New public park being constructed in Vassalboro

Eagle Park as it looks today. (photo by Laura Jones)

by Laura Jones

The Town of Vassalboro is excited to announce a new park, tentatively name Eagle Park, is being developed on Rt 32 in East Vassalboro, just north of the village area. The park will include beautiful frontage on the China Lake outlet stream where Eagles and other wildlife can be viewed regularly. Once complete, there will be a parking lot, lawn area for playing and picnicking, as well as native trees and shrubs. To kickstart the parks installation, the Conservation Commission applied for, and was awarded a grant of $3,200.00 through the Project Canopy program for the “Restoration of this newly acquired park from invasive plants and replanting with native shade trees.” The Project Canopy Program is managed by the State of Maine Department of Agriculture.

Public works crew creating a parking lot. (photo by Laura Jones)

Eight Sugar Maples (Acer saccharum) were purchased with the grant funds. The Vassalboro Conservation Committee is coordinating on the project with Vassalboro Public Works department, Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG) and Youth Conservation Corp (YCC). The Vassalboro Public Works department has completed the necessary grading and fill work to establish the parking lot. Future work to complete the park will be accomplished over the coming months.

Volunteers planting more trees. (photo by Laura Jones)