Orono Economic Development Corp. receives federal grant to renovate Taylor Bait Farm, create rec center
ORONO, Maine — The Maine Trails Advisory Committee of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forests recently awarded $120,000 to the Orono Economic Development Corp. to renovate the Taylor Bait Farm buildings in Orono and create a new, regional recreation center that ties together Orono and Bangor Land Trust trails.
The idea for the recreation center started forming in 2018 when the Taylor Bait business, lands and ponds — made up of 43 acres — in Orono were listed for sale, Bill Bass, treasurer for the OEDC, said..
Subsequently, the OEDC purchased the property. In 2019, the Orono Land Trust then obtained grant funding to purchase from OEDC, the ponds and adjacent lands to be conserved.
The vision of the OEDC was to build a community outdoor center that will allow hikers, bikers and skiers to easily access the diverse trail system existing in what’s known as the Caribou Bog Conservation Area, and to welcome all outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the Caribou Bog Trail Center with a newly renovated and warm building.
“Our goal from the beginning was to repurpose the building as a regional, four-season outdoor center. It is our hope that in 3-5 years, the Caribou Bog Trail Center will become a recreational, social, and economic asset for the Town of Orono and the greater Bangor community,” Bass said.
The award of a $120,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Recreational Trails Program is now the foundation for making that vision a reality.
A collaborative effort, the town of Orono and the University of Maine also played key roles in the acquisition of the grant.But Bass acknowledges there is still much work to be done.
“This is very exciting for all parties involved and brings with it the recognition of much work ahead,” he said.
The OEDC plans to launch a campaign for matching funds as well as solicit volunteers to work to prepare the buildings for renovation sometime this spring.