Dover-Foxcroft ATV access plan approved

DOVER-FOXCROFT — A proposal by the Dover Rovers ATV Club to have more Dover-Foxcroft roads open to ATV traffic to provide access to additional businesses and in turn draw more riders to town as well as creating a new designated ATV park and ride has been approved by the select board.

“We agree in principle to everything proposed,” Select Chair Tom Lizotte said during Monday night’s meeting, saying not all of the routes in the plan will open this year as details are worked out. These include getting signage in place and determining timelines for when certain roads will be opened.

Late last month the select board held a public hearing on the club’s proposal and since then the topic was discussed by the board’s protection committee and the committee recommended approval.

Three routes are included in the plan. Exactly which streets are open is all to be determined and may also likely be evaluated after trial runs.

The first “Red’s Trail”, named for Mountain’s Market founder Red Mountain, covers portions of Forest Street, Dwelley Avenue, Paul Street and Sanford Street to reach nearby businesses.

Route 2 or “Blood Trail”, named for the community’s first settler Abel Blood, follows sections of Fairview Avenue, Essex Street, East Main Street and River Street. After the 2025 season the Blood Trail would be adjusted with the Essex Street bridge being closed for construction. There also is a possibility of not opening Essex Street this season.

The third route being proposed by the Dover Rovers ATV Club would go from the Garland line down the Notch Road toward Branns Mill.

Gate 3 at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds, which is closest on the trail on the east side of the property, would be the site of a park and ride. The fair association supports the idea and the ATV club has funds for a kiosk there.

The speed limit along the ATV routes would be 15 mph in most locations and the police department would enforce this.

Selectperson Cindy Freeman Cyr said she appreciates the work of the protection committee. “My concerns and my feelings haven’t changed in the 10 days since we met,” she said.

Safety concerns along the side streets and the increase in fossil fuel consumption for recreation are areas of concern for Freeman Cyr.

Saying the board should slow down a bit, Freeman Cyr suggested tabling a decision until the June 23 meeting. A motion to table was voted down.

“I’m for what we’re talking about but I want to make sure everything is in place,” Selectperson Emery Cox said.

One question to be answered is access along East Main Street or Route 15 which is a state road. The Maine Department of Transportation will need to study ATV routes on this road and this could take up to a year, Town Manager Alsina Brenenstuhl said.

Local roads can be opened as soon as the town would like, she said.

The select board would be voting on the concept of the ATV public road access route, Vice Chair Steve Grammont said and working with the Dover Rovers ATV Club to get everything implemented.

The ATV proposal was approved 6-1, with Freeman Cyr voting against.

In other business, the idea of naming the Piscataquis River bridge for World War II Pvt. Willard Merrill and possibly also his brother Barton Merrill Jr. in memoriam was mentioned. Bridge naming is done by the legislature after input from the MDOT but first approval is needed by the local town government. 

Plans are being developed to have the forthcoming new Essex Street bridge honor all veterans.

Naming the bridge could be a topic at the June 23 select meeting. The overpass may be replaced in three years so potentially the new name could come then.

Earlier in the day a funeral service was held at the Vaughn Road cemetery as Willard Merrill was laid to rest.

Merrill, who was 21 when he died, was among the U.S. and Filipino soldiers captured by the Japanese Imperial Army after the surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on April 9, 1942.

After his capture, Merrill was one of 78,000 prisoners who endured the 65-mile Bataan Death March, which began the next day. Thousands of prisoners died during the march.

Merrill was held at the Cabanatuan POW camp, where he died on Nov. 14, 1942, and was buried in a common grave, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said.

Despite several efforts over the years, his remains were not identified until recently. They were flown back to Logan Airport in Boston on Saturday, where a three-state police escort to Dover-Foxcroft began.

“The story behind it is just remarkable and there’s still another to be written,” Selectperson Jane Conroy said.

The Merrill family had three brothers go to war and only one returned. Willard and Barton Merrill Jr. joined the U.S. Army Air Corps together, fought side by side, survived the Bataan Death March in the spring of 1942 and died a day apart in a Japanese POW camp later that year. Barton Merrill Jr.’s remains were identified and he is buried in Manilla.

The family is hoping Barton Merrill Jr. can also be brought home to join his brothers.

An escort from the Massachusetts State Police began at Logan Airport and traveled to New Hampshire where the Granite State’s police took over before handing over to the Maine State Police in Kittery. From here Dover-Foxcroft Police Chief Seth Burnes led the procession more than 150 miles north to the Newport exit to then take Route 7 to Dover-Foxcroft.

“It was an experience coming northbound I will never forget,” Burnes said. 

Overpasses along the interstate were lined with fire and police vehicles and first responders saluting. In Newport, Corinna and Dexter people lined the streets and the crowds were there in Merrill’s hometown as well.

“When I came into Dover I got goosebumps turning onto North Street.” Burnes said.

“It’s hard to put into words how we still care about those who died protecting our way of life,” Selectperson Joel Vail said. Other families are still awaiting the return of their loved ones, he added.

The BDN’s Wendy Watkins contributed to this story.