YARMOUTH
           MAINE
parks, recreation &
Community Services

UPDATES:  PARK IS CLOSED DURING CONSTRUCTION.

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Royal River Park Improvements Updates:

• July 7, 2026, UPDATE.  Infrastructure that is being installed:  Pathways, areas for concrete, lighting bases and wiring/conduit, culverts, stormwater management and drainage improvements.  The old cistern ped bridge is removed. Planting beds and landscaped areas are loamed, mulched, and ready for us to plant in the fall/spring.

• Week of June 1st:  Parking lot and Park are closed.  Construction has begun!  Please avoid all parts that are intentionally blocked for your safety.

  • Already as of June 3rd:  6 people decided to walk right through the barricades and through the park...please don't do this! ​

• Materials and Supplies will be arriving in May 2026.

• Week of May 18th: Parking lot closed upon the arrival of the heavy machines and equipment.

• Week of May 25th: Park shut-down.  Please remain out of Royal River Park in the areas of the construction which will be very clearly marked by orange construction fencing.

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Project Information

Royal River Park was created over a period of time in the 1970s & 1980s and funded by the Town and in part by a series of federal grants.  With a beautiful, paved path running the length of the park along the river and parallel to the heart of the village, Royal River Park is one of Yarmouth’s most beloved and well-used parks.  Most of this park is built on former industrial and mill sites.  Informational signage and exposed brick remnants give park guests a peek in time at the massive site that was once the Forest Paper Company. 

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Most recently, Royal River Park’s pathways were patched to maintain safe transportation and pedestrian opportunities and a small handicapped accessible parking area was created.  Despite these fixes, more upgrades are needed to improve safety.  

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The total cost of the renovation budget (park and courts) is estimated at $1,200,000.  Yarmouth Community Services department applied for a grant to help the park’s small budget go further while improving as much as possible in one complete project. The Town was awarded a matching Land and Water Conservation Fund grant of $452,000, available to municipalities specifically for these reasons.  TIFF budget amount was allocated to help with $265,000, $20,000 from the Village Improvement donation, $10,000 from donations to the Tree Fund, and finally $450,000 from the Capital Improvement Plan was accumulated over 8 years to finalize the rest of the project budget.

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In order to capture public input on this project, Yarmouth Community Services invited the public to participate in a survey and public meetings to view and comment on concept plans along the way. 

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Fast forward to Fall 2023-Fall 2025: we finalized the Design and Engineering needed to submit a Planning Department application, applied and received the town-issued permits related to development, and put the project out to bid! 

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The renovations began with 16 trees cut in March 2026, arrival of the various supplies and materials, and construction expected to begin by mid-to-late May 2026.  THE PARK WILL BE CLOSED DURING CONSTRUCTION and is expected to last until completion in September 2026!