Presque Isle's $7.9M community center reaping rewards

Courtesy / Harriman Designed by Harriman, the $7.9 million Sargent Family Community Center in Presque Isle is already having a big impact, attracting 7,570 users from the Aroostook city and 50 other communities in its first two months of operation.

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By Staff

The Sargent Family Community Center, which opened in October, has already had an impact in the Aroostook County city of Presque Isle.

According to the city, the center garnered 7,570 users over the first two months it was open. Three quarters of those that used the facility were Presque Isle residents, but the others came from some 50 other communities, according to a report by Chris Beaulieu, the city’s director of recreation and parks. The city has 9,402 residents.

“The center has been a fantastic addition to our community and has increased recreation participation of Presque Isle residents and surrounding area,” said Martin Puckett, city manager of Presque Isle, told Mainebiz.

The $7.9 million project was supported by a combination of public and private funding. The 30,000-square-foot community center is named for the family of trucking company owner Bruce Sargent, who donated $1.5 million to the project in 2014.

Harriman, a design and engineering firm with offices in Portland and Auburn, developed the master plan and was responsible for architecture, among other duties. Nickerson & O’Day Inc. of Bangor served as general contractor.