The Presque Isle of the Future

    The Presque Isle City Council meeting of Monday, April 7, 2008, was one that revealed many exciting ramifications for the city of Presque Isle and information that could have a significant impact on Aroostook County as a whole. This is a meeting that could turn the tide of Main Street in Presque Isle and enhance business, as well as social, traffic for decades to come.     The first part of that meeting entailed re-creating the Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee as a board of directors under the city of Presque Isle. As a part of that creation, the by-laws for that board were also approved. As has been mentioned in previous articles, the municipal government has been a strong supporter of our committee and our commitment to help revitalize the appearance of our Main Street, as well as its economic vitality.
    Jan Murchison, the city’s consultant from James W. Sewall, Inc., then presented information from research done by her and her team. This information, when implemented, will not only improve the looks and economy of our downtown, but it will take us miles closer to becoming “a destination.”
    The final announcement was the revelation of a proposed site for the new Community Center. Many thanks go to the hard work of the Community Center Committee and the Presque Isle city government. Creating a community center will have a unifying effect for the downtown area and will bring several pieces of our revitalization puzzle together.
    Main Street Presque Isle will be the place to be in the future. The hustle and bustle that used to be a part of downtown will reappear. Let’s envision what it will look like in 10 years. We’ll pretend that we lived in Presque Isle when we were younger and moved away for a while. We’re now returning with our two children for a class reunion and will be staying for a week.
    The first thing we notice as we enter town is how much more pedestrian traffic there is on Main Street. We pass the outdoor pool and notice that there are a lot of children swimming and splashing there – as it used to be when we were growing up. But now, the children are not crossing the street and walking to the Recreation Center for other activities. They seem to be going along a path that leads behind several businesses on the same side of the street. We’re getting curious!
    As we continue down Main Street, we notice the beautiful flower barrels and banners that welcome us to the city. We see the neat, clean business fronts and discover many new retail shops, dining opportunities, and other businesses just waiting for us to explore. And, we are elated to see that the Braden Theater is now open again. This brings back many fond memories!
    We decide to park the car in the parking lot beside Wilder’s Jewelry, and as we get out, we see that the complexion of the riverfront area has changed incredibly. There is a wide walkway that leads us that way and we finally see where the children from the pool were going. There is an impressive new building down there that appears to be a new recreation center.
    But, what’s this? There are people of all ages going in there, not just children. There are groups of senior citizens going in, as well as adults of all different ages. So this is not just a recreation center, we realize. This is a place that serves the entire community – a community center in the true sense of the word. What a great idea!
    As we look again toward the river, we notice that much more parking has been created for people who want to hike Main Street, and that there is ample lighting to indicate that the parking area will be well lit and safe during the darker hours. There are also a couple of new buildings that may be retail space or office space. We’ll have to check that out sometime this week.
    Back on Main Street we realize that Presque Isle has reverted back to being a destination once again. There is so much to do here.
    While we’re here, we will be able to do some shopping, and perhaps see an attorney about some matters we need to settle. We’ll be able eat at different restaurants, depending on what we feel like eating. And there will be so much for the kids to do while we’re doing our thing. They could go from the swimming pool to the community center to the library if they want. The library is as much a part of the children’s Main Street experience as the community center.
    We realize that once again, as in our former life here, Main Street Presque Isle has something for everyone and the warm feeling we get as we re-visit the newer version of our old haunt makes us realize that Presque Isle has once again risen to the top. And we think, “Maybe we need to move back here. It’s a wonderful place to raise children, it is a viable, lively place to work, the economy is strong and healthy, and it’s a true destination for anyone to come to. Let’s give it some thought, and let’s tell John and Amy about it. They’ve been talking about re-locating. What better place to come to?”
    It’s amazing the impact that one city council meeting can have.
    We welcome your thoughts and opinions. It’s your city. We need your input in order to make it better. You can e-mail us at pidrc@yahoo.com or write us at: The Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee, 411 Main St., Presque Isle, Maine 04769.
    For more information about the PIDRC, e-mail us at pidrc@yahoo.com or call Sandy Gauvin (764-0876), Cathy Beaulieu at Wilder’s Jewelry Store (764-0309), or Patty LeBlanc (769-7731), or you can contact us at the address listed above.
    We meet at the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce on the Houlton Road at 7:30 a.m. on the last Thursday of each month. Please join us.
    The Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee is an official committee established by ordinance by the Presque Isle City Council .