Project Overview
$5.9M National Coastal Resilience Grant Recipient
• 1,391 to 995 Town Election Approval
Managed by the Camden Public Library Board of Trustees, the Working Group for design review consists of the Town manager, a technical team including InterFluve, Tandem, and Richardson and Associates, and representatives of the Megunticook River Citizens Advisory Committee and Downeast Salmon Federation. Members of the library staff serve in an advisory role.
The Camden Harbor Park Revitalization Project will remove the aging dam at the mouth of the Megunticook River, restoring a free-flowing waterway that supports native wildlife and enhances the resilience of our historic landscape. This nature-based approach was selected by the majority of voters as the most cost-effective and ecologically sound solution, ensuring the long-term health of the river and Harbor Park.
Harbor Park was originally designed by Olmsted Brothers and gifted to the Town by Mary Louise Curtis Bok in the 1930s. As stipulated in the deed, the Camden Public Library Trustees oversee Harbor Park. As charged by the voters, they will ensure that the final design remains faithful to the original Olmsted vision and the park's National Register of Historic Places listing.
Project Timeline
Q3 2026
Landscape design and engineering studies are being finalized by the technical team to ensure a resilient and historically faithful restoration.
Required environmental and zoning permits are being secured.
Fall 2027
Work to remove the Megunticook River dam and restore the river to its original channel will tentatively begin end of summer to the beginning of fall 2027. Work is not expected to interfere with any downtown business activities and most work will take place outside of the Memorial Day to Labor Day window.
2028
The restoration of the park's shoreline and intertidal zone will be completed.
Continuing the Work
This committee's efforts build on the work of the Megunticook River Citizens Advisory Committee to bring their 8-1 recommendation and the majority of the voters' will to fruition.
Removal Benefits
Removal will lower the base flood elevation under the Main Street Bridge, decrease active management, and relieve
flooding for property owners.
Wide Support
The grant proposal was supported by the Natural Resources Council of Maine, the Department of Marine Resources, Coastal Mountain Land Trust, the Downeast Salmon Federation, and numerous downtown property owners, among others.
Project Images
The Scenario C images you'll find below were created in 2025 prior to the town vote. Check back soon to see a new 3D rendering of the project, including the latest changes based on feedback from the Library Trustees and the community on the remaining 10% of the design.
Current Infrastructure
The existing sea wall at the base of the park has been damaged in no less than three events since Harbor Park's inception. The new plan will remove the sea wall to create a floodable shorefront. Instead of armoring and pushing storm impacts off on our neighbors, the Park will absorb wave action. This option was one of 5 climate change responses laid out by Blake Sanborn and Todd Richardson at the Inner Harbor Resilience Presentation at the Camden Public Library in 2025.
The select board awarded a contract (07/02/24 meeting) to Richardson & Associates/WSP to develop a harbor resilience roadmap in partnership with the Camden community.
Scenario C Overhead View
This scenario image has changed with input from the Library Trustees and will continue to evolve based on additional community feedback.
Current View to the Harbor
This image, taken from the back of the Smiling Cow shows the spillway and the top section of the sluiceway, which will both be removed. Existing natural ledge to the right will remain, and the water will continue cascade and pool as it travels from the higher elevation to the level of the harbor.
A Free-Flowing River
This image depicts what an open river flow will look like. A sloping, accessible path and stopping points will trace the edge of Harbor Park, allowing all people to access our historic treasure.