Bangor special committee backs Griffin Road site in early feasibility review for consolidated parks and recreation facility

Bangor City’s newly formed special committee on a consolidated parks and recreation facility met for the first time to review a consultant feasibility study and to set next steps, including validating construction and operating cost estimates and returning formal recommendations to the City Council by July 10.

The committee discussed a concept developed by consultant Barry Dunn and an architectural partner (CHA) that recommends replacing the city’s existing recreation center and Sawyer Ice Arena with a consolidated facility on a city‑owned parcel on Griffin Road. Tracy Ouellette, a parks and recreation staff member leading the presentation, said Griffin Road was chosen because “the topography itself ... it’s essentially the middle of the city,” and because the site offers space for future phases and shared access to nearby uses and transit.

Why this matters: Committee members described the current facilities as aging and space‑constrained. The study’s concept aims to provide two sheets of ice, a three‑court gymnasium with multiuse flexible space, a dedicated childcare area, administrative offices, and a combined school/parks maintenance block to share…