Children in Oquossoc Town Park watching the paving of playing courts. Stephanie Dellavalle

RANGELEY — Oquossoc Park renovation is making visible progress.

At the site on Wednesday, the pavement had almost been completed by Pine State Paving. Rangeley’s Director of Parks & Recreation Patrick O’Neil  said, “Right now, we have all the new drainage around that’s been installed. So, basically the same layout. Got your tennis courts here. You have got your basketball court here. Where these cones are, our new drains. You can’t tell with your naked eye, but these courts are higher, and the drainage is going to be 100% better.”

O’Neil described the various stages of the project.

The first part was creating the outlet on the corner to go into the culvert allowing for drainage all around both sides.

The second part was bringing in the new material, which had to be dug out, for grading.

Grading at Oquossoc Park. Sophie Chu-O’Neil

Keel Construction of Southern New Brunswick is the main excavating contractor for the project.

“They brought it to grade, which it’s a lot higher than it was before. Only because it’s better for the drainage,” explained O’Neil.

Once the grading was finished, the paving began. The curing time will be about two to three weeks, depending on the weather.

When the foundation is ready, Beaver Brook Tennis will come in to seal the courts. This process also depends on good weather.

Finally, new basketball nets, tennis nets, and fencing will also be installed.

O’Neil is hoping the pickleball, tennis, and basketball players will be able to use the renovated park within a month or so.

“We’re hoping like maybe second, third week of September. Hopefully, it gives them a chance to play before the winter comes. But, like I said, it’s weather dependent.”

Previously it was solely a tennis court, but the new courts will allow for two pickleball courts on each side of the tennis net.

Prior to the renovation, weeds in the cracks made the courts undesirable to play on.

O’Neil is looking forward to the project’s completion.

“Well, I had to look at this for like the last three years. It should have been done years ago,” he said.

This is just the first part of the refurbishing of the park.

The next stages involve more drainage for the park, additional park equipment, which may include picnic pavilions, like those seen in Rangeley, and the addition of a sidewalk and increased parking to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines.

“So being handicap accessible and all that comes up sometimes. So, we’re waiting for a grant from the Land & Water Conservation Fund. If we do get it, we should be hearing soon, and it will pay for a lot of this, and that will help us get the next phase going,” said O’Neil.

Oquossoc Park paving of the playing courts. Stephanie Dellavalle