YARMOUTH
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parks, recreation &
Community Services

Yarmouth Scavenger Hunt Information 33rd Annual Yarmouth by Starlight Scavenger Hunt This infamous competitive treasure hunt has become an annual spring-time ritual with many Yarmouth folks. Adult teams traveling in automobiles go from one clue site to another, competing only against the challenge of the course within a specific time limit. The hunt will take place at night; flashlights will be required and old clothes, shoes or boots are strongly recommended! Clues may be word puzzles, pictorial anagrams, complicated map readings or telephone book entries. The first challenge will be to find out where the next clue is hidden; the second challenge will be to go to the next clue site and find the next clue. Specific rules and guidelines will be issued at the start of the hunt. Refreshments will be provided at the end of the hunt. This has become one of our most popular annual events - SIGN UP PROMPTLY! Please Note: Due to the popularity of this program each person may register no more than one vehicle. Hunt Masters: Timi Carter & Mary Thorp Date: TBD 2021 Time: Arrive at Rowe School Gym by 7:00pm, ends around 11:00pm Ages: Adults (18+) only Location: Rowe, gym Fee: $45 per vehicle with 4 people; $15 for each additional person in vehicle Sorry, no senior discount available. Max: 22 cars hunt06_001 hunt06_002 hunt06_006 hunt06_019 hunt06_021 hunt06_020 hunt06_007 hunt06_005 hunt06_011 hunt06_009 hunt06_008 hunt06_016 Show More

Open Spaces Parks & Lands Committee's Work Th e Parks and Lands Committee has a new Open Space Guide - it's all digital and has some great links for you to learn about our individual properties. Get out and explore Yarmouth's beautiful and unique open spaces. CAMP SOCI MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT) A major goal of the Town’s Open Space Plan (2019) was to draft management plans for all the Town owned open spaces. Management plans serve as a useful tool to advise the Town on management and maintenance decisions within open spaces by: • Summarizing natural resources and recreational values of a property. • Summarizing current use, user conflicts, and existing deed or resource restrictions. • Offering guidance for stewardship and maintenance decisions. • Establishing guidelines for allowed and prohibited uses. The Parks & Lands Committee (PLC) has worked on planning and drafting of the management plan and reached a final draft of the plan to present to Council in October. The sub committee, made up of residents, abutters, PLC members, and YCS staff, hosted site visits, sub committee meetings, and a public meeting at the Town Hall. We ask that the Town Council review and endorse the work put into creating this Management Plan. We look forward to meeting and presenting the plan to the Town Council in October 2025. Comments regarding the plan may be sent to: Erik Donohoe, edonohoe@yarmouth.me.us Download your copy of the Yarmouth Open Space Plan A subcommittee of the PLC worked for many months to gather information, host public meetings, and, with the help of NORTHSTAR Planning, completed the town's first Open Space Plan in 2019. Properties Pages Barker Preserve Camp SOCI Sandy Point Beach Fels-Grove Farm Preserve Frank Knight Forest Tinker Preserve Riverfront Woods Preserve Grist Mill Park Pratt's Brook Park Royal River Park Sligo Road Property Spear Farm Estuary Preserve Sweetsir Farm Preserve

Frank KnightForest Frank Knight Forest 618 East Main Street The Yarmouth Community Garden on East Main Street is the entryway into this wonderful 75-acre property which features several open meadows, mature woods with large pines and steep-sided, hemlock-draped ravines. This is a great place to explore a wide diversity of habitats. Trails Two trailheads start from the Community Garden; the main trail extends north from the garden’s central lane and a second heads into the woods from the back of the Renters’ Garden on the left of the entry lane. Both head into young and mature woods, around wetlands, ending up in the first of two lovely meadows. This first larger meadow has a cluster of red maples with a stone bench dedicated to the park’s first volunteer steward, Annie Simpson. Beyond this field trails extend in three directions, looping roughly 3 more miles through a second meadow, and some mixed pine woods, past glacial erratics and ancient hemlock, stately oak and spruce trees. There are several spur trails one of which slopes down a narrow ridge to one of the many tributary streams of Pratt’s Brook. Another spur heads north to the PanAm/Amtrak rail line, where currently there is no legal access. Thanks to numerous volunteers, several small bridges now keep users’ feet (and paws) mud free, and a number of small wooden signs point the way. This trail system is still undergoing improvement, so consider carrying this map with you until you become familiar with the land. Please also respect the neighbor’s No Trespassing signs, as the dirt road leading back to the railroad tracks may not be accessed from the Frank Knight Forest trail system. Directions Take East Main Street heading northeast. From the North Road intersection, the entrance is about 0.8 mile on the left just past the Community Garden sign. Park by the kiosk at the Community Garden. Special Notes Hunting is allowed on this property by permit from Town Hall. Please use caution and wear blaze orange during hunting season. Be alert when near the railway, passenger service has been restored on this line, with increased traffic and operating speed. Dogs are allowed on leash only on a well-marked segment of the Frank's Loop trail. Otherwise, CHAPTER 309 in the Town Code requires all dog owners to follow the Animal Control Ordinance. Trail Map Click for larger view Frank Knight Forest Management Plan Approved 11.16.2023 Back to Open Space Page

Volunteer Coaching Opportunities Yarmouth Community Services uses volunteer coaches for the following youth sports programs: Soccer Basketball Lacrosse Baseball Ramblers Running Club Nordic Skiing Interested in becoming a YCS youth sports volunteer coach? Just fill out the volunteer coaches application below. Questions may be directed to Katriana Thebarge at 846-2406 Coaches Application Coaches Application PDF

Rentals Canoes To reserve a canoe, please contact YCS at 846-2406 during business hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Rental Fees Daily: $10 Weekend: $20 Rental Includes: Paddles & Life Jackets Snow Shoes To reserve snowshoes, please contact YCS at 846-2406 during business hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Rental Fees Daily: $5 Weekend: $10 *Cash or Check payment only Rental Details: Youth & Adult Sizes Available Cornhole Boards To reserve a set of Cornhole Boards, please contact YCS at 846-2406 during business hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Rental Fees Daily: $10 Weekend: $20 *Cash or Check payment only Rental Includes: 2 Boards, 8 Bean bags & 1 Carrying case

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Sligo Road Property Silgo Road Property 179 Silgo Road The nearly 35-acre Sligo Road parcel consists of old fields with a mix of juniper and white pine, and some lovely floodplain forest along the Royal River. A section next to the PanAm Railway track was conveyed to the Yarmouth Water District for their new headquarters, in exchange for what is now the Yarmouth History Center. The Town retained pedestrian access to the rear of the Water District parcel along the river bank. A trail takes you from the parking area to the river bank, and an unimproved trail extends through a beautiful forest along the river’s natural levee. To the north the trail fades into a shrubby and forested wetland by the power lines. Possible future developments include an improved hand carry boat launch and athletic fields. There is rewarding river scenery both up and downstream for canoeists and kayakers. This property is a great place for birding in the shrub lands of the open fields and along the river banks. Also look for animal tracks such as otter and beaver along muddy banks and after winter snows. Back to Open Space Page Directions Head north on Main Street (Route 115) past the East Elm Street traffic light, turn right on Sligo Road. Go 0.4 mile to the Water District just beyond the railroad crossing. Park in the stub-ended turnaround to the left of the YWD parking lot. There is space for 2-3 cars. Special Notes Hunting is allowed on this property by permit from Town Hall. Please wear blaze orange during hunting season 356874-R4-21-3A sligo_tour_thumb 356874-R4-14-10A 356874-R4-19-5A 356874-R4-15-9A 356874-R4-18-6A

Fels-Groves Farm Preserve Fels-Groves Farm Preserve Gilmain Road This 55-acre preserve of mature woods and scenic open fields flanks both sides of Gilman Road. Wildlife is abundant, including large and small mammals and a variety of birds. Foot trails in the southern parcel offer year-round use, and the entire Preserve is accessible with snowshoes in winter. Directions From the Village take Gilman Road towards Cousins Island. The fields of Fels-Groves Farm open up within a quarter mile on both sides of Gilman Road. Park in the parking lot on the right just past the treeline. The property consists of 25 acres of fields and 30 acres of woodlands. Beyond the fields are steep ravines that drain south to the upper Broad Cove estuary and north to the Royal River. The southern parcel’s rear boundary is the CMP power line, the location of the new West Side Trail. Meadows of grasses, ferns and wildflowers border the road and are mowed annually to prevent them from turning into woodlands, with paths in the field mowed more often. A small woodlot west of the parking lot along Gilman Road has a handicapped accessible loop trail. The mature mixed-wood forest southeast of the fields contains a small stream and ravine amid a younger forest of black cherry, paper birch and numerous shrubs. The forest east of the ravine has stately, large red oaks. The ravine extends south to the upper reaches of Pittee Creek and the Broad Cove estuary. There are loop trails around both the open fields and the woods. The West Side Trail Connector, running along the west edge of the field from the parking lot, is the only trail segment upon which mountain bikes are permitted. The northern parcel (adjoining the privately owned historic brick farmhouse) has grassy pastures that slope gently to a series of steep ravines that drain north to Whitcomb’s Creek, a brackish tidal tributary to the Royal River. The ravines are forested with hemlock, American beech, red oak, red maple and white ash. The northern parcel has no developed trails at present, and is best explored in winter using snowshoes. Be mindful of the neighbors’ privacy. Aerial view of Fels-Groves Back to Open Space Page

Sandy Point Beach Sandy Point Beach Counsins Street Coming Soon... Back to Open Space Page

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

Maine Backyard Campout July 12 - 14, 2024 The Maine Recreation and Park Association along with parks and recreation departments throughout the State are participating in the 5th Annual Maine Backyard Campout. Join Yarmouth Community Services and many other Yarmouth residents who are camping out in their backyard this weekend to kick off a fun start to Summer! This event is held in conjunction with National Parks and Recreation Month each July. So pitch a tent or a tarp outdoors or create an indoor camping area and let the fun begin. TIPS AND IDEAS Beginner’s Guide to Backyard Camping Backyard Camping Checklist 25 Backyard Camping Ideas That'll Make You Feel Like You're in the Great Outdoors 35 Easy Camping Recipes for Your Trip to the Great Outdoors The Ultimate Guide for Backyard Camping with your Kids How to Plan a Memorable Backyard Camping Trip 10 Backyard Camping Ideas Smokey Bear's Campfire Safety A No Fire Campfire Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt Play Games (Glow Stick Ring Toss, Flashlight Tag, Cornhole, Lawn Games, Ghost in the Graveyard, Backyard Treasure (hunt looking for smore ingredients) Decorate Your Campsite/Tent Make A Sign with Your Campsite Name Cook Your Meals Outside Dig out those glow sticks, sparklers, flash lights and lanterns. Storytelling Around the Camp Fire Have a sing-a-long More Than Smores - other campfire desserts Watch a Camp Themed Movie Outdoors Stargazing Arts & Crafts Happy Camping! Be safe and have fun!