ROCKLAND, Maine — Nearly four months after the city closed a popular waterfront park because of high levels of fecal bacteria, the park has been reopened.
City Manager Tom Luttrell said Wednesday that tests taken after last week’s rains found that the E. coli level was down dramatically and it was now safe for people to use Snow Marine Park on Mechanic Street.
The park was closed July 10 when tests showed astronomically high levels. City officials initially said they suspected dogs were the problem with droppings found around the park. Later tests, however, found that the E. coli was from humans. The city found that several homes had sewer lines connected to sewer drains about 60 years ago that flowed to the park and adjacent waters.
The city manager said closed signs had been placed at the park repeatedly but they were taken down as fast as they were erected. He said one sign was bolted to a metal sign but was also removed.