Higgins Beach is one of the most popular coastal spots in Maine—a half-mile of pristine sand perfect for families, walkers, anglers, surfers, and more. However, this public beach is lined with private homes, leaving just one public access point.

Until 2010, this single access point—a 1.55-acre parking lot—was privately owned and, could have been sold. Fortunately, a grassroots surfing group, Surfrider Foundation, approached Trust for Public Land (TPL) and Land for Maine’s Future Program in hopes of protecting this access point for generations to come.

The owners of the land, the Vasile family, agreed to work with TPL and the town of Scarborough, leading to a $1 million bond toward the purchase of the parking lot, plus a separate 10.3-acre property alongside the nearby Nonesuch River.

Today, Mainers and visitors alike enjoy public access to Higgins Beach. The additional 10.3-acre lot offers potential for a new greenway. This would link with an existing Scarborough trail network while buffering critical wildlife habitat.