rDRAFT RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE POLICIES12/16/11

State Goal for Recreation and Open Space: Promote and protect the availability of outdoor recreation opportunities including access to surface waters.

Local Goal for Recreation and Open Space: Improve existing recreation facilities and expand opportunities for all forms of recreation to benefit residents and as a tool to attract visitors, new residents and to enhance the local economy.

Summary: Fort Kent’s public recreation facilities and parks were developed over a period of decades to meet the needs and interests of residents. Extensive progress has been made over the past 10-15 years. Funding came from local tax dollars, private donations and well established grant programs like the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Maine Department of Conservation’s Recreational Trails Program and other programs. The Recreation Department has two full-time staff that include a Director and maintenance person and 30 seasonal staff that work during multiple 8 week program periods. A small army of volunteers also lends support. Three-quarters of the department’s annual budget goes toward staffing and related expenses including insurances and Federal and State taxes. All revenue collected by the Recreation Department goes to off-set funds from property taxes. In 2010 this amount totaled $24,815. The Recreation Department’s diverse programming is geared toward pre-teens and runs year-round. Dozens of activities are offered. Grades 7-12 and adults are served through MSAD#27’s athletic and adult education programs. The local population and surrounding communities are well served by the Town’s facilities and programs.

Fort Kent’s potential to expand its recreation facilities and programs are limited by the town’s fiscal capacity and the interest of local entrepreneurs to develop new recreation types of businesses. All facilities require regular maintenance and older ones require modernization. Several years of relatively flat funding has made it difficult to keep up with rising insurance, operation and maintenance costs. The department has only been able to accumulate 5% or less annually in surplus that goes to a reserve fund for capital improvements and it takes years to have any significant impact. New facilities are very expensive to build and ultimately expensive to staff, operate and maintain. Capital improvements are needed at some facilities and include playground equipment, lighting and expanded parking. The family skating and youth hockey programs are at risk due to warmer winters and an uncovered rink. Residential neighborhoods on the East side of town do not have safe, convenient access to playground facilities. Teens with no interest in extra-curricular activities still need options for entertainment and constructive time. A community center and programming could support their interests. A public/private collaborative approach to meeting these needs is a viable approach.

Open space and trail networks are everywhere in and around Fort Kent. Responsibility for local trail maintenance and upgrades is shared between the Recreation Department, ATV, snowmobile and X-country ski clubs and the Can Am Crown Sled Dog Race organization. The 10th Mountain organization has developed the region as a world class Biathalon venue and maintains a lodge and trail network in Fort Kent. The Maine Department of Conservation (DOC) provides annual grant support to many clubs for trail improvements and maintenance. The downhill ski area and golf course are also maintained by private clubs. Trail users and volunteers make a significant contribution to trail upkeep through their club support. Private landowners are generally supportive of trails and clubs do an excellent job of responding to concerns and showing appreciation. All clubs have written landowner permission for trails. Most trails have adequate access, signage and bridges/culverts, but parking at trail heads is a needed improvement. ATV access on the East side of town could be improved. The ATV club plans to work with the DOC in the future on a trailside shelter near the Fort Kent/St. John town line. Trailside picnic areas and shelters are needed in other locations as well. Visiting ATV users are allowed to park trailers at Lonesome Pine by permission but other locations need to be developed. There is some concern regarding pedestrian safety on the multi-use trails and a dedicated pedestrian trail should be explored. The Farm and Forest and Natural Resources sections of the comprehensive plan discusses the Town’s public open space and identifies policy and strategies for using and expanding publically owned open space presently comprising 228 acres in seven parcels. The Recreation Department is looking for athletic field space close to the town center. The suitability of existing open space should be evaluated for this use. Amendments to local zoning and subdivision ordinances could help create more open space to address identified needs.

Public access to waters is limited in Fort Kent but again, private landowners have been supportive of the use of their property for access. The public boat landings at Black Lake and St. John-Riverside Park are well used and extremely valuable. The Fort Kent Muskie Derby has been experiencing steady growth and would benefit from increased access to the St. John. Access to the St. John and Fish Rivers is underserved given the 10 + miles of each river that flows through Town. Greater access for canoeists and kayakers would be most appropriate for the Fish River. There is undeveloped public access to the Fish River at Jalbert Park. There is developed and undeveloped private access to the Fish River on both shores below Fish River Falls. Private, undeveloped access to the St. John River in lower Fort Kent exists in at least one location (Thibeault Flats) that may be suitable for a second public boat landing. Access to the St. John upriver of the new international bridge should also be explored as low water conditions limit navigation above the bridge. The area known as the ledges, the old Freeman trailer park site and Dempsey Curve are possible locations for a future boat landing and/or a seaplane base. The only access to Marcum Pond is likely by a primitive trail. Given the remote location and adjacent wetlands this type of access is most suitable. Basil Pond is a popular fishing spot with private, undeveloped boat access. This has potential for improved access and landowners may be willing to discuss an easement or sale.

POLICY

1. Maintain and upgrade existing recreational facilities and Parks as necessary to meet present and future needs.

Strategies

1. Continue to budget for building repairs and maintenance and transfer budgetary surplus to recreation reserve for capital improvements.
2. Create one new recreation staff position with a focus on new programming.
3. Expand the Park and public trail “adoption” program to the local scouting organizations, University environmental clubs, and all other clubs, groups and civic organizations to support maintenance and beautification of these assets.
4. Continue to request capital improvement funds in the annual recreation budget to be used as matching funds for capital improvement grants.
5. Include the following projects in the Capital Investment Plan and future grant requests; Exterior lighting replacement at all facilities, expanded/improved parking, East Side playground project; tennis court expansion, athletic field development, SAD #27 playground, pool reconstruction and filtering system.
6. Support and seek grant funding for feasibility studies of a teen center, skating rink cover and hosting of sporting events and share results with private business interests and civic groups.
7. Continue the local hockey program through an arena rental program with St. Francois, NB and/or Madawaska.
8. Seek the input and support of the 10th Mountain organization in the development of new sporting events.
9. Facilitate the reestablishment of the old armory shooting range and the local fish and game clubs by cooperating with UMFK, local law enforcement and sporting enthusiasts.

POLICY

2. Implement recreation programming that fills service gaps and that is complimentary and collaborative with MSAD#27, UMFK and other communities.

Strategies

1. Maintain recreational programming to meet present interests and needs of pre-K through grade six.
2. Support athletic and sports programs that create greater opportunity for participation in grades 7-12.
3. Continue to seek public/private grant funds for programs that support the needs and interests of all youth.
4. Form partnerships that help develop programs for teens that do not presently participate and that help deter risky, inappropriate or unproductive behavior.
5. Continue to develop programming to meet the 17-21 year old age group and older adults through the adult education program.

POLICY

3. Maintain, expand and improve walking and recreational trail systems and open space as an asset to the community and in support of economic development, private businesses and recreation organizations.

Strategies

1. Continue to seek grant funding and to raise private matching funds for parking including trailers and service facilities at trailheads.
2. Study feasibility of ATV trailer parking and trail access at Riverside Park to Cannan Street.
3. Raise funds through grants, club fundraisers and private donations for the development of shelters that serve all trail systems.
4. Participate in the new Maine ATV interconnecting trail system (MATS) and support its growth.
5. Continue to contact landowners at least once annually for appreciation and recognition.
6. Continue to be responsive to trail neighbor and owner concerns regarding noise, dust and other issues.
7. Through the local clubs, implement an annual landowner awareness program to educate existing and perspective trail landowners on Open Space tax incentives and liability insurance protection available to them.
8. Research and plan the Fish River Green Belt as a linear park/trail network for pedestrians and biking.
9. Support the expansion, mapping and event development of the 10th Mountain/Lonesome Pine mountain bike trail system.
10. Study proposed amendments to local zoning and subdivision ordinances that require and establish standards for open space.
11. See also Agriculture/Forest Resources Policy/Strategies 4. a,b,c.

POLICY

4. Maintain, expand and improve recreational access to waters as an asset to the community and in support of economic development.

Strategies

1. Continue to budget for maintenance and apply for grants for capital improvements at the Riverside Park Boat Landing.
2. Work with interested groups, landowners and the University to map all known access points to waters including public (secure) and private (unsecure) locations utilizing SJV Partnerships GPS data.
3. Develop a collaborative effort on access to waters involving local clubs, civic organizations, the Upper St. John Land Trust, Dept. of Conservation, US Fish and Wildlife Service and local government.
4. Seek to develop two new boat landings on the St. John River in upper and lower Fort Kent by identifying potential sites, soliciting landowner interest and identifying potential funding sources.
5. Target river segments along the St. John for clean-up to enhance aesthetic quality and implement clean-up effort.
6. Seek Americorp, USDA, EPA and other funding for the development of a youth program that focuses on activities to enhance local environmental quality.
7. Initiate a dialog with landowners at Basil Pond to determine their support for an easement or acquisition of land for a boat landing. Seek funding if support exists.
8. Improve canoe/kayak access to the Fish River at Jalbert Park and support an easement or fee acquisition for access at the Fish River Falls.
9. Support access to Marcum Pond as a private, unimproved access with landowner consent based on its wild nature and habitat values