People sit in seats on the old dock Thursday afternoon, next to the newly installed dock at Town Cove Park in Rangeley. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)

RANGELEY — A new long-awaited boat dock installed Aug. 12 at Rangeley’s Town Cove Park boat launch is the latest in a series of park improvements that have taken place over the last decade that show a long-term investment in the park by the town, Town Manager Joe Roach said.

The vision for the park was on full display Thursday, the same day as the 50th annual Blueberry Festival, as boats came and went from the docks.

Children ran toward the shoreline with buckets to try to catch frogs and toads for the festival’s frog jumping contest. The basketball court was filled with teens playing a game of ball. Children played in the park and swam in the lake. Later in the day, a pick-up game of soccer began in the same area where vendors had set up their tents for the festival just hours before.

The concept for the floating dock originated with Parks and Recreation Director Patrick O’Neil and the park commission, Roach said.

Boats docked at the new boat ramp, bottom, at Town Cove Park in Rangeley. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)

At times, the boat launch could be congested with boaters putting in and taking out their crafts.

“Now more boaters leaving the lake can move into in a slip and wait for the launch to be free,” Roach said.

While the number of slips have increased, there is still only one launch.

“This doesn’t increase the number of boats that can launch at one time,” he stressed.

The increase in slips also encourages more foot traffic toward the downtown area. It could also alleviate a small portion of parking issues Main Street faces during peak seasons, Roach said.

“Some folks from other parts of the lake like to dock here, use the park, have a picnic and maybe walk into town,” he said.

According to the town park regulations, there is a two-hour limit for docking boats in the town slips.

Boats docked at the new boat ramp, bottom right, at Town Cove Park in Rangeley. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)

The dock is a mirror image of a synthetic dock installed at the launch in 2016 and increases the number of short-term use slips from six to 12. Both the new and old docks feature seating and low-impact guide lights for early morning and evening access while the park is open, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Other park improvements over the last decade include an overhaul in 2016, Roach said, and a project to install a new playground and swim dock that wrapped up in 2024. Roach said the parks committee is currently in discussions to build a pavilion at the park. The cost of that project has already been approved by voters, he said.

“The town and the park committee is really invested in that park,” he said.

Funding for the new dock was raised and appropriated by voters at the June town meeting. The Board of Selectmen reviewed a $56,011 estimate from New England Dock Co. of Washington on July 21 and voted unanimously to release the funds.