Bangor committee recommends $68 million combined parks and rec facility on Griffin Road; council votes to draft ballot language

A special committee convened by the Bangor City Council recommended placing a $68,000,000 bond proposal on the November ballot to fund a combined Parks & Recreation facility on Griffin Road featuring two ice sheets, expanded childcare space, a fitness area, and multipurpose turf fields.

The recommendation follows a year-old feasibility study the committee reviewed and a series of biweekly meetings from April through July. Committee chair Erwin Schaefer presented the committee’s report and attachments at the July 28 council workshop. Director of Parks and Recreation Tracy Willett said the committee confirmed the feasibility study’s finding that the city’s existing facilities “are no longer adequate for long term use.”

The committee affirmed the Griffin Road site as the preferred location, citing its central location and proximity to Husson University. The report includes a letter of support from Husson; committee members told the council Husson could partner on educational and athletic programs. The proposed facility would not include aquatics, which the committee said would remain the Y’s focus; the new center would emphasize ice facilities, gym space, childcare, fitness, multigenerational rooms and maintenance consolidation.

City staff and committee members told councilors the project design prioritizes two ice sheets — one for games and one for practice and youth use — and that multipurpose synthetic turf fields were recommended to be included in the initial project phase rather than deferred. The committee also recommended adding a…