The Women’s Health Resource Library and Maine Coast Heritage Trust are pleased to announce the selection of their new design team for the Milbridge Commons, a four acre parcel of conservation land on Main Street. Bruce John Riddell, landscape architect of Boothbay Harbor, and Eric Dube of Casco Bay Engineering of Portland, will spearhead the design process for this unique project.

“We are eager and excited to work with the community to develop a public park in Milbridge. It will become not just a gathering place with walking trails and children’s play area, but also a community garden and orchard that will help unite, educate, and feed the community,” says Riddell.

The park’s design will focus on Permaculture - a design philosophy that is based upon the creation of sustainable landscape that builds economical awareness and knowledge, as well a horticultural skill within the community.

The park is the brainchild of the Women’s Health Resource Library, who approached Maine Coast Heritage Trust, a statewide land conservation organization, about preserving the property.  The land, a beautiful oceanfront meadow, was purchased by MCHT in 2015 for this collaborative project. Milbridge Commons will include the expansion of Incredible Edible Milbridge, a series of free pick-your-own organic vegetable gardens and education initiatives. Through the Milbridge Commons project the WHRL hopes to expand the IEM movement, growing food as well as community.

“We hope to layer a unique and useful park design with an edible landscape. It will not be just ‘another park.’ It will combine the aspects of sustainable food gardening with a usable park that will become a vibrant nucleus for the community and public; a venue to share food, art, music, and recreational events - blending food with beauty and purpose,” said Riddell.

The project partners are funding the design project though a mix of private and public donations and grants as well as community support. To learn more, or to make a contribution, visit www.whrl.org or contact Chris Kuhni, executive director of the WHRL at info@whrl.org.or visit www.mcht.org.

Bruce John Riddell is an award winning landscape architect who has worked on many residential gardens and public spaces including: The Charlotte Rhodes Park & Butterfly Garden, The Southwest Harbor Veterans Park, Cliffside Park in Cape Elizabeth and many of the anchor gardens at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. He is the recipient of numerous design awards from The Boston Society of Landscape Architects and the Perennial Plant Association and was selected in 2010 as Landscape Architect of the Year by the American Horticultural Society of Washington, D.C.

Eric Dube is a principal for Casco Bay Engineering in Portland and has broad experience working on public projects throughout New England including: The Rockland Recreation Center, The Thomas Memorial Library, and Bridgton Town Hall. Casco Bay Engineering will provide technical design assistance for structural and civil engineering design solutions.