AUBURN — There will be a time to debate the costs of developing a greenway along New Auburn’s river shoreline, but it wasn’t Wednesday night.

Landscape architects and Mayor Jonathan LaBonte steered residents at a design workshop at the Barker Mill Arms away from worrying about the price tag for developing the area from the Little Androscoggin River to Lown Peace Bridge.

Think about what you want, LaBonte said.

“I hesitate to say this because people kind of roll their eyes: Don’t let cost get in the way of vision,” LaBonte said. “It’s amazing what can happen if a community believes. There are buckets of resources, whether it’s private foundations or corporations, federal or state resources. If a community really believes in something, the pieces really come together.”

About 25 residents attended the session, seeking better walking areas, access to the river’s shoreline and better parking.

Architect Scott Collard of Stantec design firm of Scarborough noted that the area includes city-owned parcels, buildings and lots that are for sale, and updated utilities. It also includes a grassy lot behind Rolly’s Diner on Main Street and a boat launch at Little Andy Park.

“We are not down to the point with feet on the ground saying, ‘We want grass there and pavement there,'” Collard said. “We are at the 10,000-foot level. We can see everything, but we are looking at its context and beginning to look at specific areas and what they mean to the neighborhood.”

The architects are doing the project at no charge as part of National Landscape Architects Month. Members of the Maine society try to do one free project each year to help draw attention to their profession.

New Auburn, with its key position at the confluence of the Androscoggin and the Little Androscoggin rivers and just downstream from the Lewiston and Auburn downtowns, seemed like a great candidate.

After a brief discussion of the area, attendees broke into six groups to map out their visions.

Many of the maps shared ideas, including a walking path running parallel to the river and a pedestrian bridge crossing the Little Androscoggin, connecting the area with Bonney Park and Auburn’s downtown Riverwalk.

One group favored opening the area just north of Lown Peace Bridge for parking. Another saw that area as a dedicated park, or possibly an amphitheater.

Next, residents will decide whether they want to pursue some sort of project or development in the area.

“Over time and before the thing gets built — whatever the thing is — it’s going to change several times,” said architect Steve Ribble of Bangor’s Context by Design. “Just because we come out tonight with one or two images does not mean anything is going to get built. It’s just the starting place for the discussion. And if there’s enough community support, we can make a case for why it’s appropriate.”

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