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 equipment and storage. Members said the plan is intended to replace, not merely expand, existing capacity but leave room for outdoor fields, courts and other additions in later phases.

Committee members pressed for follow‑up work before the July council report. The group directed staff to verify the feasibility study’s square‑foot cost assumptions, explore adding a fitness component, and seek more detailed site information such as geotechnical data and renderings. Ouellette told the group the consultant provided construction and operating cost estimates and staffing projections and that CHA and Barry Dunn remain available for follow‑up questions.

Participants raised several practical concerns. Committee member Mike Furl, a Bangor resident, urged an indoor walking track to serve older residents, saying the lack of indoor walking options forces about “70 people from Bangor” to drive to a neighboring community for that amenity. Construction contractor John DeSantis and others flagged the study’s per‑square‑foot estimates as low compared with recent local projects; committee members asked staff to validate whether the concept’s use of pre‑engineered steel and the consultant’s cost assumptions remain realistic in current market conditions.

Members also discussed site logistics and connectivity. The group noted Griffin Road provides a flat, central site with room for phased outdoor amenities and proximity to transit (the Community Connector stops near the site). Husson University representatives suggested the project could support a planned ADA‑compliant trail and strengthen a connection between the high school, the new facility and nearby campuses.

Facility scope questions were clarified during the meeting. Ouellette said the study intentionally excluded aquatics because local YMCA providers are planning pools; the concept likewise did not initially include a fitness center but committee members asked staff to model alternatives that add fitness space. The proposal includes a separate childcare entry and circulation to address security and drop‑off needs; Ouellette said the design concept already anticipates a single public entry and a separate childcare entrance.

Committee timing and next steps: The committee is charged to refine estimates, identify potential grants and sponsorships, evaluate site constraints (including a requested geotechnical review), and return a written report and recommendations to the City Council by July 10. Staff said they will request block diagrams and, if helpful, renderings to help the public visualize the project ahead of any financing decisions.

What was not decided: The committee did not vote on demolishing or repurposing existing facilities such as Sawyer Ice Arena or the main recreation building. Ouellette and other members said those decisions would come later once cost, phasing and financing are clearer. The committee also did not adopt a final design, construction method or procurement approach; members asked staff to compare conventional construction and pre‑engineered options and to include life‑cycle and maintenance considerations in cost validation work.

The meeting closed with the chair reiterating the committee’s charge and the schedule for follow‑up: staff will return with refined pricing, recommendations about adding fitness and childcare details, and options for visualizations and geotechnical data before the next meeting. The committee set an internal goal to complete its report for the City Council by the July 10 deadline.