A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
Our mission is to enhance the traditional character of Boothbay Harbor and pursue opportunities to protect the working waterfront, while expanding public access to the water for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.
Strengthening Our Working Waterfront
We’re proud to share that Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation has been awarded a Working Waterfront Resiliency Grant from the State of Maine. This vital funding, part of a $21 million initiative supporting nearly 70 coastal projects, will help us rebuild and protect critical infrastructure damaged by the 2024 winter storms.
Our grant—matched 1:1 and totaling $86,500—will go toward elevating the historic boathouse on the South Pier, which serves as a key hub for the local fishing industry and is home to the Luke’s Lobster buying station. By raising the boathouse over three feet, we’re ensuring that it can better withstand future storm surges and continue to support the commercial fishermen who rely on it for equipment storage and boat maintenance.
Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation was the only recipient in our region, and we’re honored to play a leading role in making our working waterfront more resilient in the face of climate change.
“This funding is so important to our mission to provide a fully equipped dock for our fishing industry,” said BBHWP Board President John O’Connell. “It underscores the state’s recognition of how vital the working waterfront is to our community.”
DREAM
From the beginning, our goal was always to create a beautiful space that celebrated both the region and the working waterfront. We have worked hard to create a design that would meet all the criteria and satisfy local guidelines.
BUILD
After a year-long funding campaign to buy the old Cap n’ Fish motel, we were able to donate furniture to the community, remove the old asbestos and finally clear the site. With the buildings down, we had a much better idea of how the finished park might look.
SUSTAIN
Now the work is underway, we want to ensure that the park is here to enjoy for generations to come. Add your brick to our tree lined walkway to honor or memorialize someone special. We hope the completed park will bring joy to many and will provide a sanctuary for the whole family.
Working Waterfront
The Maine Coast Fisherman’s Association is in support of BBHWFP’s Working Waterfront and Public access to the water on the east side of Boothbay Harbor.
“The Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Park is an exciting project that will allow commercial fishermen access while also creating an opportunity for people to see activity on the waterfront. While combining these efforts is not easy, its impact can be significant.
While saving the working waterfront is a piece of our goal (and that of all fishermen) what we really want to see is for working waterfronts to expand and thrive in Maine’s coastal communities - and it seems as though this is an opportunity to do just that.”
“We’re happy to see efforts to preserve the working waterfront. The park allows local lobstermen to use the waterfront as a place to store and repair traps and utilize that waterfront space.
The park will be aesthetically beneficial for local businesses by creating more public dockage. It will be a major attraction for the entire east side of the harbor”
—The Page Family - ATLANTIC EDGE LOBSTER.
PAVE THE WAY!
A brick lined walkway is planned for the park. You are invited to Buy-A-Brick, personalized and engraved to commemorate a special occasion, to honor or memorialize a special person, or even to feature your business or organization.
Funds generated by the Buy-A-Brick opportunity will benefit the creation of the Eastside Waterfront Park. We all look forward to having a free place to sit and relax while we watch the events and activities on our harbor.
Think about buying a brick to help pave the way!
