Wave features will span only half of the river, leaving river left (along the north river bank) open for tubing and other non-whitewater paddling, as well as fish passage.
At river parks in the western U.S., surfing has overtaken kayaking as the primary activity, with dozens of surfers standing in line to get on the wave. Our surf wave will enable us to take advantage of this trend and attract a variety of river users and surfing festivals to Skowhegan.
The Skowhegan River Park will feature the ONLY adjustable surf wave in the Northeastern U.S.
Beginners can start out on the river park with an inexpensive body or boogie board, making this sport accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status. Better yet—locals can borrow a bodyboard for free from Main Street Skowhegan’s growing gear library!
A river park and 50 miles of trails will attract recreation enthusiasts to visit and relocate to Skowhegan, bolstering our economy and our workforce. New businesses will open to meet new product and service demands, which will create more jobs and add to the tax base.
With features designed to perform at a wide range of flow levels, the park will provide reliable whitewater and offer an excellent setting for trainings and whitewater programming and events.
The downtown riverfront promenade that will offer striking views of the gorge and park activity. During festivals and competitions, the promenade will be a prime viewing location.
The promenade will be constructed along the edge of the gorge, encouraging downtown businesses to develop the back sides of their buildings and revitalizing Skowhegan’s historic riverfront.
The promenade will bring walkers, joggers, strollers, cyclists, food trucks, and others who want to enjoy river views within a stone’s throw of downtown amenities.
In addition to the river park, the recreation area will include an estimated 50 miles of trails—including double-track for walking and single-track for mountain biking—for four-season use, all accessible via downtown.