YARMOUTH
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parks, recreation &
Community Services

Yarmouth Parks, Recreation & Community Services (YCS) provides resources to manage the town-owned trees and "street trees" throughout Yarmouth. The Town Tree Warden and YCS Director work to support community efforts surrounding the town's tree canopy. In addition to Town tree staff, a Town Council appointed Tree Advisory Committee (YTAC) meets the fourth Monday of each month at 12noon in the YCS Conference Room located at Yarmouth Town Hall, 200 Main Street. A Town Council working group, the Tree Ordinance Working Group , meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month on the 3rd Floor of the Merrill Memorial Library from 5:30-7pm. Currently, they are looking for your input and ideas on caring for our trees, now and in the future! Share your voice by taking their survey: bit.ly/yarmouthtrees Recommended Planting List A LIVING GIFT - coming soon! Request a tree for your yard AVAILABLE LINKS: It's CHECK YOUR TREES Month! Click to read more. YTAC May 2026 Newsletter Article - Native Trees & Arbor Day I want more info on Brown Tail Moth I'm interested in Emerald Ash Borer Info Click here for Tree Advisory Committee Info I have a question about a Town tree Tree Protection Guidelines CONTACTS: Scott Couture, Tree Warden Karyn MacNeill, YCS Director Yarmouth Tree Advisory Committee Michael Brandimarte Gro Flatebo Anne Herrick David Kitchen Susan Prescott Steve Ryan Lisa Small YTAC Minutes

YCS is pleased to announce the Spring & Summer 2026 Activity Guide is now available. VIEW PDF Activity Guide Online Registration begins Monday, March 2nd at 8:30 am Summer Camp Registration is online only! LINK TO REGISTRATION PAGE FOR YCS To see our current program offerings, please click the "register online" button: If you would like to donate to any of our programs, please click the "donate now" button. Donate to the following YCS programs: - YCS Scholarship Fund - Summer Lunch Crunch - West Side Trail - Yarmouth Community Garden -Yarmouth Farmers' Market -Yarmouth

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Browntail Moth Caterpillar Treatments to Begin in Yarmouth View the PDF slide show. For more information: Maine CDC Browntail moth factsheet (PDF) | عربي | Français (PDF) | Kreyòl Ayisyen (PDF) | Lingala (PDF) | Português (PDF) | Soomaali (PDF) | Español (PDF) | Tiếng Việt (PDF) Maine's Forest Service - KNOCK OUT BROWNTAIL by the Maine Dept of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry ABOUT BROWNTAIL MOTH Browntail Moth caterpillars proliferate throughout Maine. The insect feeds on the leaves of many common hardwood trees and shrubs in Town. It has tiny barbed hairs that can cause a skin rash and respiratory difficulties, which can last anywhere from a few hours to several weeks. The tiny hairs break off the caterpillars and are everywhere in infested areas; on trees, lawns, gardens, decks, picnic tables, and in the air. The hairs can remain toxic for up to three years. Wind or activities like mowing or leaf blowing can stir up the hairs and cause a reaction for months, even after the caterpillars become moths. In spring and as soon as the earliest leaf buds open, Browntail Moth caterpillars feed on the leaves of many hardwood trees and shrubs including Oak, apple, crabapple, cherry, hawthorn, shadbush, serviceberry, and rugosa rose. Infestations can cause reduced growth and branch dieback. After a couple of years at high population levels, Browntail Moth caterpillars can cause the trees and shrubs to die. The caterpillars then form filmy cocoons between leaves on trees, under eaves, picnic tables, and decks. Adult moths emerge from their cocoons in late July and fly to the tops of trees to remain over the winter months. In the next spring, the process begins again. STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO AVOID BROWNTAIL MOTH The Town of Yarmouth does not spray insecticides on private or public lands for any insects— including Ticks, Mosquitos, or Browntail Moth Caterpillars. So residents and visitors should take steps to protect themselves. Options include: ● Learn to identify the Browntail Moth caterpillar: it is dark brown with a broken white stripe on each side and two conspicuous red spots on the back. It typically grows to 1.5 inches in length. In July and August, the Browntail Moth has snow-white wings and a tuft of dark brown hair on the tip of the abdomen. ● Wear long sleeves, pants, hats, and gloves in affected areas. ● Wash clothes and body after leaving infected areas. ● If you are at risk of respiratory complications, please make additional considerations. ● Avoid leaf piles and areas that have not been raked or blown. ● Contact your physician if you have contracted a severe rash. ● Maine Forest Service: (207) 287-2431 ● Maine Board of Pesticides Control: (207) 287-2731

Arbor Day 2021 Arbor Day is Friday, May 21st Events are still TBD. Arbor Day Photo Gallery from long ago... ADay2015-012 ADay2015-003 ADay2015-017 ADay2015-016 ADay2015-018 ADay2015-015 ADay2015-013 ADay2015-014 ADay2015-010 ADay2015-011 ADay2015-012 ADay2015-009 ADay2015-008 ADay2015-007 ADay2015-006 ADay2015-005 ADay2015-004 ADay2015 ADay2015-002 ADay2015-001

Clipper Care Opportunities Town of Yarmouth Yarmouth Community Services YCS Clipper Care Jobs Job Descriptions: Clipper Care Substitute Counselor Click here to apply Interested applicants should send a letter of intent and resume to Mike Caron at YCS. Mike Caron Yarmouth Community Services 200 Main Street Yarmouth, ME. 04096 (207) 846-2406 mcaron@yarmouth.me.us The Town of Yarmouth is an EOE.

Community and Local Web Site Links Community Links Town of Yarmouth Yarmouth Schools Yarmouth Cares About Neighbors (YCAN) Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce Yarmouth Community Garden Yarmouth Clam Festival Yarmouth Farmers Market Merrill Memorial Library Yarmouth Historical Society Maine Recreation & Parks Association National Recreation & Parks Association QuitDay.org Caring.com Senior Living in Maine American Lung Association Metro Breeze Bus Service Medicalalert.org - Free Medical Alert Systems for Veterans Youth Links Yarmouth Football Association Yarmouth Colts (Soccer) Yarmouth Little League (softball 7 years & up, and Baseball ages 8 & up) Casco Bay Hockey Mad Science High Touch/High Tech Girl Scouts of Maine Boys Scouts of Maine Grand Slam Tennis

Orland H. Blake Skating Pond The Village Improvement Society Warming Hut For up-to-date pond status, please check the YCS Facebook Page When the pond is open, the hours are 7am-11pm. Lights will be on, as long as the pond is open for use.

Playgrounds Nan Jones Kimball "Shipyard" P layground Redesigned in 2004, this creative playground is for 5 to 12 year olds, however, equipment on the left (East) side of the playground is designed for younger children and equipment on the back middle and right (West) sides are designed for older children. In order to guarantee your chil d's safety, it is recommended that you go over the play structure and appropriate use with them. Children should NOT be left unattended at any playground piece. Located at 70 North Road, portable toilets are made available seasonally. Rowe School Playground Located at the Rowe Elementary School, 52 School Street, this playground is currently designed for K & 1st grade students. In the late-Spring/Summer of 2023 , a separated Pre-K playground was installed as well as the installation of an Inclusive Playground element within the K & 1st grade playground. One portable toilet is seasonally available near the tennis courts. *A reminder to the public: all school playgrounds are off limits to the general public during school hours and aftercare hours. Yarmouth Elementary School Playground Located at the Yarmouth Elementary School, 121 McCartney Street, this playground is currently designed for 2-4th grade students. In the late-Summer of 2023, a separate 5th Grade playground was installed as well as musical playground pieces within the current and new playgrounds. *A reminder to the public: all school playgrounds are off limits to the general public during school hours and aftercare hours . Harrison Middle School Play Area Located at the Harrison Middle School, 22 0 McCartney Street, this playground is currently designed for middle school aged students. A basketball court, 2 cement table tennis tables, and a rope element/climber are available at this location. *A reminder to the public: all school playgrounds are off limits to the general public during school hours and aftercare hours .

Athletic Fields Athletic Fields YHS Turf Field & Outdoor Track Located at Yarmouth High School (286 West Elm St.) this field serves as the home field for Yarmouth High School's Soccer, Football, Field Hockey, Lacrosse and Track teams. Michael Brown Softball Field Located on the Yarmouth High School campus at 286 West Elm Street, this field serves as the home field of the Yarmouth High School Softball team. Yarmouth High School Baseball Field Located on the Yarmouth High School campus at 286 West Elm Street, this field serves as the home field of the Yarmouth High School Baseball team. Bennett Baseball Field Located in front of the Rowe School at 52 School Street Winslow Field Complex Located across the street from Yarmouth Elementary School at 121 McCartney Street, these fields serve as the home field of the Yarmouth Middle School sports teams, YCS recreation fields and high school practice fields. North Road Baseball & Softball Fields 70 North Road Fields serve as the home of Yarmouth Little League. The following fields are located here: Heidi Tobiason Youth Softball Field Delorme Youth Baseball Field Kaulback Youth Baseball Field Please reload

West Side Trail information West Side Trail Map HELP US BRIDGE THE GAP $35,000 is needed to replace a Failing Bridge and Trail Dear Friends of the West Side Trail , We’re starting 2026 off with an urgent request to protect one of Yarmouth’s treasured community assets: the West Side Trail. We are currently more than half way towards our goal, but we must close the gap- ASAP! A rapidly failing stream bank has put a key section of the trail and bridge at risk of collapse and unless we act now, we may lose access to this beautiful corridor for an extended period of time. HERE'S THE SITUATION In 2023, our trail team noticed a crack forming down the center of the blue trail near the bridge just south of Gilman Road. What looked like a small issue has now become a serious threat. Over the last year, the streambank below the trail has eroded dramatically—carving out a 10-foot stretch of trail edge with a sudden 1—3-foot drop. The unstable soils are continuing to slump into the stream, and the bank is now compromised and may be too unstable to support the trail in a matter of 6 to 12 months. THE ROAD AHEAD Our engineering team reached a difficult but clear conclusion: this section of the streambank cannot be stabilized in a reliable, long-term way. The clay soils beneath the bank are simply too soft and too unstable. Continuing erosion could collapse the trail entirely and there is nowhere to relocate it as the other side of the trail is a steep embankment. The only safe, lasting solution is to build a new bridge that spans over the unstable area and connects to solid ground on both sides. This new bridge will: Span 85 feet over the eroding bank Be a safe 6 feet wide with railings Use helical piles anchored into stable soils Create a long-term, resilient crossing that protects the trail for decades to come Because stabilizing the streambank would require lengthy and expensive state and federal permits—delaying construction more than a year—we must pursue the bridge solution now. A new bridge is straightforward to permit and offers a permanent long-term solution. Waiting risks losing this section of the blue trail altogether. And timing is critical. Our contractor has a narrow window of availability this fall. If we can fund the project immediately, construction can begin between now and January 1st before winter storms accelerate erosion and make the trail unsafe or impassable. The total cost: $35,000. This covers the helical piles, bridge structure, railings, site preparation, and the removal of two diseased trees that currently threaten both the project area and nearby power lines. We are asking our trail users, neighbors, and community supporters to help us raise the full amount as quickly as possible so we can keep the West Side Trail open. The West Side Trail is part of what makes Yarmouth such a great place to live. It's used daily by walkers, trail runners, mountain bikers, dog owners, families, and visitors. Together, we can protect it. WILL YOU HELP US MEET THIS URGENT NEED? Your gift today will directly support the construction of the new bridge and ensure that the West Side Trail remains open for everyone who loves it. Thank you for caring about this special place. Sincerely, Dan Ostrye West Side Trail Coordinator A Trail Built by Community The West Side Trail exists because of the dedication of volunteers and the generosity of people who believe in accessible, safe, and beautiful outdoor spaces. Your support will help ensure that this treasured communlty resource remains open and safe for years to come. Thank you for being part of the West Side Trail community. DONATE TODAY It all started in the spring of 2024 when we noticed a small crack in the trail on the far side of the bridge. Cracks like this usually indicate one thing: slope failure, which is a significant concern. The stream erosion is located on the blue trail a few hundred yards from the upper Gilman Road trail crossing. The stream is also undercutting the bank opposite the slump, indicating that stream flows have changed. It is impossible to predict when and how the stream channel will shift in the next few years. But once we cleared the vegetation below the failure crack, we found that the bank had completely failed and slumped into the stream. Over the summer we undertook short term stabilization of the existing bridge. First by straightening the supports and re-leveling the bridge deck. Then, by installing pipe supports to carry the load until a permanent fix can be made. Bridge alignment looking south. There is ls about a foot and a half of elevation difference between the two ends of the bridge (but it looks like there's a lot more than that when you’re standing there).