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Gardiner & Augusta Partner for Riverfront Grant
Gardiner, ME, December 18, 2008 —Gardiner and Augusta’s waterfronts are about to receive a major financial boost! Maine’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) announced it will provide Gardiner and Augusta a $495,000 Riverfront Community Development Bond (RCDB) grant for the their Kennebec River waterfront projects.
“Gardiner is extremely excited to receive this funding and looks forward to completing its waterfront project in 2009,” states Gardiner Mayor Andrew MacLean. “This is a great opportunity to partner with the City of Augusta, on waterfront improvements, to help develop this region of the Kennebec River area to a real destination place.”
Gardiner and Augusta partnered on the RCDB grant application to better coordinate improvement efforts on their respective waterfronts. In Gardiner, $450,000 in RCDB grant funds will go towards completing the waterfront park, which includes extending the boardwalk, installing new lighting, parking and greenspace areas. Gardiner last made significant improvements to its waterfront park in 2006. With previous grant funding totaling over $850,000, and support from many funding state and federal agencies (including DECD, MaineDOT, Department of Conservation, Land for Maine’s Future, and others), the City built phase I of the project. Phase I included installation of over 525 linear feet of new timber boardwalk and railing over new shoreline-stabilizing timber crib sections.
In Augusta, $45,000 in RCDB funds will be targeted towards signage improvements. New signage will feature the Kennebec River’s cultural heritage. For example, Gardiner and Augusta will install new overlook signs similar to the Kennebec’s International Chaudiere Corridor design in Hallowell. With new interpretive signage, visitors will experience historical sites along the Kennebec all the way from Gardiner to Augusta. The timing of the grant announcement allows Gardiner and Augusta the opportunity to move forward with these improvements in 2009.
If interested in learning more about Gardiner’s project, and the Riverfront Bond Grant please click here or contact Jason Simcock at 207-582-6888, or email to econdev@gardinermaine.com.
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