Millinocket Recreation Areas

            Millinocket has had public playgrounds, ballparks and recreation areas since the early days. The Millinocket Tigers played at the field located in the fenced recreational area located between where Aroostook Avenue School would later be constructed and State Street (Armory area). It was all open area at that time.

            In 1920, the town opened a playground on the western edge of above-mentioned ballpark using $600 appropriated by the town to purchase apparatus. GNP laid out a cinder running track and built shelters. Miss Dolloff was hired as director of the playground. By 1926, two bathhouses were constructed on Millinocket Stream above the mouth of Little Smith Brook (Iron Bridge Rd.) in the area called The Pines. A swimming beach was created and a three-man committee was in charge.

            A Recreation Department with seven members was formed in 1943. One of its tasks was new playground formation during the next few years. By the 1970’s there were four (Iron Bridge Road, Little Italy, Hillcrest Development, Athletic Field). The beach at The Pines (Iron Bridge Rd. closed when the first swimming pool was constructed behind Millinocket Junior High School). The pool opened July 4, 1954. The Recreation Dept. took on the role of giving swimming lessons each summer.

            In the 1950’s another project was completed for local recreation activities. Still in use today, it was named “The Jerry Pond Project.” The project, located near the woodsy end of New Jersey Street in the Hillcrest Development, was begun in 1958 by the newly formed service club, the Kiwanis of Katahdin. One of the first steps in the project was to get a lease from GNP. The lease granted rights to the Millinocket Recreation Commission and gave permission “to cut a right-of- way and construct and maintain a road from the easterly end of new Jersey Street to Jerry Pond; also, to construct parking areas near the shore of Jerry Pond; build proper cement block, brick or stone fireplaces in the vicinity of the parking lots and improve the shore of the pond by creating a sand beach.”

            The Kiwanis Club members led the way in creating the site. The road, parking areas, fireplaces and picnic tables were constructed. Sand was hauled in and spread to create a small beach. Swing sets were later added. The area was named the Harold Clark Recreation Area after a Kiwanian charter member. The area was maintained by the Kiwanis until the group disbanded in 1983 and the town took over responsibility for the site. In 1991, a quitclaim deed was conveyed from Great Northern Nekoosa Corp. to “the inhabitants of Millinocket, the land known as the Jerry Pond Recreational Area, 500 X 800 feet.” More recently, the Jerry Pond site has had added a playground, sand volleyball court, fishing pier, canoe and kayak ramp, grills, picnic tables and changing rooms. The area is tree shaded. The access road is closed in winter and mud season.

            In 1989, Katahdin Pride Creative Playground (all wood) opened near the SHS complex. The fundraising and construction was done by volunteers. This was one of many playgrounds created statewide under the leadership of Robert Leathers. Schoolchildren collected over $3600 in pennies and local committees met, organized, did fundraising and gathered the needed materials. The playground was completed in Sept. 1989 and was enjoyed by many children (and adults) for several years until the elements took its toll on the creation. There is still a playground in that space, though very different in appearance and materials used!