[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6607321,"mediaKeyId","2953347-53464aacdca343d2608a4b5253c7af66","parentId",2953347,"title","Advisory committee hears update on combined parks, rec and ice arena feasibility study; fitness added to scope","audioSeconds",422,"startMs",2216000,"endMs",2638000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2953347-53464aacdca343d2608a4b5253c7af66&start=2216&end=2638","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2953347-53464aacdca343d2608a4b5253c7af66/thumbnail_2216000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6607321/Bangor-City/Penobscot-County/Maine/Advisory-committee-hears-update-on-combined-parks-rec-and-ice-arena-feasibility-study-fitness-added-to-scope","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607321-f6139b5c413010b09e98ff9db75ff9dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775265192&Signature=ZFTj6Eggyt5h21~dKba7dw6L0xeXqVSVSnuKW7iNBWrBEyunFObk5gZh0dFEaOM3nVQ8VsBHZ6nd9jk~v5PExXtYtYL5ye4UYRfgGL2h45BODFoSxy9OcG~tHErkAVrfNJVimiHbZKf~CiVuy1n0lr5IvGz5sDXv0JoNtRTVuXubwvgvTsgNjc39cvzHNZgZ1L8I1ejhXWvKXqIH8eAbGhqRO74cv68WbStkgXNb6dJYNgMouF4YHZ2yKD1UfjDnwcRFxV9ZwBgUkpiZv4X3rFb-8ZiqZpn5Kj6lT150tGSHUcWLgKz52g4LKy5Hv6FuXeYkoxdy6jM1UKV0vga3Zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Bangor Maine","date","2025-04-10T22:42:01.637Z","article","The Parks, Recreation and Harbor Advisory Committee received an update on the special committee reviewing a feasibility study for a combined parks, recreation and ice arena facility and heard that the committee has added a fitness component to the project scope.

Marie Tulep, parks and recreation director, said the city-appointed special committee met April 10 to review the feasibility study and produce a final report for city council by July 10. The study envisions a combined building on Griffin Road with two ice sheets (one game sheet and one practice sheet), dedicated childcare and multi-use multigenerational rooms, a three-court gymnasium, and a separate building for park and school maintenance operations.

Tulep said committee members recommended adding a fitness component — common in comparable facilities and a potential revenue source to offset operations — to complement nonprofit and private-sector offerings rather than duplicate them. The combined approach, she said, could also free up current maintenance space that school staff now occupy at the high school.

Tulep said consultants developed a single plan that replaces both Sawyer Arena and the Park and Rec Center, which staff noted could have commercial value if the downtown properties are repurposed. She said longer-term decisions about existing buildings would depend on market interest and the condition of the facilities; the consultant found repurposing Sawyer Arena would require significant investment.

The special committee will continue its work, and Tulep said meetings are being livestreamed and that the committee will call on staff and stakeholders as needed. The advisory committee asked to be notified of future meeting dates so members can observe or participate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks, Recreation & Harbor Advisory Committee 4.10.25","oneSentenceSummary","A special committee convened to refine a feasibility study for a combined parks and recreation and ice arena facility recommended adding a fitness component and expects a final report to city council by July 10.","taxTitle","Bangor City, Penobscot County, Maine","taxId",2586,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6607324,"Committee to pilot pickleball lines on one tennis court amid concerns over competing uses",617,1581000,2198000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2953347-53464aacdca343d2608a4b5253c7af66&start=1581&end=2198","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2953347-53464aacdca343d2608a4b5253c7af66/thumbnail_1581000.jpg","/articles/6607324/Bangor-City/Penobscot-County/Maine/Committee-to-pilot-pickleball-lines-on-one-tennis-court-amid-concerns-over-competing-uses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607324-2909c2e1c01456596dcb05e34192483c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775265192&Signature=i4drhr36GcPncTDmSx0IpJmu4U8-OgG0LkFu4dbsky7j2QxHQT3LMNftujEe~DfnEwPufbZG6mDlDk9MrJY3pFY5p-yyg10v-n7udKDHxziNYKELODQEPcz3YM6T4c8CsWo53SnYd5vQeaXB9RuA6zqMU7-VOedyWSP3AiISQmi4PF35JkDH2O~CgTJylj7BaiVW3LXzrHstpC1utcuzkPOJncPoZtRtr1PlP6sJn0GL8wqTa1vLLJPEf6-Sh-2-0k5UzjuBOQ8a7QuFd~RYh8GcWZ9cgRfmrtH~6ZtIedfCgW5b3WLVGjN-3D1ySLetjztyQ4NJ16qKDG9TvjWrDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Parks, Recreation and Harbor Advisory Committee on April 10 discussed rising local demand for pickleball and directed staff to pilot adding pickleball lines to one tennis court at Little City Park and evaluate conflicts with tennis players before further action.

Marie Tulep, parks and recreation director, outlined the current inventory: three dedicated city pickleball courts at Williams Park, four dedicated pickleball courts at the high school, dual-use courts at Cohen School, and two lit city tennis courts at Hayford and two at Little City. \"We will continue unless there's strong sentiment here for us to try aligning…we'll try this at Little City, see how it goes, and monitor it,\" Tulep said.

Committee members expressed concern about balancing tennis players' needs — particularly a strong tennis program at Hayford Park — with growing pickleball interest. Suggestions included designating one court to remain tennis-only, establishing time blocks when tennis takes precedence, or testing shared lines in a way that can be easily removed. The committee supported starting conservatively: add lines to one tennis court at Little City and monitor use and potential conflicts before broader changes.

Tulep said past local experience showed neighbors accepted conversion where courts had been unused (Williams Park), and that staff could consider temporary striping or removable solutions to test demand without long-term commitment. The committee gave staff direction to pilot the change and report back on usage patterns and any complaints or operational issues.","After discussing the local growth of pickleball and existing court inventory, the advisory committee asked staff to pilot adding pickleball striping to one tennis court at Little City Park and monitor conflicts with tennis players before wider changes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6607329,"Committee agrees to develop a bench-naming program and draft policy for council review",847,722000,1569000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2953347-53464aacdca343d2608a4b5253c7af66&start=722&end=1569","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2953347-53464aacdca343d2608a4b5253c7af66/thumbnail_722000.jpg","/articles/6607329/Bangor-City/Penobscot-County/Maine/Committee-agrees-to-develop-a-bench-naming-program-and-draft-policy-for-council-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607329-8677de13b901b53bc5b893f7d4ca1103/orig.mp4?Expires=1775265192&Signature=ViTrSMt3DVNLjf8eUhiKhYfcj7Sp-v26l89AzLfHfhHwvltHFu29WZE8nLm~zQoX8xmJWeB0Z4DVm9EV4IcYXkjcQwkH0kLw9RG~nrwCVH0NU-iQsn5DTm2f3FkoheLEFmjW-ULH8-aVKOxBsAwACZ778MzquXYnqJrKBGSXRGFPf1bD~wiyxV9SgfNzWo~cJMERCBZ6SGZvCT0WBTnmuKAyQiRW6cu7tBqQHAjWY~hiJFSpM4c7MY~HN1vd6S5MBR~q-UVPaZKYkbHwUIC9eKyJe6uJP6d5zQJGX5DwRfM3KrWoiuwvxMOZs7hE13Kk-qbMdaBnYGkkpXu44f5xkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Parks, Recreation and Harbor Advisory Committee on April 10 directed staff to draft a formal program for memorial benches and other small commemorative donations (trees, bike racks, picnic tables), including an application process and fees tied to specific options, and to bring the draft for government operations and council approval.

Marie Tulep, parks and recreation director, told the committee that to date requests to place benches or memorial items have been handled informally, with donors sourcing and paying for items and staff assisting with location and installation. Tulep said the proposed program would offer a menu of vetted bench types and other options, establish a dedicated fund for memorial donations, and set time limits commonly used in other municipalities (examples cited included 5- and 10-year terms).

\"We would manage it much like our event permit policy,\" Tulep said. Committee members asked about eligibility and criteria for who may be memorialized; Tulep said the municipal examples she reviewed did not impose strict limits on who could be memorialized and that approvals would be at department and municipal discretion.

Committee members supported allowing alternatives to benches — such as tree plantings, bike racks or picnic tables — and suggested offering location constraints (for instance, larger picnic tables only in selected areas). Members also raised maintenance and longevity concerns and suggested a time-limited placement or renewal option and clear language about responsibility for replacing damaged plaques or items. Tulep cited an example policy that places replacement responsibility for stolen or vandalized plaques with the donor rather than the municipality.

Tulep said staff will draft a policy and options list, include vendor choices, and prepare the required approvals through government operations and city council. She said the intent of the program is to offset the cost of the donated amenity rather than serve as an ongoing fundraising mechanism.","City staff told the advisory committee the city will draft a formal bench/memorial program with options, fees and time-limited placements; the committee supported a menu of options and an application process that would go to government operations and city council for approval.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6607335,"Parks advisory committee backs recommending ‘Talbot Trail’ name for Stillwater connector",620,88000,708000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2953347-53464aacdca343d2608a4b5253c7af66&start=88&end=708","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2953347-53464aacdca343d2608a4b5253c7af66/thumbnail_88000.jpg","/articles/6607335/Bangor-City/Penobscot-County/Maine/Parks-advisory-committee-backs-recommending-Talbot-Trail-name-for-Stillwater-connector","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607335-30012544d8c78588603e33e69b473523/orig.mp4?Expires=1775265192&Signature=myaKuXRC-0CNXNA~Wu2Y6wAlXtTmM5W0-rJxsFKyXpYZsy5lBxeeygs2fuJMbXUTI~a0wjEunoU0Hz9jP4FH1KA4y6Ha6JTkEgp3Qe54EsQT9wlVt9P2WxEcmnxkrDG7qPIKKOaeoozks6ooQ2kdGZpzwV8lpGkBtQHPH~yA~uWZiUYhJM929c0T88UY2pM3cFEAk3Z1-j7KX0iJ9MfdUeS38noOF~gsEtG9l9mDY9i09nTMrBLj0C8DMaVdcGr0lYWhSYCjkVzDI09vcGviEoIfTdbie4vs3zXdq8rZ7uG7MYsihFAoa6-WVUiLEGfcW5rFzMoLN~lWFlHpaWxcBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bangor City Parks, Recreation and Harbor Advisory Committee on April 10 discussed recommending that the portion of a multi-use trail the city funded from behind Rangeley Hall to the sidewalk on Stillwater Avenue be named Talbot Trail in honor of Gerald Talbot.

Marie Tulep, parks and recreation director, said the segment under discussion is part of a larger set of connections identified in the 2008–09 Bangor Trails Report and noted the city received state multi-use trail funding to construct the portion that runs along the bottom of the northbound Stillwater off-ramp. “We’re hoping … if we can at least recommend to the family,” Tulep said, “we’ll move forward with that.”

The proposed connection begins at Cascade Park, passes through Saksal Park and the Eastern Maine Community College campus, crosses Mount Hope Avenue, and continues up Sylvan Road to the area behind Rangeley Hall before reaching Stillwater Avenue, committee members said. Committee members said the full continuous route is a longer-term vision dependent on multiple landowners and agencies, but that the grant-funded portion is entirely within city control and therefore eligible for a city naming recommendation.

Committee members discussed modest accompanying improvements such as small benches or a plaque to mark the designation. John Hyatt, committee member, and others raised respect for different uses of benches but agreed that a modest commemorative element could be appropriate. “It is a nice multi-use paved, walking trail that we keep open year round,” Tulep said, describing maintenance and winter plowing for the paved segment.

The committee did not take a formal, recorded vote during the discussion but indicated consensus to proceed with a recommendation to the Talbot family and to advance the naming as a staff recommendation to the council if the family supports it. Tulep said further outreach would include coordination with Eastern Maine Community College and state transportation changes related to upcoming DOT bridge work that may create opportunities for future pedestrian improvements.

The committee requested staff return with any required next steps for formal council action and suggested modest site improvements and interpretive signage as part of the recommended recognition.","The Bangor City Parks, Recreation and Harbor Advisory Committee agreed to move forward with a recommendation to the Talbot family and city council to name a recently funded multi-use connection the Talbot Trail, and discussed small amenities such as benches and signage to accompany the designation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Advisory committee hears update on combined parks, rec and ice arena feasibility study; fitness added to scope

Committee to pilot pickleball lines on one tennis court amid concerns over competing uses

Committee agrees to develop a bench-naming program and draft policy for council review

Parks advisory committee backs recommending ‘Talbot Trail’ name for Stillwater connector