GARDINER — City officials will celebrate completing the second phase of the waterfront project as a tipping point in the city’s redevelopment drive after they meet with the contractor Friday.

McGee Construction, hired in 2010 to expand the boat launch parking area, has finished repaving the parking lot.
City Manager Scott Morelli said city staff will meet with representatives from McGee Construction to go over a list of final items that need to be completed to finish off the project.

“If those items and the recent re-pavement all check out, we will officially be done with the phase II work on the waterfront,” Morelli said. “This is a significant achievement that required hard work from many people and now our residents have one of the best, if not the best, waterfront parks on the Kennebec River.”

The first phase of the city’s waterfront redevelopment, considered by the city “a jewel in the crown of the city’s downtown revitalization initiatives,” was completed in 2006. That part included stabilizing the shoreline and installing 525 feet of boardwalk over sections of a new timber crib.

The second phase included drainage improvements, completing the boardwalk over an existing steel bulkhead, and adding parking, green spaces and lighting.

City officials secured nearly $1.7 million in grants for the first two phases.

The estimated budget for the second phase is about $1.25 million.

Funding partners include the Maine Department of Economic Development, the Gardiner Rotary Club, Maine Department of Transportation, Land for Maine’s Future program, the Robinson Trust, Maine Department of Conservation, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Nate Rudy, Gardiner’s economic and community development director, said the park has electrical power service thanks to a donation and in-kind labor by the Gardiner Rotary. Rudy said the Rotary Club’s financial donation was approximately $15,000 plus significant in-kind donations of labor from members of CMC Technology Group and McFarland Electric.

Morelli said future plans include providing electricity for docked boats and construction of an amphitheater or roll-off stage for concerts.

The Greater Gardiner River Festival, scheduled for June 20–23, will be the first event held at the waterfront park since the completion of the second phase of work.
 
Mechele Cooper — 621-5663
[email protected]