The Man Who’s Kept The Orono Bog Boardwalk Beautiful Since 2004, Passes The Torch

If you've been lucky enough to ever venture over the mile-long trail that makes up the Orono Bog Boardwalk, you know what a treasure it is and how lucky we are to have it in our neck of the woods.

Part of it runs through the Bangor City Forest. Part of it runs through the Town of Orono. And yet a third part of the Boardwalk is owned by the University of Maine. These 3 entities have worked together, for years, to watch over this treasure, according to the University's website.

"The Bog Boardwalk is a joint venture of the University of Maine, the City of Bangor, and the Orono Land Trust."

The Orono Bog Boardwalk initially opened back in 2003 and was initially made of wood. One year later, in 2004, Phil Locke, who would eventually become the Maintenance Coordinator for the OBB, started volunteering to help with its upkeep. In the almost 17 years since he began this effort, the OBB has undergone quite a few changes, to make it a safer and more enjoyable walk. These changes include a major replacement project that took place in 2014, that swapped out the wooden boards for sturdier composite ones.

Locke, who has been present for many changes during his almost two decades of service, removed his Maintenance Coordinator Hat this week and passed it to a new Coordinator by the name of Dave Easler.

My kids and I happened to be at the Boardwalk this week and saw Locke finishing up a few of his tasks. Many who have passed through the area would have come to recognize Locke as a fixture at this site.

The Town of Orono, with good reason, shared a sincere thank you on their Facebook Page, for Lockes many years of dedication to the Bog Walk, stating that:

"...the bog boardwalk wouldn't be what it is without him!"

For the countless hours spent helping to maintain and protect this picturesque place in Eastern Maine, we all owe Locke a nod of our caps and would wish Easler the best in filling these shoes.