HOULTON, Maine – With a fresh coat of newly-fallen snow providing the icing on the cake, Houlton’s Monument Park has once again transformed into a winter wonderland this holiday season.
Several thousand lights now adorn the many trees and shrubbery inside the park, along with other decorations placed to provide an interactive activity for people to explore.
Spearheaded by Nancy Ketch and Marie Carmichael, the town’s community development director and parks and recreation director respectively, decorating the park has become a new and popular tradition for the town.
“We have added a few things each of the last two years” Ketch said. “We got a little bit of a later start this year. We got a few of the items up in time for Thanksgiving and the rest was added in the following weeks. People really love seeing the park decorated.”
This year, the town was able to purchase additional decorations thanks to a $746 donation from Vital Pathways.“There were a number of other volunteer elves who prefer to remain anonymous who helped out greatly with this project,” Houlton Town Manager Marian Anderson said. “It has grown each year, which is one of our goals. We want to see this tradition continue for many years to come.”
The concept of decorating Monument Park arose back in 2020 when a group of volunteers, spearheaded by Fred Grant at WHOU radio station, decided something was needed to brighten people’s spirits as a way to escape the COVID-19 blues.
Last year, the town took over the decorating project, and thanks to volunteers and members of the public works department, the new decorations were placed a few weeks ago.
HOULTON, Maine — December 18, 2022 — One of several dazzling displays found in Houlton’s Monument Park. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — December 18, 2022 — An evergreen ball is illuminated in Monument Park in downtown Houlton as the park has been transformed into a winter wonderland. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — December 18, 2022 — A massive tree is a visual feast with a fresh coat of heavy snow in Monument Park in downtown Houlton. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
The town covers the electricity costs to keep the park illuminated from dusk to dawn each night.
HOULTON, Maine — December 18, 2022 — A tiny snowman was created by someone with all of the freshly fallen snow over the weekend. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — December 18, 2022 — An illuminated Santa Claus lights up the freshly fallen snow in Monument Park. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — December 18, 2022 — The amphitheater at Monument Park has a variety of holiday decorations on display. This weekend’s snow has provided a picturesque scene for all to enjoy. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HOULTON, Maine — December 18, 2022 — One of several photo backdrops for people to enjoy at Monument Park in downtown Houlton. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
