ORONO — The Orono Bog Boardwalk will open for its 13th season at 7 a.m. Monday, June 29th. The honorary Boardwalk opener will be Jeremy Libby, independent living specialist, AlphaOne, Bangor, and longtime Boardwalk supporter. A special ceremony in memory of Bill Glanz, University of Maine professor and Boardwalk bird tour leader, who passed away last year, will take place at new Boardwalk section 151 which has been sponsored in his name.
More than 25 volunteers have worked more than 1,000 hours since October 2014 to remove and replace sections 106-203, including two wheelchair turnouts and two interpretive stations. These newly-installed sections are constructed of composite decking with cladded aluminum siding and stainless steel footings, and are expected to last for many years.
The next phase of Boardwalk reconstruction will begin as soon as the fundraising campaign has reached its goal. Approximately 90 percent of the funds needed to complete sections 204-252 plus two wheelchair turnouts have been raised. Upon completion of this phase, the project will move to its final phase of fundraising and reconstruction.
The Boardwalk is located in the Rolland F. Perry (Bangor) City Forest, where it wends its way through forested wetland and out onto a broad, open peat bog. Since it opened in June 2003, the Boardwalk has been visited by nearly 300,000 people. They visit alone or in groups, for active exercise, educational tours or solitude, or simply to watch the seasons unfold in a rare and beautiful habitat. At this time of year, visitors can observe many plant and animal species, including summer wildflowers, carnivorous plants, nesting birds and much more. The wheelchair-accessible boardwalk features seven interpretive stations along its route, as well as numerous benches where visitors may rest and contemplate their surroundings. It is free of charge and open from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. seven days a week during summer, with hours adjusting for day-length changes in autumn.
A volunteer staff maintains the Boardwalk and provides information and education for visitors, including school and community groups. The facility is jointly managed by the Orono Land Trust, the city of Bangor, and the University of Maine. †Its operation and maintenance are funded entirely through donations, sales of Boardwalk merchandise, and grants.
For information about the Boardwalk, to volunteer or contribute to the reconstruction campaign and continued operation of the Boardwalk, visit umaine.edu/oronobogwalk/ or e-mail jim.bird@umit.maine.edu or call 866-2578.