Mount Agamenticus parking, facility upgrades underway in York: What it means to visitors
YORK, Maine — A project to expand parking and install new bathroom facilities at Mount Agamenticus is underway.
The project, according to Mount Agamenticus Conservation Coordinator Robin Kerr, is slated to be completed by June 2023. It includes the construction and expansion of parking lots at the 692-foot mountain’s summit and base, in addition to a satellite lot along the summit access road.
Kerr said the upgrades will greatly improve public safety, congestion, and traffic flow.
"This project is years in the making and its completion will lead to a safer and more enjoyable visitor experience," Kerr said. "I am thrilled to be breaking ground at last."
The public restroom upgrades include the construction of composting toilet facilities located at both the summit and base of the mountain. These will replace portable facilities that Kerr has said are inadequate.
Composting toilets were selected due to the limited water supply and flow for a flush system at the summit, Kerr said, and comes with added benefits. The work will mean limited access to the mountain for visitors while the construction is ongoing.
The Selectboard voted 4-1 at its July 25 meeting to award the construction bid to William P. Davis Excavation LLC for $1,549,518.
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Mount Agamenticus Road closed for public access
Kerr said visitors can expect the Mount Agamenticus Road to be closed to public access. Limited parking will be available at the base, and visitors will be temporarily redirected around construction to a trailhead nearby.
“Visitors are strongly encouraged to seek alternative places to recreate this fall,” Kerr said. “We are fortunate to have so many trails and conserved land in this region. Visit Maine Trail Finder for other trails to explore.”
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The project has been in the works since 2018 when York Water District, the Selectboard and Parks and Recreation formed a planning group to discuss improving infrastructure for water quality and visitor safety. The town has a lease agreement with the York Water District for access to the summit, the access road and 2.5 acres at the base of the mountain for parking.
The mountain, known locally as “Mount A,” was also once a ski operation and has seen an uptick in use in recent years, according to town officials, particularly since the pandemic caused people in York to seek outdoor spaces. Kerr has said the mountain features threatened and endangered species, including the Blanding’s turtle and spotted turtles, swamp darter fish, black racer snake and the hairstreak butterfly.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Mount Agamenticus parking, facility upgrades underway in York
