A foot race across one of Maine’s landmark bridges will return next month under new organizers after a hiatus.
The Bridge the Gap race, which began in 2012 as a fundraiser to send Bucksport-area kids to leadership camp, didn’t happen last year after a change in coordinators.
On April 18, runners will once again run across the bridge connecting Waldo and Hancock counties over the Penobscot River. Then, they’ll complete either a 10-mile loop around Verona Island or a 3-mile race, both ending in downtown Bucksport.
It’s another new event planned for the town this year among shakeups of some longrunning public programs. Jen Skala, who’s helping organize the race, said it will also continue fundraising for local kids and has potential to draw new people to see businesses on Bucksport’s Main Street – plus, provide a rare opportunity to experience the sweeping bridge views on foot.
“In my opinion, it’s just the best selling point ever,” she said of crossing the bridge, which doesn’t have designated lanes for pedestrians.
One of the race’s first organizers was struck by the selling points of the bridge and island when training for a marathon, the Bangor Daily News reported at the time. Area towns benefit from tourist traffic to see the bridge and its observatory, but events centered on the bridge itself were rare, Belle Ryder said in 2012.
The race initially raised funds to help send students in RSU 25, the area’s public school district, to Camp Kieve in Nobleboro. In later years, it was run by other groups and supported an array of local nonprofits, according to its Facebook page. The last race was held in 2024.
This year, it’s hosted by the Eastern Maine Elite Wrestling Club, an Orland-based nonprofit aiming to bring year-round wrestling opportunities and grow skills for area students. Race funds will go to that club, also supporting items such as buying new equipment and making participation financially accessible.
Community support has helped bring the event back, according to Skala, who is now the school district’s librarian and was part of early races. Students went out to find local business sponsorships, and officials have been supportive as she navigated permitting and planning.
Past races have drawn hundreds of participants; she hopes to attract 200 for its first year back. The first 75 to register will get T-shirts, and anyone completing the 10-mile race in under an hour will get $100, reviving a tradition by earlier organizer Gary Allen.
The race finishes downtown, which Skala hopes will inspire people to return in the future for the town’s stores and restaurants. Numerous new businesses have opened there within the last two years; residents including Skala have said it’s experiencing a revival in the wake of losing its paper mill more than a decade ago.
“[The race] is a pretty big economic development driver for the community,” said Rich Rotella, the town’s economic and community development director. He recalled hundreds of participants travelling to Bucksport in past years, bringing in good business over the weekend.
As the town has cut back on organizing its Bay Festival and considered funding for other events in response to budget constraints, local groups putting on community festivities like this one without taxpayer money is a “win-win for everyone,” he said. Resident Teri Doty, who is also a council member, is working to organize other downtown events this year.
April 18 is also the date of the school district’s annual Andy Wentworth round robin event for high school baseball and softball teams, which Skala hopes people will drop by to watch after running.
“No matter who it is…the more attention and people you can bring to town is a good thing,” she said.
The race starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 18. Registration is $25 online until April 1.
