PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Last week, the City of Presque Isle and Maine Department of Transportation received a joint award from GrowSmart Maine for an “Exemplary Smart Growth Plan” for the Presque Isle Main Street Study.
The City/MDOT entry was chosen for meeting and/or exceeding GrowSmart’s criteria. The redesign right sizes existing transportation infrastructure in the downtown, maximizing proximities, connectivity, and walkability allowing the historic street network and pattern and scale of development to reemerge and revitalize.
By aligning community values with the built environment, the redesign will leverage investment in a quality public sphere to spur private investment in mixed-use redevelopment. In addition, by creating an accessible and mixed-use downtown, people of all ages and abilities will be able to live and work downtown, accessing essential services by foot or area transit. The redesign deliberately encompasses the demographically diverse residential neighborhoods to the east of downtown, to the west of the stream, and the Mi’kmaq Nation. Proposed shared use paths, a pedestrian bridge spanning the Presque Isle Stream, and the reduction of lanes on Route 1 will create better opportunity and choice for existing and proposed housing. Further, by making the downtown more accessible, attractive, and sustainable, more people will want to live downtown, reducing development pressure on rural areas.
The design is truly “transformational”, a word actually used at the public meetings when describing the downtown redesign because the right sizing of the transportation infrastructure will allow a rediscovery and reconnection of the Presque Isle’s greatest assets such as Main Street, schools, recreation facilities, UMPI, the riverfront, the surrounding residential neighborhoods and open spaces. People understand that the redesign is an opportunity to reclaim the downtown as the heart of the community where meaningful relationships and traditions can flourish. Lastly, the redesign reduces impervious surface, introduces an extensive urban tree canopy, creates decentralized green infrastructure stormwater treatment areas, promotes walkability, creates inviting and comfortable streetscapes, reduces car dependency, and encourages live / work environments.
GrowSmart Maine is a 501c3 non-profit that helps communities incorporate smart growth principles into community planning. The awards recognize projects that strengthen communities, protect open spaces, and build opportunities for all Mainer. In judging nominees for the awards, judges consider how a project adapts to climate change, how it may influence its surroundings and how it involves stakeholders and neighbors.
