Skowhegan’s riverfront is getting an upgrade! First conceptualized in 1999 as part of the Town's Riverfront Renaissance Plan, the New Balance Foundation Boardwalk is finally becoming reality. Construction of the boardwalk will begin in June 2026, marking the first phase of a riverfront boardwalk that will reconnect Skowhegan's commercial district to the Kennebec River.

In 2026, the New Balance Foundation made a transformational $1 million investment in the Skowhegan River Park, one of the largest philanthropic commitments in the project's history. To honor this support, the Foundation's name will be featured on both the New Balance Foundation Boardwalk and the New Balance Foundation Basecamp Gear Library. The gift reflects a shared belief in the River Park's potential to reconnect people to the Kennebec River, expand access to outdoor recreation, and create lasting community benefit for generations to come.

Funding for Phase 1 was made possible through a combination of public and private investments, including a $2 million federal Community Project Funding grant championed by Senator Susan Collins and Senator Angus King, along with a $334,000 contribution from the Expedia Trail Fund, stewarded through Main Street Skowhegan's partnership with The Conservation Fund.

The boardwalk will serve as civic infrastructure, providing community green space, river overlooks, and an ADA-compliant walkway that links downtown to the river’s edge and strengthens connections between residents, visitors, and locally owned shops and restaurants. It will also serve as the primary viewing location for the future whitewater park, which will host river surfing and kayaking competitions and festivals. 

Skowhegan River Park Vision

The boardwalk is one of two signature infrastructure investments in the Skowhegan River Park, alongside a planned whitewater park featuring the Northeast’s first adjustable wave for river surfing and kayaking. Together, they position central Maine as the state’s outdoor recreation hub, projected to generate $16.6 million in annual economic impact and support 137 permanent jobs.

The full vision for the river park includes improved trail accessibility in the river-adjacent Philbrick Woods, as well as free outdoor rec and paddling programming and gear via Main Street Skowhegan's Skowhegan Outdoors AmeriCorps Program and the Basecamp Gear Library. 

Boardwalk Phase 1: Under Construction June 2026

Once complete, the ADA-compliant, 41,000 square-foot boardwalk will run approximately two-tenths of a mile from the Old Mill Pub (39 Water Street) to the Municipal Building (225 Water Street). For more info, checkout our Boardwalk FAQ.

Built from regionally sourced northern white cedar, the boardwalk is being constructed in multiple phases:

• Phase 1 — 4,187 square feet, fully funded. Riverfront behind 101 Water Street (Key Appliance) and 105 Water Street (ZAAP Thai). Construction begins June 2026, with substantial completion targeted for December 2026.
• Phase 2 — 7,235 square feet, fully funded. Riverfront behind 151 Water Street (Unwined/Thrifty Chic) and 181 Water Street (The SPACE on the River). Construction scheduled to begin Spring 2027.
• Phase 3 — TBD; fundraising
• Whitewater Park Phase 1 — Adjustable river surf/kayak wave in the Skowhegan gorge, fundraising underway. 

The rendering below depicts Phase 1: