WATERVILLE -- As she sets out on her weekend walks along the trail from Benton to Winslow, Kimberly Lindlof sees out-of-state license plates now at the Mill Island parking lot.

The word is out -- the volunteers who energize Kennebec Messalonskee Trails are making the paths along the two local waterways even bigger, and better. And when tourists take notice of such local initiatives, the president of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce says, the whole state wins.

"Health tourism can impact the number one business in Maine," Lindlof said. "This is a safe trail system that's good for the health of the people of central Maine, and it's one of the things that tourists look for when they come here."

Founded by Peter Garrett, Kennebec Messalonskee Trails is an ever-growing network of pedestrian, bicycle and cross-country ski trails, contributing to healthy and active communities.

One nature path makes a loop around the Kennebec River, from Waterville through Fairfield and Benton, and back to Winslow on the other side.

The other is a path along Messalonskee Stream near downtown Waterville. It has legs in Waterville and Oakland. Later this spring the Oakland leg will stretch to Rice Rips Road in Waterville.

Local people make the most use of the trails, built largely with contributions from the Waterville Rotary Club.

"I use it on weekends," Lindlof said. "My best friend, Leslie Poulin, goes cycling or walking in the morning, before she goes to work."

Lindlof credits the trails group for expansion of the trails last year.

For that effort, Kennebec Messalonskee Trails has earned the Chamber's Community Service Project of the Year Award. It will be presented during the Chamber's annual awards dinner April 25 at John Martin's Manor.

"They built out the trails, and they raised visibility that the trails exist," Lindlof said.

Jeff Melanson, a trails volunteer for five years, said that six of the planned 24 miles of trails are complete. Last year, volunteers built the Oakland trail and a section along North Street in Waterville.

"This group has done a lot of trail-building with what would be considered a small amount of money," Melanson said.

Melanson said the group publishes a newsletter, The Trail Blazer, which it mails and distributes around town. Garrett also does speaking engagements. The group also plans to update its Web site, www.kmtrails.org.

He said he was pleased to learn that out-of-staters are catching on to the local trails.

"The vision is, people will come into an area if they know," Melanson said.

Larry Grard -- 474-9534, Ext. 343

lgrard@centralmaine.com