SKOWHEGAN — Residents and visitors will soon see construction on one aspect of the River Park, after three decades of talks about the downtown development project.

Work was set to begin this week on the first phase of a riverfront boardwalk along the Kennebec River. Thanks to a $1 million gift from the New Balance Foundation that comes with naming rights, fundraising for the boardwalk is now complete, according to the economic revitalization nonprofit Main Street Skowhegan.

But the organization has been sent back to the drawing board on the in-river whitewater park after losing out on nearly $5 million in earmarked federal funds because permitting took longer than the organization expected.

To mark the kickoff of the boardwalk construction, a public groundbreaking ceremony is set for 11 a.m. Monday in downtown.

Among those expected to make an appearance are U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, and U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats. Both have helped Main Street Skowhegan to secure federal funding.

Kristina Cannon, president and CEO of Main Street Skowhegan, said Monday’s celebration marks the realization of a long-discussed vision for Skowhegan’s redevelopment.

“After nearly three decades of planning and community engagement, we’re about to see the first physical pieces of the project take shape,” Cannon said in a statement. “At the same time, we’re continuing to advance the next phases — from additional boardwalk infrastructure to the adjustable surf and kayak wave that will make Skowhegan a nationally recognized river recreation destination.”

Overall plans for the River Park, formerly known as Run of River, include improved river access, whitewater paddling and surfing features, and other recreation infrastructure, including the boardwalk and a four-season trail system.

Current plans call for the first adjustable whitewater wave in the Northeast. The possible removal of the Weston Dam, one of four upper Kennebec River dams Brookfield Renewable agreed to sell to The Nature Conservancy for $168 million, would not affect the planned river features, Main Street Skowhegan has said in the wake of the deal.

The park has been discussed in one form or another since 1999, project organizers said.

Main Street Skowhegan has long spearheaded planning and fundraising efforts and expects to manage River Park operations. Voters at a special town meeting in December approved a renewable 10-year lease that delegates nearly all of the financial responsibility and liability to the nonprofit.

Supporters believe the River Park will play a key role in efforts to develop Skowhegan into a regional outdoor destination. Main Street Skowhegan touts a study commissioned in 2025 that found the completed project would contribute $16.6 million in annual economic impact and support 137 permanent jobs throughout the region.

Various delays over the years have pushed back the beginning of construction. Final permits from the federal government were issued last summer.

The first phase of the boardwalk, for which crews were expecting to begin construction preparations Wednesday, is set to be a 4,187-square-foot, fully accessible deck made of northern white cedar. The portion will be just west of the walking bridge over the Kennebec, between the parking lot behind Water Street and the river gorge. 

Cannon said when complete, that section will not result in the loss of parking spaces, but work will require closure of the walking bridge and the relocation of a wooden Bernard Langlais sculpture of a mermaid.

Main Street Skowhegan has worked with town officials to establish a detour for pedestrians who rely on the bridge to get between the north and south sides of towns, Cannon said.

The first phase is funded by $2 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, secured in 2022 through Congressionally Directed Spending backed by Collins and King. Main Street Skowhegan this spring also secured $334,000 from the Expedia Trail Fund through a partnership with The Conservation Fund, which allowed it to expand the footprint of the phase.

The second phase of the boardwalk is also fully funded. Construction is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2027, Main Street Skowhegan says. It includes 7,235 square feet of additional boardwalk, east of the first phase.

The second phase is backed by a $2.5 million “Timber for Transit” grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission, announced earlier this month.

It is also supported by $1.4 million in philanthropic and corporate commitments and the $1 million donation from the New Balance Foundation, which Cannon announced at Tuesday night’s Skowhegan select board meeting.

The gift from New Balance, which recently expanded its shoe factory in Skowhegan, comes with naming rights for the boardwalk and Main Street Skowhegan’s gear lending library.

“The New Balance Foundation is committed to investing in vibrant communities and bright futures through sport,” foundation director Molly Santry said in a statement. “This innovative River Park project along the Kennebec River will more fully connect people to all that the river has to offer — from river sports to outdoor entrepreneurship and education.”

Main Street Skowhegan also is pursuing $5.6 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to support the whitewater park and related infrastructure. The request is going through King’s office and is in the appropriations process for the fiscal year 2027 budget, Cannon said.

If Congress approves the funding, it would effectively replace $4.89 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration that Main Street Skowhegan had been awarded in 2022 but recently lost, Cannon said. 

Other fundraising efforts are ongoing. The nonprofit also previously designated $1 million from Skowhegan’s Sappi tax increment financing agreement and a few hundred thousand dollars toward the first phase of the whitewater park portion of the River Park.

Delays aside, people could still see some action in the gorge soon. The Somerset County board of commissioners awarded a $12,500 matching grant in May for Main Street Skowhegan to install a paddling slalom course and make other minor improvements to river access.