Marginal Way Preservation Fund Celebrated Treasured Landmark’s Centennial by Ensuring its Preservation for Next 100 Years

Over $1 Million MWPF Contribution Supports Storm Repairs, Strengthens Coastal Resilience, Eases Town’s Financial Burden

Ogunquit, Maine - As the Marginal Way celebrates its 100th anniversary, the Marginal Way Preservation Fund (MWPF) is honoring the past by investing in the future—ensuring this beloved coastal path remains protected for generations to come.  The Fund has contributed over a million dollars to support the Marginal Way and advance vital storm-related repairs, reinforcing its commitment to preserving Ogunquit's most treasured landmark for the next century and beyond.    While making these significant contributions, the Fund’s permanent endowment also reached $4.5 million for the first time in its history, a powerful milestone that strengthens its long-term ability to achieve MWPF’s mission: to protect this National Registry of Historic Places site.

Photo by: Rick Barber

Photo by: John Bruck

Responding to a Critical Moment

In 2024, a series of punishing coastal storms caused significant damage.  Powerful wave surges and record-high tides eroded the shoreline, cracked retaining walls, and damaged concrete bench pads along the Marginal Way’s scenic cliffs.  This devastation—combined with lingering storm damage dating back to 2018—further threatened the path’s stability and underscored the urgency of long-term coastal resilience planning.  Ongoing erosion risked undermining not only the trail’s structural integrity, but also its role as one of Ogunquit’s most vital economic and cultural assets—drawing nearly two million visitors in recent years.

According to Matt Buttrick, Ogunquit’s Town Manager, the January 2024 storms alone inflicted approximately $1 million in devastation on top of $2 million in earlier damage dating back to 2018.  He noted that the total repair budget approached $3 million.  Recognizing both the immediacy and magnitude of the challenge, the Marginal Way Preservation Fund launched its Storm Damage Repair Appeal, raising more than $380,000 in a few short months.  Combined with ongoing support from the Fund’s endowment, MWPF has contributed more than a million dollars toward these essential repairs.

“Our donors are helping to write the next chapter of the Marginal Way’s 100-year story,” said Charlie Hindmarsh, President of the Marginal Way Preservation Fund.  “Through their generosity, this path by the sea will continue to inspire, comfort, and connect people from around the world—just as it has for the past century.”

Engineering Resilience Along the Coastal Cliffs

To execute the complex restoration, the Town of Ogunquit partnered with Walsh Engineering Associates as Civil Engineers and Linkel Environmental Construction, both Maine-based firms with more than 35 years each of shoreline stabilization expertise.  The Marginal Way’s narrow, cliffside terrain and constant public use made the project particularly challenging.  The design team and construction crews needed to balance safety, durability, and aesthetics—ensuring the repairs blended naturally into the surrounding coastline.

“Preserving the Marginal Way during a time of increased storm intensity and rising sea levels has been central to our design approach,” said Bill Walsh, PE, President of Walsh Engineering Associates.  “This project reflects our commitment to sustainable design and community stewardship, ensuring Marginal Way remains resilient, accessible, and retains its natural beauty for generations to enjoy.”

Together, Walsh designed and Linkel implemented a multi-phase restoration plan that included site assessment, structural stabilization using large boulders and high-strength mortar techniques, and ecological replanting with native vegetation to control erosion and protect against storm surge.  Throughout the work, Linkel maintained partial public access, safely rerouting foot traffic so visitors could continue to enjoy the iconic path.

Key outcomes of this restoration effort include:

• Improved shoreline stability with reinforced revetments, native plantings and utilizing walls where necessary

• Continued safe access to a vital community and tourist destination

• Aesthetic continuity that respects the trail’s historic and natural character

“I sincerely thank the Marginal Way Preservation Fund and all contributors for their dedication and support,” said Bob Whitelaw, Former Chair of the Ogunquit Select Board and a current member.  “Thanks to their leadership what could have been a decade-long, taxpayer-funded recovery effort has been transformed into an immediate action plan that strengthens the Marginal Way’s resilience and reduces the Town’s financial burden, making this iconic landmark stronger than ever.”

Preserving a Legacy for the Next Century

This year’s restoration demonstrates why the Marginal Way Preservation Fund mission—to preserve and protect the Marginal Way for future generations—is more essential than ever.  With coastal storms growing increasingly frequent and unpredictable, the MWPF continues to prioritize long-term resiliency planning and endowment growth to safeguard the path for the next century.

As Shana Starobin, Assistant Professor of Government and Environmental Studies at Bowdoin College and a plaque donor at Marginal Way’s Serenity Point recently noted:

“Coastal storms have grown in frequency and intensity—with less predictable impacts to natural and human systems.  The Marginal Way’s proximity to the Atlantic and continual exposure make it particularly vulnerable.”

Shana’s mother, Susan H. Starobin, also served on the Ogunquit Conservation Commission for many years.

“The Marginal Way Preservation Fund is proud to offer support through the loyal and passionate commitment of our community of donors,” said Allison Ramsey, Executive Director of the Marginal Way Preservation Fund.  Their generosity has made an extraordinary difference—helping to secure the path’s future while easing the financial burden on the taxpayers of Ogunquit.  It’s a true reflection of what can be accomplished when a community comes together to protect something so extraordinary.”

About the Marginal Way Preservation Fund

The Marginal Way Preservation Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the long-term protection and preservation of Ogunquit’s iconic mile-long oceanfront footpath.  Through endowment building, community partnerships, and stewardship, the Fund works to sustain this natural and cultural treasure for generations to come.  The Marginal Way Preservation Fund is an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building a permanent Endowment to support the vital work of preserving and maintaining the Marginal Way.

Serenity Point is a scenic overlook along the Marginal Way, known for its quiet beauty and sweeping ocean views.  A tucked away treasure along the path, it is home to a collection of commemorative plaques where families and individuals honor loved ones and celebrate their connection to the Marginal Way.  Over the years, more than 250 families have been recognized at Serenity Point, and the plaque program has raised more than $2.5 million to support the preservation and protection of this beloved coastal path.  To learn more about the Marginal Way Preservation Fund and how you can support its mission, visit www.marginalwayfund.org.

About Walsh Engineering Associates

Walsh Engineering Associates provides comprehensive civil engineering consulting services from project inception through completion, including planning, permitting, design, and construction oversight.  Our diverse client base—municipalities, non-profit organizations, architects, developers, commercial and industrial facilities, and private citizens—has allowed us to build unmatched expertise in shoreline stabilization and resilience projects, making us a trusted name across Maine.  Learn more at: https://walsh-eng.com/.

About Linkel Environmental Construction

Linkel Environmental Construction is a Maine-based contractor specializing in coastal and environmental infrastructure projects.  From shoreline stabilization and restoration to fish passages and erosion control, Linkel combines field expertise with a commitment to protecting Maine’s residential and natural resources.  The company partners with homeowners, municipalities, nonprofits, and state agencies to deliver sustainable solutions built to last. Learn more at: linkelenvironmental.com and https://linkelenvironmental.com/marginalwaycasestudy