economic engine of this region Penobscot River Renaissance

“Progress is important, not schedule.” Those words were spoken to me by a City of Bangor official in the late 1980’s when we were discussing the City’s efforts to address environmental issues and help encourage the redevelopment of the waterfront area along the Penobscot River. At the time the City was considering purchases of property along the Penobscot River to help catalyze redevelopment. That official noted that this was going to take time, and patience. Throughout the ensuing years there were several studies and planning efforts in the region that helped envision what the area might be, and predicted that investment in this area would attract people back to the Penobscot River.

The Penobscot River corridor was for a long time the economic engine of this region because of industry and shipping, but as transportation and manufacturing trends evolved, the remnants of the formerly productive industrial facilities and the related environmental issues needed to be addressed.

VP of Marketing & HR S.W. Cole Engineering

The Penobscot River bisects the Bangor Region, flowing through the heart of it from the north Maine woods to Penobscot Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The Penobscot River and its tributaries reach all 21 communities of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, and over half have waterfront directly on the river. Visitors to Bangor are often surprised to learn that this community, about 25 miles from the ocean, experiences tide cycles that can vary as much 10 feet.

In the past 35 years the Penobscot River area has undergone a remarkable transformation. It is the result of both public and private efforts, and funded by local, state and federal dollars. Some of these changes are less visible improvements to infrastructure like upgrades to sewer and stormwater, shoreline stabilization, the construction of trails, and installation of needed utilities. The remnants of many of those industrial structures have been removed and the environmental legacies of many of the industries that once lined the shores of the Penobscot River have already, or are now being addressed, with some of the most significant clean-ups occurring at sites in Bangor, Brewer, Old Town and Orrington. In its place we see an exciting array of improvements that draw us back to the river, improve our quality of life, and attract investment and new businesses. Perhaps the most visible example of the changes that have occurred is the former Maine Central Railroad yard in Bangor, now home to the Maine Savings Amphitheater, debuting many exciting new upgrades to this multi-event facility for 2022, including the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce Annual dinner held here for the first time.

Whether you live here or you are visiting, we now have many examples of the renaissance along and near the Penobscot River in our region. Try fishing or boating from one of the boat ramps accessible on both sides of the Penobscot River stretching from Milford and Old Town in the north, to Orrington and Winterport in the south. If you want to get some exercise and meet some people, or their dogs, consider a walk along the popular and growing Brewer Waterfront Trail, with 3 parking areas and 2 restaurants along its length and connections to the Bangor trails with a walk over the bridge. The river is more accessible and attractive with waterfront parks and trails in many of our communities. The river also will draw you into the thriving downtown areas of our communities, where today there are many options to live, dine, shop, work and find entertainment.

That’s Progress!