SKOWHEGAN — How about a rustic wooden pergola — like a grape arbor — greeting visitors driving into downtown Skowhegan from the north?

How about a rain garden, honeylocust and serviceberry trees with a six-foot wide stone-dust pathway from the refurbished municipal parking lot through the Renaissance Building to Water Street?

All that and more are part of a concept plan unveiled at a public forum Monday night for a pocket park at the corner of Commercial Street and Madison Avenue, where for many years three vacant decaying buildings stood.

Monday night’s presentation was hosted by Jennifer Olsen, executive director of Main Street Skowhegan, who was asked by the Somerset Economic Development Corp., which owns the property, to design green space for the corner.

“This is a dream house,” Olsen told a group of about 16 people. “The reality house will incorporate other factors. The idea is that this project will be a combination of what the owners want and what the community wants.”

The future of the corner is part of Skowhegan’s Downtown Plan, which includes riverfront development and remaking the municipal parking lot. The proposed park is to be for public use, with mixed trees, shrubs, curbing and parking.

The three buildings at the corner were bought for demolition in September by the Somerset Economic Development Corp. They were demolished in October.

Skowhegan Savings, the bank’s Elm Street Corp. and its Skowhegan Savings Charitable Foundation, donated half of the estimated $150,000 for the development corporation to buy and dispose of the buildings, which were all built in the late 1800s.

Matching the foundation’s $75,000 grant, the other half of the money is coming from a group of local investors.

Olsen said the cost of constructing a park the way it is designed by environmental engineers Wright-Pierce would be $150,000, based on volunteer work and no public grants.

One issue that was raised Monday night is a large utility pole that abuts the property on Commercial Street. Former Selectwoman Davida Barter said the pole should be removed and the lines put underground. Others agreed, but Jeff Hewett, Skowhegan’s director of economic and community development, said it could cost more than $2 million to reconfigure the utility service.

Olsen said volunteers will consult with state transportation officials to see if there is a way to get rid of the pole without having to pay for it locally.

More meetings are planned before a final decision is made on what happens to the corner pocket park.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com

 

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