AUBURN — The outfitter renting canoes and kayaks behind Auburn’s Festival Plaza would get two more years of exclusive use of city land, according to a plan presented by City Manager Clinton Deschene on Monday.
“I think there was some ingenuity that came with this proposal last year,” Deschene told councilors. “If you have these types of ideas that better our community, whether it’s citizens or vendors, this is the kind of thing we are looking for to welcome in.”
Bethel Outdoor Adventures, operators of Lewiston Auburn Canoe and Kayak Rental, began operations in June 2012. They rent canoes and kayaks by the hour, letting people paddle around under the falls or go downstream to be collected south of New Auburn or in Durham.
Councilors are scheduled to vote on the contract at their June 17 meeting.
The contract would let the outfitter use the grassy space between Festival Plaza and the river to stock their watercraft and sign up customers through the summer of 2015. The contract would go out for bid at that point, allowing other outfitters to compete for the contract.
“They said when they started that this kind of operation really needed three years to fully develop,” Deschene said.
Councilors said it’s a welcome attraction.
“It certainly brought a lot of curious people down to that area when they were walking along that path,” Councilor Mary LaFontaine said. “The people were friendly and I know they did great business. I think it was awesome for the community.”
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