Oops, Maybe the Largest Flagpole in the World Won’t Be in Maine
Editor's note: This article was written by a Townsquare Media Northern New England contributor and may contain the individual's views, opinions, or personal experiences.
Town officials in Columbia Falls are now talking about a possible moratorium on big projects like the proposed $1 billion Flagpole of Freedom Park.
Plus, in planning for the biggest flag ever flown in the United States on a flagpole taller than the Empire State Building, they have passed a resolution asking the developer to set aside $150,000 with the town for costs associated with its planning.
As reported by David Dahl of the Maine Monitor, saying whoa to this massive project is the first formal response to the proposal by Worcester Resources. Co-founder Rob Worcester wants to build a sprawling entertainment park he described over the summer as
...part national monument, art historical adventure, immersive tech-driven museum and architectural wonder.
Columbia Falls is about an hour north of Bar Harbor and their select board has passed an agreement between the town and Worcester Resources that would require the company to deposit $150,000 with the town to pay for legal and planning costs. Rob Worcester was not a fan of that price tag but agreed to find something that worked for everyone.
The vision for the Flagpole park by the Worcester family, would attract 6 million visitors and employ 5,000 workers. The flagpole would stand 1,776 feet above sea level, 300 feet taller than the spire of the Empire State Building. The project is estimated to cost at least $1 billion. That size alone comes with great concerns and would need Columbia Falls voters to agree to annex 10,400 acres adjoining Columbia Falls. The Worcester family, which has long-standing ties to Columbia Falls, is also the family behind Wreaths Across America.
Columbia Falls is looking for a moratorium to add some breathing room so that this project if it goes forward will be as thoroughly thought out as possible.
This story was originally published by The Maine Monitor. The Maine Monitor is a local journalism product published by The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, a nonpartisan and nonprofit civic news organization.