Bangor parks panel weighs basketball court at Little City Park, hears Cascade Park fountain still broken

The Bangor Parks, Recreation and Harbor Advisory Committee met September 10 to discuss improvements at Little City Park, an update on Mansfield Stadium's recent dual naming honoring Sean Mansfield and Ronald St. Pierre, and a review of summer and fall recreation programming. The committee also heard that Cascade Park's pool and fountain remain out of service due to unresolved leaks, and Councilor Susan Faloon raised the status of a potential recreation center project.

Key points

• Staff plan short-term repairs to cracking tennis courts at Little City Park and Hayford Park, with resurfacing quotes to follow; pickleball lines will not be added to Little City courts for now given other nearby pickleball options.
• The committee gave informal support for developing a concept to add a half basketball court at Little City Park by relocating an aging swing set closer to the existing play structure; staff will bring a design concept back next month.
• Mansfield Stadium's field was formally renamed Ronald J. St. Pierre Field at Mansfield Stadium by council order this summer, honoring longtime manager Ron St. Pierre, who died shortly after the naming was approved; the stadium itself remains named for Sean T. Mansfield.
• Recreation Coordinator Chelsea Smith reported strong growth in summer programs, including T-ball (7 participants in 2025 to 71 in 2026), adult softball (548 participants), Bangor Blast summer camp (254 kids), and new offerings such as adult kickball, summer cheer camp, and guided hikes; facility scheduling, especially at the Union Street Athletic Complex, remains a major challenge.
• Staff said Cascade Park's pool and fountain were not operated at all this summer due to significant water loss from suspected leaks in aging plumbing and pumps; an engineering estimate for mechanical repairs is being developed, with cost and timeline still undetermined.
• Councilor Susan Faloon asked for an update on the stalled recreation center project; Director Tracy Willett said staff would prepare a workshop update for council in October, noting that new grant funding is difficult to secure without a confirmed path forward for the project.

Next steps

• Staff to develop and present a concept/sketch for relocating the Little City Park swing set and adding a half basketball court at next month's meeting.
• Staff to seek contractor quotes for resurfacing tennis courts at Little City and Hayford parks.
• Engineering department to continue developing cost estimates and a repair plan for Cascade Park's pool, plumbing and fountain.
• Staff to prepare an update on the proposed recreation center for a council workshop in October.
• Committee to reconvene on October 8 (second Thursday of the month).

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