PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — By the end of the summer, area residents will be able to walk an additional mile as part of the current bike and walking path near Riverside Drive in Presque Isle.
The Presque Isle-based company Trombley Redi Mix will begin construction of the one-mile loop within the next few weeks, Recreation and Parks director Chris Beaulieu said.
The bike path, originally constructed in the 1980s, is 4 ½ miles and begins on North Street near the police and fire departments and moves past the splash pad and playground area of Riverside Drive before leading to Chapman Road and St. John Street.
The loop, which has been in development since winter 2019, will begin at the back entrance of the Sargent Family Community Center, cross the street and go around the Presque Isle District Court, cross Riverside Drive and past the playground areas and baseball field. The entire path ends after crossing Chapman Road near the community center.
Beaulieu announced that former Presque Isle resident and philanthropist Mary Smith has agreed to fund the entire $830,000 project, which will include planting around 200 trees near the bike path. The loop will be named Mary’s Mile in her honor.
“We discussed the loop last summer when Mary was visiting and agreed that it would be nice to have a path near the Riverside facilities so parents can walk or ride the loop while their kids participate in activities,” Beaulieu said.
Recreation and Parks hopes to hold a grand opening for Mary’s Mile after the loop’s completion and include Smith in the ceremonies.
“We’re really excited to add this type of path as part of our facilities,” Beaulieu said. “It will make the area around Riverside even more special.”
