and families and because it was not slated to receive public funds until after private contributions were announced, according to a news release.

“Public spaces like the pump track strengthen community connections and allow residents and visitors to enjoy this great space,” said Chadbourne. “Gorham’s trails are an incredible asset that people look for when choosing where to live.”

The donation toward the project helps get it out of the starting gate “and we hope it encourages additional investment from community partners and helps demonstrate broad support for the Gorham community,” he said.

“The pump track has already been widely used, and we know this new structure will enable it to be a gathering place for birthday parties, picnics and enhance its role in the community,” said Cindy Hazelton, director of the town’s park and recreation department.

The Greater Portland Board of Realtors is a professional membership organization focused on advocacy, education and community development throughout southern Maine.