Recreation Opportunities

Town Parks and Facilities

Orono has an array of public facilities that serve the social and recreational needs of its citizens. These are managed by the Parks and Recreation Department and include:

Keith Anderson Community House, located in downtown and a venue for community programs, dances, and other events
Birch Street School Senior Center, next to the new Public Library off Pine Street
Municipal swimming pool on Goodridge Drive
Multi-purpose fields and courts that are part of the public school campus off Goodridge Drive
Webster Park, located between the Stillwater River and North Main Street, a 5-acre riverside park for picnics and concerts
Gould's Landing and Nadeau-Savoy Park on Pushaw Lake, accessed via Essex Street in the western part of Orono
Sklar Wilderness Park, a forested, passive recreation area off Gilbert Street and Mainewood Avenue
Jeremiah Colburn Natural Area, a 23-acre, in-town passive recreation area off Forest Avenue
Brownie's Park, a riverside green area along a popular walking and bicycle path, located between Bennoch Road and the Stillwater River
Marden Park at the corner of Park and Crosby streets, used for Little League baseball games
Summer Street Park, the Town's newest riverside park, adjacent to Downtown, designed as a handcarry launch and take-out site for canoes and kayaks, as well as a viewing and picnicking spot

Trails and Preserves

In addition to the Town-owned Sklar Park and Jeremiah Colburn Natural Area, several other preserves and a wide network of walking and ski trails are available for public use. Many of these are owned or managed by the Orono Land Trust, with maps of the preserves and trails available here.

Fitness Center

In 2007, the University of Maine opened a new Student Recreation and Fitness Center, which is available to the public. The center has visitor parking and is a stop on the Black Bear Orono Express shuttle bus route.

Arts and Sporting Events

As a University town, Orono is blessed with opportunities for spectator sports (both high school and college level) and arts events. Information about the Collins Arts Center and other performing arts and museum facilities is available here. For University of Maine team schedules, click here.