A place for residents and visitors alike to exercise and socialize and hear pups.

Dog Parks provide both recreational and social opportunities for dog owners of all ages, especially for families and the elderly. In addition, they are fast becoming an amenity sought after by potential future residents, as well as being very useful to visitors and tourists to the Katahdin region. Friends of Katahdin Area Dog Park is a recently formed group of citizens working toward this goal.

In addition to building a replica of the Great Northern Hotel to be used as a conference center, retreat and additional hotel space for large events, there could also be some condos and/or cottages that could be strategically placed for the best views, one of which could be a bucolic view of a working farm (in addition to or part of a suggestion made by Mr. Campbell for a hydroponic farm). As I become more and more involved in the need for sustainable agriculture it becomes more apparent that this is an unmet need! For those who are mindful of the food we eat, how it is grown and wanting access, a good portion of organic, sustainably grown food is shipped in in the winter from Boston. Historically, Millinocket has been designed only for making paper and there has been no available land for other uses. The picture below shows the large gap surrounding Millinocket with no farms. The Maine Policy Review has several articles relating to Maine's Food System as well as the economic impact it can have. Also is an article about the Micmac Farm near Presque Isle which has grown into an 18 acre project with good examples of the rich potential in an area so in need such as the Millinocket area. It would seem that there is more than enough land in the GNP property to accommodate projects similar to Mr Campbell's hydroponics, a project similar to the Micmac project as well as room for livestock. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1051&context=mpr

A big congratulations on recent purchase of the Millinocket GNP site!

My Idea had been posted dating January 2015, referencing Industrial Commercial Hydroponic Greenhouse technology. Similar to a Tomato based operations in Madison Maine, also known as Backyard Farms.

Many different types of Vegetables and Fruits can provide a selection, based on population demand, with operations that range 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Many countries to include the Netherlands Dutch, our neighbor Canada, which has such facilities on both Quebec and Ontario provinces with complexes ranging 25 to 125 acres in size. Resources such as University of Maine, Farm Co-Op extensions I am sure can provide plans, advice, consult knowledge, lists of potential corporations both Stateside and abroad that maybe Interested in building a Relationship / Industry within the local regions and with it's Commerce representatives.  

Food is, and will always be, in high demand as a needed commodity. Hydroponic is the future.

An Indoor, State of the Art, Hydroponic Industry will surely win the approval of regulatory agencies as well as Labor forces representing disciplines in Engineering Technical, Agriculture, IT, Transportation, Construction, as well as Federal / State commerce.

With recent and continuing developments within the U.S. regarding flooding, drought, and other disaster related events, situations like these only strengthens the demand & need for Indoor, controlled environments, which provides food in a safer, more consistent fashion. 

Most, if not all infrastructure is readily provided: Hydro generated Electricity, Water, Transportation, both Rail and Truck, High Speed Internet to Include Fiber, On-line Global monitoring, Land, and support elements in Educational / Supplier Outlets.

Visit: https://dutchgreenhouses.com.

It's main waste can also be used as compost for re-use. A model for sustainable Green Industry going forward.

Lastly, this type of Industry also augments the growing outdoor recreational popularity, vacationing Katahdin Monument status, and green, renewable resource with:

                                                                             Millinocket , a City under Glass !                                                                           

Clearly, this is an idea for next year. Beginning on the Sunday after Memorial Day, and for each Sunday through Labor Day weekend, hold a community yard sale on Katahdin Ave. It could start in the area by the gazebo, and if it grows, could occupy Katahdin Ave as a street sale. I have seen this done quite successfully in up state NY. It costs almost nothing to do and brings folks into the town as a fun stop on the way home. It would also bring traffic to the businesses on Katahdin Ave.

I've been working together with Susan D'Alesandro and a group of people to make some wonderful things happen this year. I'd like to connect with Matthew Waite. I think we could work something out to support your endeavor and vice versa.

Low start-up cost, plenty of land available, very low maintenance. Some companies have started mailing Christmas Trees. When additional land is needed. The lumber can be sold to offset the cost

Is there a hiking trail somewhere that could be turned into a storybook trail? This could be a simple effort, for instance, displaying the pages of a book every so often along the trail for families to stop and read. On the other end of the spectrum, something more elaborate could be done, like building little storybook houses for children to visit (the three bear's house for example) or displaying fake plants and animals along the trail for children to find. Etc., the possibilities are endless.

My Idea comes from an Engineering perspective driven by a need for big change in Katahdin. Key word here is Paradigm shift.

You move for a paper based region, to a food based region. I propose that you form a steering committee, develop an Economic package geared to attract a developmental industry that design, construct & operate State of the Art Hydroponic based Greenhouse complex.

Backyard Farms, based in Madison Maine is a perfect example. Maine can take their now, or soon to be decommissioned mill facilities and transform their compounds to year round food suppliers. If you White board this, you will see that the ingredients  to sustain such complexes are there. Land, water, Electricity, Transportation both Rail and Truck, High Speed data networks for SCADA, control, E-commerce etc.

 As you scroll through this link, you will find I have touched on this subject before. Many countries esp. Canada do this on a huge scale with complexes ranging from 50 acres, to 125 acres and varied. All your key elements are available at Mill locations that can provide such an Industry. Food will always carry a need label. Not only is such a complex sustainable, but what a picture postcard it can make for a town at night. A city under glass.

Ripogenus Dam alone can provide the water and Hydroelectric needs.

Outdoor Antique Flea Markets are popular on the coast of Maine in the spring, summer and fall. They are usually located right off of Route 1. Why not designate a Flea Market space for the tri-town area in a high-traffic location. People could sell there for a weekend, get rid of some unwanted items from their house and put a little extra money in their pocket, or others might be able to do something more permanent and turn it into a little antique business.