AUGUSTA — Local and state officials say gay couples have not yet reserved any of the capital area’s major public spaces for weddings on Dec. 29.

Not the State House steps, or Capitol Park. Not Hallowell City Hall or the Augusta Civic Center or the Gardiner Common.

Augusta City Manager Bill Bridgeo said he can think of several nice spots in the area, but planning a late December wedding in central Maine — particularly one outside — is risky.

He said the city’s East Side Boat Landing is scenic, as is the public area of the Arsenal campus and the Viles Arboretum, both on Hospital Street. Bridgeo said the back end of Capitol Park, where the state has recently installed a stone wall and renovated the area near Gov. Enoch Lincoln’s tomb, would be a charming location. Lincoln was Maine’s fifth governor, serving from 1827-1829.

Using Capitol Park or the State House steps requires a permit, and neither had been reserved as of last week, according to Capitol Police.

In Hallowell, Vaughn Woods or the bulkhead on the Kennebec River would be nice spots, local officials said, although the weather could be a major factor.

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“If somebody is interested in getting married that day and they wanted a city facility, they would use City Hall,” Hallowell City Manager Michael Starn said.

In Gardiner, a permit is required to use the Common, and no one has reserved it, a town official said.

The Augusta Civic Center, which is sometimes booked for weddings, is slated to host a high school basketball tournament on Dec. 29.

Susan Cover — 621-5643
scover@mainetoday.com

 


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