As the Bridge Street construction project looks to reshape Westbrook’s downtown, planning officials are moving ahead with an extended riverwalk project on the northern side of the Presumpscot River.

Last Wednesday, some 30 residents braved the weather to hear updates on the riverwalk plan, which would create a continuous loop stretching from Bridge Street, running past the black bridge railroad trestle, turning where Brown Street meets Cumberland Street, and heading back on the existing southern portion.

At St. Anthony’s parish, Sebago Technics senior landscape architect Kylie Mason provided residents with a concept design, one that shows potential for the path to feature raised boardwalks traversing wetlands, swimming and kayak access areas, exercise stations and more.

The design features a path beginning at the foot of the pedestrian bridge that will span the Presumpscot River as part of the completion of Bridge Street construction. Included in the concept are river observation points, open green space, and streetscape enhancements along a portion of Brown Street.

“It’s starting to take shape,” Mason said about the design, which she said was created using neighborhood input gathered at an initial public meeting in November.

City Planner Molly Just said there is no cost estimate yet for the project, but that it would most likely include a combination of city funding, grants, and funds from the Westbrook Environmental Improvement Corp.

Included in the design are four areas where a raised boardwalk would be used. Mason said she’s looking at different materials.

The longest stretch of boardwalk would be built along riverfront that sits furthest from any property on the northern side, a patch of land jutting out behind Dana Court. Most of the land, she said, is filled with Japanese knotweed, an invasive species visually similar to bamboo.

The design, she said, took into account resident concerns for parking, property buffers and environmental implications.

The concept shows a large parking area at the end of Reserve Street that lies in behind St. Anthony’s land. Small parking areas are also slated for the end of Garfield and High streets.

At the meeting, Mason also laid out plans for streetscape enhancements on Brown Street. She said due to past comments and concerns about the feasibility of using the black bridge as an official crossing for the riverwalk, the proposed concept has the walkway turn at the black bridge and funnel out Brown Street.

The walkway will change the look of that portion of the street, widening the sidewalk on the river side and adding trees and other plantings.

Mason said she has already been in contact with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the wetlands.

One resident, living on Water Street, where the proposed riverwalk would curve along the riverbank behind his property, said he was concerned for the possible effect a path could have on wildlife, as well as privacy in an area that he says is already prone to people walking through his property.

He said he received a Department of Environmental Protection finding five years ago that labeled the land behind his property as a migratory bird zone.

“In the past two or three days we’ve seen a bald eagle there twice,” he said. “I’ll be closer than I am to you to people having 24-hour access to my yard.”

Mason said that with vegetative buffers and a boardwalk area that will cantilever over the wetlands, both issues should be addressed.

“It seems like a serious invasion,” he said.

All the land to be used for the extended riverwalk is, or will be, city owned. A good portion along the northern side is owned by Sappi Fine Paper, where power lines connect the hydroelectric dams at Saccarappa Falls to the mill. However, when the dams are decommissioned in two years, the land will become the city’s.

Peter Burke, a member of Westbrook’s Recreation and Conservation Commission, was also on hand. Burke lives in one of the homes on the river side of Brown Street that will see streetscape changes right outside. He said the initial planning of the project has been “responsive to a lot of demanding situations,” regarding property lines and wetlands.

Burke said the overall project shows “a big vision” for Westbrook, and that he’s particularly pleased with the addition of green space areas.

Resident Kelly Day said she’s in favor of the enhancements on Brown Street, especially the added trees. As for the riverwalk, she asked that large and unique trees be saved during construction.

“In the past couple years, some of the really beautiful aspects of Main Street, and larger trees have been taken down,” she said. “When we’re doing the riverwalk, that’s something we should think about.”

Bruce Wallingford, the owner of Ernie’s Cycle Shop, who lives in the area, said he’s excited for what a successful project could do for the Westbrook community.

“Two million people a year go to Back Bay in Portland,” he said, about the riverwalk becoming an attraction. “If we can get 10 percent to stop in Westbrook and buy groceries and go to dinner, that’s a big impact on our economy.”

Criticisms of the project included calls for better care of the existing riverwalk on the southern side, which a few residents said is often marred by litter and other debris near the black bridge.

Another resident asked if the path would be dog friendly, as the portion through Riverbank Park does technically not allow dogs.

A resident in the Brown Street area said he regularly sees illegal activity, most likely drug related, near his home. Mason said that due to more lighting and green space areas, public safety will have more of a presence.

“We have been meeting with public safety, and with visibility and accessibility increased, it would open the door for greater patrolling and security,” she said.

The expanded riverwalk design shows the proposed path running along the northern edge of the Presumpscot River. Some sections will feature raised boardwalk areas that will traverse wetland areas.Image courtesy Sebago Technics