AUGUSTA — While it’s still more than a year away, Enock Glidden is watching a project that’s expected to bring universal access to Augusta’s Howard Hill.

After years of discussions, officials in Hallowell, Augusta and the Kennebec Land Trust are working to make the conservation and recreation area just west of the state capital complex more widely accessible to people with disabilities.

“From the Kennebec Land Trust’s perspective, it’s the property closest to the population centers in the area,” said Theresa Kerchner, land trust president. “So, if we are going to put time and resources into developing a trail, Howard Hill makes the most sense in terms of how many people will benefit from it.”

Spanning 164 acres, Howard Hill offers forested open space with a stream and a ridgeline with cliffs, bordered by developed areas in Augusta and Hallowell. Residents often walk the network of old carriage roads through the hill to experience the scenic view of the Kennebec River or the State House building nestled amid an expansive shade of green.