Recreation
Explore Gardiner’s rich history and recreational options.
Experience Gardiner's Waterfront Park
Gardiner’s Waterfront Parkis teaming with activity during the summer months! The park is home to Johnson Hall’s Friday Night Waterfront Concert Series, Thursday/evening Classic Car Cruise-In, the Greater Gardiner River Festival, fireworks, boat launch and slips, yoga, dog walking, a fairy village, art installations, the Pump House Deck scenic overlook, kayak launch area, and so much more!
Kennebec River Rail Trail
The 6.5 mile Kennebec River Rail Trail welcomes locals and visitors alike for walking, running, cycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, and dog walking. The trail parallels the existing rail bed along the Kennebec River, and stretches from Augusta’s Waterfront Park, through the towns of Hallowell and Farmingdale, to its conclusion in Gardiner.
Relax & Play in Maine's Oldest Town Sqaure
Just up the hill from downtown, the Gardiner Common is a beautiful spot to relax or have fun. Originally known as Brunswick Square, this common is one of Maine’s earliest designed landscapes.
Soon to be recognized on the National Historic Register as a historic landmark, the Common features a playground, bandstand, walking paths, fountain, memorials, benches and lots of open green space for running around!
Downtown Gardiner History Tour
Explore Gardiner’s History in an Hour!
Gardiner’s entire history is retold on the panels, reminding visitors of days long ago.
As you wander through Gardiner’s historic district, you will see a series of charming and informative sign panels. Look for blue sturgeon fish painted on the ground to follow the historic walking trail to learn the story of the city, from Dr. Sylvester Gardiner’s 18th century development of the first mills on the Cobbossee Stream through the growth of a burgeoning fishing, shipbuilding and trade industry – and a dynamic city culture – in the 250 years that followed.
Tilbury Town Audio/Walking Tour
Experience the unique places that inspired Pulitzer Price winning Gardiner native Edwin Arlington Robinson’s “Tilbury Town” poems.
You’re invited to explore the historic neighborhoods of Gardiner and discover the world of famed poet Edwin Arlington Robinson, author Laura E. Richards, and their circle of literary friends who defined Gardiner’s cultural life at the end of the 19th century. Listen to a detailed history of Robinson’s world and the Gardiner he loved as you stroll through the historic streets of our town.