SKOWHEGAN Run of River project moves forward with $110,000 grant
By DARLA L. PICKETT
Morning Sentinel (Maine)
December 20, 2008
SKOWHEGAN -- Plans to build a $1.5 million whitewater park in the Kennebec River gorge that winds through the downtown took a giant step forward this week with presentation of a $110,000 state grant.
The money is earmarked for picking up all the easements needed to finalize the walking trail along the river, and includes signage, parking, benches, picnic tables and making the trail handicapped-accessible, said Jeffrey Hewett, Skowhegan's economic and community-development director.
Gov. John Baldacci announced the award Thursday as part of the $4.9 million Riverfront Community Development Bond money approved by the Legislature last year, Hewett said.
Hewett said that the state had $8.3 million in requests for the Riverfront bond, which is intended to stimulate economic and community development for river municipalities throughout the state. Fourteen towns received awards, he said.
"Everybody got cut 10 percent and some didn't get anything," Hewett said.
Gregory A. Dore, who proposed and has spearheaded the efforts for the Run of River water park for more than six years, called the announcement made during a ceremony Thursday in the Capital Room at the State-house "exciting news."
"We needed something like this to make it tangible. It will help move it along even faster," Dore said Friday morning.
Dore, also the town's road commissioner, said the project also received a boost of nearly $200,000 two weeks ago from an earmark on a federal transportation bill, supported by U.S. Rep. Michael S. Michaud, D-2nd District.
"The $226,000 is the construction cost of the trail alone; they're funding 80 percent of that," Dore said.
Dore's Run of River project proposes to clean up the river, restore habitat, increase public access, improve hiking trails and construct a whitewater park that is expected to draw boating enthusiasts from across the country.
The whitewater park, already found to be technically feasible in a $20,000 study released in 2004, would comprise a limited number of selected whitewater features created by man-made boulders or other in-water flow devices to make whitewater stretches for boaters.
The plan also included purchasing land along the river to assure public access, installing viewing sites, shuttling boaters back up the gorge, and creating opportunities for flat-water rafting from Oosoola Park in Norridgewock to Shawmut to the south.
Over the years, the Run of River Committee, with help from the community, has promoted and raised funds to accomplish their goals. Local nonprofits and a resident donated the land for the walking trails and a local surveying company donated a study of the river's bottom.
The walking trails on the south side, which follow the river gorge to the town's water treatment facility, are a big part of the overall project, Dore said.
"Access to the trail along the river is the second most important part," he said. "This will provide access not only to pedestrian and cyclists, but it will be constructed for people with disabilities." He said the plan also includes construction of two overlook platforms for spectators.
Dore said the next step is building a model of the water park, which will help promotion and fundraising. The committee has about $20,000 in the bank and possible support for the $88,000 model project. He said the committee hopes to have more news on that plan within the next month.
Meanwhile, the dream of a whitewater-recreation bonanza for the town still lives, Dore said.
"The gorge in Skowhegan has got to be the most beautiful stretch of river in all the state," he said. "It's breathtaking. The educational opportunities, plus the economics benefits to this town could be wonderful for Skowhegan, which is the gateway to recreation in Somerset County."
Darla L. Pickett -- 474-9534, ext. 341
dpickett@centralmaine.com
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