CONNOR TOWNSHIP, Maine – Residents in one of Aroostook County’s unorganized townships want to raise at least $100,000 within the next year to finally replace their community’s decades-old playground.
Connor Township had a population of 418 as of the 2020 U.S. Census, compared to 457 in 2010. Like most of The County’s smallest communities, Connor has limited financial resources and often finds itself coming together to give families more recreational options.
Last year, Stockholm, a town of 250 people, became the first town in Maine to build an inclusive playground after raising $200,000. Limestone has also been fundraising to update and expand its community park. The latter town’s population was 1,526 as of 2020.
In 1992, owners of the former Burger King restaurant in Caribou donated their former playground set to Connor. Located near Connor Consolidated School on Van Buren Road, the playground had become a community focal point, said Lacey Dubois, president of the all-volunteer Connor Parks & Recreation Department.
“People came from all over to use [the park] for birthday parties and to play there because it’s so quiet,” Dubois said.
Dubois said it is not known exactly how old the current playground is, but the equipment was installed in 1992, shortly after Burger King’s donation.
Playground use has become more sporadic since the pandemic, Dubois said. After initially closing in 2020, the park reopened the next year. But this spring, volunteers will close and remove all playground equipment due to age and increased safety concerns.
“It’s falling apart and the big set with slides and bridges has a hornet’s nest underneath,” Dubois said.
The 6-member Connor Parks & Recreation board has raised almost $20,000 since launching their efforts in 2022, but have a long way to go. The group estimates that new playground equipment will cost $70,000 and the groundwork at least $30,000, bringing the total to nearly $100,000.
So far all funds have come from community members donating at Connor Parks & Recreation’s annual fundraisers. Dubois is currently seeking potential grants and helping to organize the group’s next fundraiser, a spring dance at Caribou VFW Post 9389 in April.
Connor’s recreation board plans to work with the Brunswick-based Maine Recreation & Design to design and replace the park’s slides, teeter totters, climbing equipment and accessible swing sets.
“We would like to break ground next spring, but that will depend on what funds we get,” Dubois said.
The recreation board receives a small stipend from county government every year to pay for local outings, like swimming, bowling and roller skating, but all funds for the playground and park will come from donations and grants, Dubois noted.
In past years, Connor held a Family Fun Day and would like to reinstate that tradition after opening the new park.
“We want to see people use the space. It will be nice to see children playing there again,” Dubois said.
