Courtesy / Great Works Regional Land Trust
The town of North Berwick will receive $180,975 to acquire and develop 60.8 acres of property for recreation on Bauneg Beg Mountain South.
March 21, 2023
Parks in Yarmouth, North Berwick will share $500K in federal funding
Courtesy / Yarmouth Community Services
The town of Yarmouth will receive $361,830 to renovate and modernize Royal River Park.
Maine will receive $542,805 in federal funding to expand outdoor recreation opportunities at two sites.
The town of Yarmouth is receiving $361,830 to make significant renovations at Royal River Park, and the town of North Berwick is receiving $180,975 to create a recreation area at Bauneg Beg Mountain South.
Royal River Park
Yarmouth will receive $361,830 to renovate and modernize Royal River Park. The town will improve parking, add lighting, enhance landscaping, reroute walking paths for improved ADA access, upgrade a footbridge and renovate tennis courts at the park.
Royal River Park was created over a period of time in the 1970s and 1980s, funded by the town and in part by a series of federal grants, according to the Yarmouth Community Services department.
A paved path runs the length of the park along the river and parallel to the village. Most of the recreational area is built on former industrial and mill sites. Informational signage and exposed brick remnants give park guests a peek in time at the massive site that was once the Forest Paper Co.
More recently, Royal River Park’s pathways were repaved and patched to maintain safe transportation and pedestrian opportunities and a small handicapped accessible parking area was created. Despite the fixes, more upgrades were deemed necessary to improve safety.
Bauneg Beg Mountain South
The town of North Berwick will receive $180,975 to acquire and develop 60.8 acres of property for recreation on Bauneg Beg Mountain South. Upcoming projects include a gravel parking area, signage and informational kiosk and new trails.
The area lies on the northern tip of North Berwick, consisting of 89 wooded acres of trails, rock formations and a panoramic view, according to Great Works Regional Land Trust.
Bauneg Beg is an “elusive” mountain, seen only from a distance and in certain weather conditions. It has a few steep steps at the top, but is otherwise manageable for just about anyone and is considered an excellent family hiking spot in all seasons.
Bauneg Beg Mountain has three peaks, the highest of which is 866 feet – higher than Mt. Agamenticus. The peaks can be seen from the Atlantic Ocean and have been used by mariners navigating the Maine coast. The mountain is the only one in southern Maine that does not have a radio tower.
Great Works permanently conserved the property in 2001.
Trail work has mostly been done by local volunteers. In the spring of 2008, Great Works expanded the trail network in conjunction with the Maine Conservation Corps. Funding was provided by Kennebunk Savings Bank.
Land and Water Conservation Fund
The money for both projects comes from the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was reauthorized in the Great American Outdoors Act.
“This funding to expand outdoor recreation will help more Maine people get outside, live healthy lives, and enjoy the natural wonder that surrounds us all,” U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, said in a joint statement.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund was established in 1964 to support land conservation and urban parks. The program works in partnership with federal, state and local efforts to protect land in national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests, national trails and other public lands. The fund also preserves working forests and ranchlands; supports state and local parks and playgrounds; and preserves battlefields and other historic and cultural sites.
In August 2020, the Great American Outdoors Act, led by King, chair of the National Parks, and supported by Collins, was signed into law. The bipartisan legislation provides full, permanent funding, at no cost to taxpayers, for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and addresses the deferred maintenance backlog at national parks, national wildlife refuges, and national forest lands.
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