YARMOUTH
           MAINE
parks, recreation &
Community Services

July is Parks & Recreation Month! For nearly 40 years, Parks & Recreation Month has been celebrated in July to promote building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of the local parks and recreation departments. In Yarmouth, we recognize the more than 85 full-time and part-time professionals - along with numerous volunteers - who maintain our town's parks, open spaces, trails, programs and special events! This year's theme "Where You Belong" identifies the many ways Yarmouth Parks, Recreation, and Community Services staff foster a sense of belonging in the community by providing and striving toward welcoming and inclusive programs, essential services for all ages and abilities, and safe, accessible spaces to build meaningful connections. Together, we demonstrate why these programs, events, and spaces are Where You Belong. Write us an email to let us know what we are doing well!

Click here to complete the 5-minute DOG PARK SURVEY Want to sign-up for the newsletter? E-Mail Mary: marywebber612@gmail.com Join us for the Public Mtg: March 11th-7pm-Town Hall See link to meeting post. See link to Map of proposal at Pratt's Brook Park. Email Karyn MacNeill to join the notification list. Dog Park Newsletter March 2019

Summer Job Opportunities 2023 Clipper Day Camp Jobs - Paid Positions 2023 Clipper Day Camp Group Leader Job Description 2023 Clipper Day Camp Counselor Job Description 2023 Summer Camp Job Application

Forms & Information General Forms Community Garden Rules for Renters YCS Adult Fee Waiver Applicatio n YCS Youth F ee Waiver Application YCS Payment Plan Policy & Form YCS Adult Waiver & Release Form K9 Rules Free & Reduced Meals For ms Employment & Payroll Forms W4 -Federal Form for Payroll Employees W4 -State Form for Payroll Employees I9 Form for Payroll Employees W9 Form for Contract Staff Instructor Invoice Form 1st Time Instructor Program Proposal Form Returning Instructor Program Proposal Form

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 Merrill Memorial Library Yarmouth Historical Society Freeport Community Programs Freeport Community Services 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

Family Valentine’s Dance TAKING A BREAK FOR 2026 POSSIBLY RETURNING 2027

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