FAIRFIELD — In a unanimous 4-0 vote, town councilors gave their final approval to redevelop Mill Island Park.

The proposed plan, approved by councilors Wednesday, includes having additional picnic tables, expanding the playground to have more equipment, and enhancing the current trail system to cater to the disabled, Town Manager Michelle Flewelling said. Another major enhancement will be to expand and improve the parking space near the park.

For the town and its residents, Flewelling said, the efforts to revitalize will make the park a true “gem” and will also serve as a blueprint for other upcoming economic projects.

But for the most part, the town, in conjunction with the Economic and Community Development Committee and the Central Maine Growth Council, aims to bring the park back to life and capitalize off of the riverfront, Flewelling said.

“The plan is a collaborative effort to celebrate Mill Island Park’s robust history while realizing future growth and development opportunities,” said Stephanie Thibodeau, chairwoman of the committee and vice chair of the Town Council, wrote the preface of the final proposal.

Located on the banks of the Kennebec River off Island Avenue, the park covers 6 acres worth of area in the north and houses several homes to the south. Connected by Bridge Street, the park previously served as an industrial hub.

Efforts to redevelop the park began in 2022, when town officials sent out surveys to identify key needs of the public and what they wanted to see changed, followed by an open discussion with residents to prioritize their requests.

Ahead of the final council meeting, the committee put their final pieces of details, especially maps, into the proposed plan, Flewelling said. The final proposal to the council was an 80-page document detailing each enhancement, several maps, and analysis.

The Kennebec Valley Council of Governments played and integral role in formulating those maps for the town, Thibodeau said Wednesday. She also said the plan for the park will be accessible by the public as copies of the proposal will be made available at the town’s public library.

“It is an impressive document that lays the groundwork for years to come in order to make Mill Island Park a destination place along the waters of the Kennebec River,” Thibodeau wrote in an email.

The plan aims to provide diverse recreational opportunities to residents and improve connectivity to downtown, among other amenities, the document reads. A walking bridge and a dog park are also included in the plan, Thibodeau noted.

The council’s approval will allow for the Economic and Community Development Committee to move forward with each project and find needed funding for each of those goals. The work on the island will be spanned out into phases.

“I think it’s actually the start of development for downtown and recreation and business and a lot of other services,” Town Council Chairman Matthew Townsend said. “I’m really looking forward to this taking one step at a time.”

The next steps for the plan will be discussed during the Economic and Community Development Committee meeting on Jan. 2 and the discussion is open to public.

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