Added land to enhance park
By Kathy McCarty
THE HAUNTED WOODS WALK will take place Oct. 15-16 at the Aroostook State Park, with a good scare awaiting visitors, courtesy of the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce and numerous volunteers who’ve been preparing like crazy for the annual event. Pictured earlier this summer during a visit the park are cast/crew members of the movie “The Zombies are Coming to Town,” which was filmed in parts of Aroostook in the past year, from left: Matthew Dobson, Nathan Oliver (director of the film) and John Gagnon. The group had planned to attend the walk won’t be due to illness.
PRESQUE ISLE — Visitors to Aroostook State Park now have a much larger area to explore, with the recent addition of 145 acres. Officials gathered at the park recently to celebrate the good news.
The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, under the Maine Department of Conservation, purchased the parcel — appraised at $115,000 — with $60,000 split between Land for Maine’s Future funds and federal Recreational Trails Program funds, plus a generous $55,000 donation of value from the parcel’s Massachusetts owner, Nancy Askin.
“This comes as the park — the first in the state — celebrates its 75th anniversary. This increases the park’s size by almost one-fourth,” said Will Harris, BPL director, who acknowledged local park manager, Scott Thompson, for his continued efforts to advocate for and promote the public recreational area.
“Under Scott’s management, the park is increasing what’s available for public use,” said Harris.
Harris said the added land will only serve to enhance what the park offers visitors, from fishing and hiking to camping and other recreational activities.
“This shelter is unique. It’s enclosed for bad weather. Visitors can come in, use the kitchen area, the wood stove, wash up,” said Harris, speaking of the facility located in the camping area that provides protection from the elements and offers a cozy place to gather for a picnic or other activity.
“We’re trying to accommodate more people. As the population ages, we find more people are interested in added amenities,” he said.
Commission Eliza Townsend of the Maine Department of Conservation was also on hand for the event.
“This preserves the existing trails. The park is open to hunting. The trails are truly a big part of ASP,” said Townsend. “Scott is doing a terrific job, really working to reinvigorate the park.”
Townsend said Thompson’s done a great job to date, getting information out to the public about what the park has to offer.
“Drawing people to our parks is an investment in our infrastructure,” she said. “Scott was Manager of the Year for our state parks last year because of the amount of energy he brings to his position.”
The acquisition is expected to provide the park with hiking on scenic trails, protection of an existing trail used for cross-country skiing that extends into the park and more lands for hunting.
“We have proven that investments in state parks and rail trails pay real dividends, but we must do more,” said Harris. “We’ve increased state park usage more than 13 percent this year to date by giving our customers wonderful new bath houses, new road work, new playgrounds, better trails and targeted expansions in park acreage. LMF and state bond funds allow us to continue to draw down available federal funds to promote active outdoor recreation and support rural tourism projects.”
The purchase and park expansion already have received strong support from local legislators and local groups.
“I urged the LMF Board to do the right thing by investing in state park land that is so important for hunters, hikers, kids, tourism and, in general, for all the folks in central Aroostook,” said Rep. Patricia B. Sutherland, D-Chapman. “Aroostook State Park is a welcoming place for everyone, no matter the season, but especially during autumn. We’re thrilled about this expansion.”
“I congratulate Aroostook State Park as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Maine’s state park system,” stated Rep. Peter E. Edgecomb, R-Caribou. “The expansion of the park will protect hunting and hiking opportunities for future generations.”
“Aroostook State Park was Maine’s first state park and is a great asset for Presque Isle and all of Maine,” said State Sen. Roger L. Sherman, R-Houlton. “I congratulate everyone involved in the expansion, especially the landowner, Nancy Askin, who donated much of the value of the parcel.”
Askin said she’s happy her gift will be enjoyed by so many for years to come.
“Initially it was an investment — plans included possibly moving here. But living in Massachusetts now, it’s a long drive here. If we (family) didn’t hold onto it, we agreed it would go to the park, so it would be protected. There’s a lot of development in the Northeast. We wanted to take this landscape with its unique geology and protect it,” said Askin.
Located just minutes from Presque Isle, the park currently has 904 acres (expanded from 758 acres) and is one of 12 state parks with campgrounds and one of 33 state parks over all. As of August, some 9,668 people have visited the park in 2010, and there has been a significant 23 percent increase in the number of camping overnights — 2,786 last year compared to 3,438 this year.
“There definitely is an economic benefit to Aroostook County to have the park here,” said Thompson. “There not only is an economic benefit, but this also is a community outreach are that offers a wonderful experience to people in northern Maine and appeals to visitors coming to the area.”
PARK EXPANDS — Aroostook State Park has acquired 145 acres, increasing its land mass to 904 acres. A ceremony was held recently to celebrate. Pictured at the park from left are: Park Manager Scott Thompson; Will Harris, Maine Bureau of Parks and Land director; Nancy Askin, landowner, who made the acquisition possible through her generous donation of a portion of the value of the land; Rep. Patricia Sutherland; and Eliza Townsend, commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation.
